[ale] Power Meter (Was: Re: [ale] About that firewall machine [Was]Re: [ale] unidentified processes)

tew at wiencko.com tew at wiencko.com
Wed Dec 19 13:52:08 EST 2001


Split a spare power cord down the middle of the insulation (leaving both
conductors still insulated) and a clamp on ammeter works just fine.

Anything that "just measures power directly" will also have to have access to
one of the conductors.  You can spend a whole lot of money doing this, or
you can get really close with some cheap tools and a little dexterity with
a power cord or cheap power strip you don't mind taking apart.


On Wed, 19 December 2001, jeff hubbs wrote:

> 
> Geoffrey wrote:
> 
> > John Wells wrote:
> > 
> >>I'm interested in power consumption as well.  I've
> >>finally got my laptop router working well, but I
> >>really hate to leave it on 'round the clock if I'm
> >>throwing money out the window.
> >>
> >>I'm assuming Radio Shack would be the place to find a
> >>meter like this?
> >>
> > 
> > Yeah, but I've not seen a cheap amp meter.  Standard vom meters you can
> > get for $10 at radio shack don't usually handle large currents ac
> > currents.  I've not priced them in a while, but last time I checked,
> > they run > $100.
> 
> Clamp-on ammeters are not going to get you what you need, especially 
> since you would have to separate one conductor somewhere to put the 
> sensor around.
> 
> I have worked with a power meter before; it was a box, about 7"x7", with 
> a few buttons and an LED display on the front.  It had some outlets on 
> the front and on the back and a power cord.  Call an electrician's 
> supply place and ask.  The other thing I'd do is look at Fluke's Web 
> site and see if they have anything that will measure power directly.  It 
> should be be some kind of RMS meter that accounts for power factor and 
> will give you a reading in VA.
> 
> - Jeff
> 
> 
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