Johny London Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 Can anyone recommend a device for measuring ac power usage? Doesn't have to have resettable memories, special calculations et all - just a plug through or clamp on device that will tell me how many watts are being drawn at a given time. It would help me choose the right sized generator as well as help with day to day frugality ta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 http://www.screwfix.com/p/energenie-ener007-energy-saving-power-meter-socket/3477h tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny London Posted April 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 Wow that was quick! Looks good. My other avenue is a sensor based one so it can go right at the outlet to everything - giving a grand total, maybe like this... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Npower-Home-Energy-Monitor-BNIB-/332178472535?hash=item4d57613e57:g:VsYAAOSwls5Y6itT but what are people on their boats actually using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 (edited) There is no need to monitor AC usage, but you do need to monitor DC usage (as the AC will come from the DC in many cases). Smartguage is one commonly mentioned. Personally I use a voltmeter, but rarely let the batteries drop below 12.5v anyway. Experience tells one how long you 'can go' before needing to recharge. (I have a 1300Ah battery bank) Ediut foe dyslexic fingers Edited April 12, 2017 by Alan de Enfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 23 minutes ago, Johny London said: Can anyone recommend a device for measuring ac power usage? Doesn't have to have resettable memories, special calculations et all - just a plug through or clamp on device that will tell me how many watts are being drawn at a given time. It would help me choose the right sized generator as well as help with day to day frugality ta Clamp meter? I would get a AC/DC one as it's ever useful on a boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny London Posted April 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 I've got a smart gauge, and a clamp meter. I wondered if there was a boaters favorite as far as ac monitoring is concerned. Looks like there are plenty of domestic ones about - just a question of finding one that is fairly simple and not too bothered with calculating costs on tariffs etc which would obviously be quite meaningless. Also something that shows quite clearly the lower end of the power consumption spectrum as I rarely expect to be pulling many kwh! Now I've spotted this one... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-MODEL-GEO-Minim-Energy-Smart-Electricity-Monitor-brand-new-and-boxed/122429465754?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40656%26meid%3D04106b29b5ca4d479dc7bd99f14ee5ee%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D282418744306 It looks like it can be set to display kw in current and historical, which would be more than adequate. Alan, I DO want to know my ac consumption! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philjw Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 I have no experience of these bits of kit or how they work but I do know that ordinary voltmeters don't work well on the AC wave forms produced by inverters. I'm not sure where the OP is getting his AC from at the moment. Will the domestic monitors produce an accurate result with an inverter? Does it make a difference if it is not pure sine wave? Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 1 minute ago, philjw said: Will the domestic monitors produce an accurate result with an inverter? Does it make a difference if it is not pure sine wave? I tried a domestic one on our modified sinewave inverter and concluded that it wasn't accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 14 minutes ago, Johny London said: I've got a smart gauge, and a clamp meter. I wondered if there was a boaters favorite as far as ac monitoring is concerned. Looks like there are plenty of domestic ones about - just a question of finding one that is fairly simple and not too bothered with calculating costs on tariffs etc which would obviously be quite meaningless. Also something that shows quite clearly the lower end of the power consumption spectrum as I rarely expect to be pulling many kwh! Now I've spotted this one... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-MODEL-GEO-Minim-Energy-Smart-Electricity-Monitor-brand-new-and-boxed/122429465754?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40656%26meid%3D04106b29b5ca4d479dc7bd99f14ee5ee%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D282418744306 It looks like it can be set to display kw in current and historical, which would be more than adequate. Alan, I DO want to know my ac consumption! Most clampmeters have an AC current range as well as a DC one, surely that allows you to work out the overall current demand and hence, multiplying by the voltage, the power. Just bear in mind that you have to put the clampmeter around just one conductor - if you put it around a 3 core flex you will get zilch. We have a combi inverter that reports AC current output, either coming from the mains or from the inverter bit. It is quite useful to know how many combinations of toaster / coffee machine / electric kettle / washing machine / tumble drier / MIL's hair dryer/ TV / Sat box we can run without overloading the inverter (10A or so), or the shore bollard (16A). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny London Posted April 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Well after a bit more searching I found something a bit more simple... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC80-260V-20A-100A-LCD-Digital-Amp-Voltage-Current-Power-Meter-Ammeter-Voltmeter/152258591561?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D2220072%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40656%26meid%3D9ba908d237dd46c4bdb012d48761c395%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D172312284330 Pretty much has exactly what I wanted - though as with all these things it'll be consuming a little bit of power all the time the 240v is on. I'll order one and report back but at a tenner it looks pretty useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Just now, Johny London said: Well after a bit more searching I found something a bit more simple... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC80-260V-20A-100A-LCD-Digital-Amp-Voltage-Current-Power-Meter-Ammeter-Voltmeter/152258591561?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D2220072%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40656%26meid%3D9ba908d237dd46c4bdb012d48761c395%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D172312284330 Pretty much has exactly what I wanted - though as with all these things it'll be consuming a little bit of power all the time the 240v is on. I'll order one and report back but at a tenner it looks pretty useful. Will you be using 20 Amps at 240 Volts, that more than most shore supplies will provide and also a decent size generator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Just now, Johny London said: Well after a bit more searching I found something a bit more simple... