Desperately seeking a simple wattmeter.

[Peter Jason]

I want to audit the power consumption of the
lighting in the house.

I suspect the labelling of globes and timer
power usage to be suspect.

I need a simple meter to put between the
power socket and the lights to test
consumption.

Please help

 

[Palindrome]

I want to audit the power consumption of the
lighting in the house.

I suspect the labelling of globes and timer
power usage to be suspect.

I need a simple meter to put between the
power socket and the lights to test
consumption.

Please help

You appear to be in Australia, but need to confirm so that those that
might propose things to buy know what not to suggest..

In the UK, it is possible to purchase a plug-in power meter for <20GBP
(eg from Maplin).

If that fails:

Those loads are purely resistive. You can get the power consumed by
purchasing a clamp multimeter and making a short extension lead with
each (insulated) conductor available to clamp. Clamp the "hot" wire,
read the current, multiply by the supply voltage (which you can also
measure with the same meter) - the result is the actual power consumed
in watts. In the UK it is possible to buy an (AC) multimeter for <20GBP,
also.

Good luck. Be careful out there - joules in the wrong place can ruin
your whole day...

 

[Peter Jason]

message

You appear to be in Australia, but need to
confirm so that those that might propose
things to buy know what not to suggest..

In the UK, it is possible to purchase a
plug-in power meter for <20GBP (eg from
Maplin).

If that fails:

Those loads are purely resistive. You can
get the power consumed by purchasing a
clamp multimeter and making a short
extension lead with each (insulated)
conductor available to clamp. Clamp the
"hot" wire, read the current, multiply by
the supply voltage (which you can also
measure with the same meter) - the result
is the actual power consumed in watts. In
the UK it is possible to buy an (AC)
multimeter for <20GBP, also.

Good luck. Be careful out there - joules in
the wrong place can ruin your whole day...

Thanks, I'll try. Will the clamp method work
with fluorescent globes, TVs and electric
timers?

pj

 

[Palindrome]

message


Thanks, I'll try. Will the clamp method work
with fluorescent globes, TVs and electric
timers?

No. Only with purely resistive loads such as incandescent lamps and
heater elements.

 

[[email protected]]

I want to audit the power consumption of the
lighting in the house.

I suspect the labelling of globes and timer
power usage to be suspect.

I need a simple meter to put between the
power socket and the lights to test
consumption.

Please help

Try this link -

http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html

Don't know if they have configurations for all electricl outlet types.

 

[Peter Jason]

message


If you're in Australia try Jaycar
Electronics (http://www1.jaycar.com.au/ )
Cat No.
MS6115. Cost is AUD 39.95 and it should do
what you want and more.

regards
Barry

Thanks I found one there called a
"PowerTechPlus Functional Energy Meter"
MS-6115. It seems to work too.

Regards, pj