Maker Pro
Maker Pro

Kill a Watt or Watts Up

B

Bert Menkveld

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm very happy with my Kill-A-Watt. Provides instantaneous power readings,
power factor (and VA readings), voltage, current, and, most importantly,
accumulated KWh (and elapsed time). My only complaint is that it loses the
accumulated KWh reading as soon as power is lost.

I can't comment on the Watts up meter.
 
W

wmbjk

Jan 1, 1970
0
A device similar to Watts Up

Kill a Watt
http://www.fuelcellstore.com/cgi-bin/fuelweb/view=Item/cat=64/product=345


The price is less though it seems to have fewer functions/whistle and bells.
My interest is as a tool for sizing a small home PV system on a very tight
budget.


If anyone here has used either or both comments would be appreciated.

TIA
Regards,
Tim O

The biggest shortcoming of the Wattsup (ours is 8 years old, new ones
may be different) is that it can't see the smallest loads. So the only
way to measure say, the idle load of a VCR, is to put it in parallel
with a known larger load, and then do a little math. Otherwise it
works OK. But from what others have posted, the Kill a Watt does just
as well for a quarter of the cost.

Wayne
 
J

James Baber

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim Baber Replies to Rory:
It is probably a lot more than you need but my EXTECH 382065 meter is a clampon
style of multi meter with digital outputs for reading DC and AC
the AC side is a RMS or peak to peak meter that will read up to 600VAC at 1000 Amps.

It will read Watts directly, and also power factors. I have read my homes actual
kWh readings for a week to validate my utilities meter readings (I read a -.1 kW
variance in 1 week out of a total of 1500.6 kWh meter vs 1500.5 kWh-Extech).

Besides the meters direct read outs it will record the values captured and play
the readings back into a PC in a spreadsheet sheet with graphic capability, the
software is included.

Unfortunately this meter costs a lot more than of these mentioned devices.

Rory said:
Anyone know of one of these is good for 230VAC? My kill-a-watt claims
on the back to be 125VAC, 15A, and max power of 1875 VA. I'm looking
for something I can use with 230V equipment.

Other than the 230V thing, I'm quite happy with the kill-a-watt.

Rory

--

Jim Baber

(see my 10kW grid tied solar system at "www.baber.org")

1350 W Mesa Ave.
Fresno CA, 93711
(559) 435-9068
(559) 905-2204 cell

Email [email protected]
 
T

Tim O'Flaherty

Jan 1, 1970
0
Thanks all for the responses. I guess I'll go with the Kill a Watt since
it's cheaper and probably adequate for my needs. I about had a heart attack
when I looked at what panels and batteries cost but I guess they won't be
getting any cheaper any time soon.

Regards,
Tim O
 
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