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC80-260V-20A-100A-LCD-Digital-Amp-Voltage-Current-Power-Meter-Ammeter-Voltmeter/152258591561?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D2220072%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40656%26meid%3D9ba908d237dd46c4bdb012d48761c395%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D172312284330 Pretty much has exactly what I wanted - though as with all these things it'll be consuming a little bit of power all the time the 240v is on. I'll order one and report back but at a tenner it looks pretty useful. I would just think a little bit about exactly how you are going to connect it up and house it. Those screw terminals on the back will be permanently live so be careful! There is no means to connect the incoming and outgoing earths together so you will have to provide means of doing that. I can't help thinking it probably doesn't meet any safety standards so as I said, be careful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cereal tiller Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Just now, Johny London said: Well after a bit more searching I found something a bit more simple... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC80-260V-20A-100A-LCD-Digital-Amp-Voltage-Current-Power-Meter-Ammeter-Voltmeter/152258591561?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D2220072%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40656%26meid%3D9ba908d237dd46c4bdb012d48761c395%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D172312284330 Pretty much has exactly what I wanted - though as with all these things it'll be consuming a little bit of power all the time the 240v is on. I'll order one and report back but at a tenner it looks pretty useful. Have been using a similar one for a few Years,it displays AC volts and Amps,fitted it in a small grey 'Hobby Box' enclosure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Just now, cereal tiller said: Have been using a similar one for a few Years,it displays AC volts and Amps,fitted it in a small grey 'Hobby Box' enclosure. Does it read accurately below 20 Amps, it says its 20 to I think 100 amps but I may have that upper figure wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cereal tiller Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 (edited) Just now, ditchcrawler said: Does it read accurately below 20 Amps, it says its 20 to I think 100 amps but I may have that upper figure wrong Yes,it seems accurate,a 13 AMP. plug feeds it and a 16AMP Female leave the Enclosure to feed the Boat's RCD and main AC circuit 0.1 of an AMP. (23 Watts) is the smallest unit it will measure Edited April 13, 2017 by cereal tiller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Just now, ditchcrawler said: Does it read accurately below 20 Amps, it says its 20 to I think 100 amps but I may have that upper figure wrong ??? the spec reads "Tesing current: 0 ~ 20A, display accuracy: 0.01A" "Testing power: 0 ~ 4.5kW, display accuracy: 0.1W(<1kW) / 1W(>1kW)" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 For the larger unit... Tesing current: 0 ~ 100A, display accuracy: 0.01A Testing power: 0 ~ 22kW, display accuracy: 0.1W(<1kW) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Just now, WotEver said: For the larger unit... Tesing current: 0 ~ 100A, display accuracy: 0.01A Testing power: 0 ~ 22kW, display accuracy: 0.1W(<1kW) Ta, now I have a connection again I just checked the add and now see there are 2 units Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbfiresprite Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 accurac 6 hours ago, Johny London said: Well after a bit more searching I found something a bit more simple... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC80-260V-20A-100A-LCD-Digital-Amp-Voltage-Current-Power-Meter-Ammeter-Voltmeter/152258591561?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D2220072%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40656%26meid%3D9ba908d237dd46c4bdb012d48761c395%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D172312284330 Pretty much has exactly what I wanted - though as with all these things it'll be consuming a little bit of power all the time the 240v is on. I'll order one and report back but at a tenner it looks pretty useful. I have these meters installed on both my boats and have proved to be accurate. No more shocks when the quartery bill arrives (moorers at Foxes have no access to the shoreline meter)As is the amps display, insuring you don't trip the shoreline breaker (6A) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny London Posted April 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2017 Cereal Tiller - is it possible to disable the lcd backlight? Perhaps by unsoldering a connection? I expect I'll rig it up near to my consumer unit. I ordered one anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 16, 2017 Report Share Posted April 16, 2017 4 minutes ago, Johny London said: Cereal Tiller - is it possible to disable the lcd backlight? Perhaps by unsoldering a connection? I expect I'll rig it up near to my consumer unit. I ordered one anyway. If you switched off the LCD backlight you wouldn't be able to see the display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cereal tiller Posted April 16, 2017 Report Share Posted April 16, 2017 36 minutes ago, Johny London said: Cereal Tiller - is it possible to disable the lcd backlight? Perhaps by unsoldering a connection? I expect I'll rig it up near to my consumer unit. I ordered one anyway. Amazingly low power for backlight,not really worth saving,me?,I prefer LED,Bright and Beautiful ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbfiresprite Posted April 16, 2017 Report Share Posted April 16, 2017 46 minutes ago, Johny London said: Cereal Tiller - is it possible to disable the lcd backlight? Perhaps by unsoldering a connection? I expect I'll rig it up near to my consumer unit. I ordered one anyway. No desoldering needed, small button to the right of the display, press once to turn backlight on or off. Hold down for 5 seconds to reset kwh reading Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny London Posted April 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 Sounds perfect then, regarding the button for the backlight. You normally can see lcd displays pretty clearly without a backlight though. Anyway - I saw this one - it might appeal to those who like led's and have a consumer unit... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311783732592?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT At the prices these things go for, it seems pointless not to have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny London Posted May 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 Just fitted my unit - wasn't sure if putting the inductor round the neutral wire would be ok but it was easier, readings look lower than I expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now