Wattage meter

[Dane Brickman]

You can use the electric meter outside your house to determine the usage of
ay individual draw if you're willing to cut off the power to anything you're
not measuring and do some counting and some simple math... (though this
doesn't sound like what you're trying to do).
Try a search for:
Determining kWh Use - Meter-Disk Revolutions

I just did my furnace today, saved me 100 bucks for a meter for one time
use.

 

[Taz]

Does anyone have any suggestions on making or purchasing a wattage/amperage
meter? I'd like to monitor each 120v leg that my generator puts out without
paying $300 for transfer switch.

 

[Bruce in Alaska]

Does anyone have any suggestions on making or purchasing a wattage/amperage
meter? I'd like to monitor each 120v leg that my generator puts out without
paying $300 for transfer switch.

What does a Tranfer Switch have to do with monitoring the AC Current
output from your genset??? The "Big Boys" use Current Transformers
on each of the Legs of the Genset and then Calibrated Meters that
match the Currrent Transformers Turns Ratio. Jameco has some very
reasonable CT's (Current Transformers) in their catalog. Meters
are avalable there as well, or a digital Meter could be used with a
switch to select which leg to be read.

Bruce in alaska

 

[mark Ransley]

Get a digital clamp on meter 30 us. Generac has a 200us transfer
system its complete.

 

[William P.N. Smith]

I am confused as to how monitoring your genset output would be an alternative to a
transfer switch.

I suspect he means one of those all-in-one transfer switches with a
half dozen breakers and some meters on it...

I used current transformers and analog panel meters for my setup, it
was fairly straighforward.

PLEASE NOTE: Current transformers must have their low-current outputs
shorted (or connected to an ammeter or other shunt) at all times, or
they become an extremely high votage source.

 

[Taz]

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, I mean a readable (preferrably analog) meter.
I'd like to try to balance the outputs( or come close). I hear it's better
on the gen head if the outputs are balanced. Any truth to this? Thanks.

I am confused as to how monitoring your genset output would be an
alternative to a
transfer switch. Are you trying to have the genset automagically switch
itself in when it
gets fully up to speed, or perhaps shut down if the power drain becomes
higher than what
the genset is rated for? By "monitor" do you mean a human readable display
or an
electronic logging type of monitoring? If you can help me understand a
little bit better
what your overall objective from monitoring would be I'll be more likely to
offer a useful
comment if I can.

 

[Zathera]

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, I mean a readable (preferrably analog) meter.
I'd like to try to balance the outputs( or come close). I hear it's better
on the gen head if the outputs are balanced. Any truth to this? Thanks.

I am confused as to how monitoring your genset output would be an
alternative to a
transfer switch. Are you trying to have the genset automagically switch
itself in when it
gets fully up to speed, or perhaps shut down if the power drain becomes
higher than what
the genset is rated for? By "monitor" do you mean a human readable display
or an
electronic logging type of monitoring? If you can help me understand a
little bit better
what your overall objective from monitoring would be I'll be more likely to
offer a useful
comment if I can.

Analog meters can be had almost anywhere. Dalis Electronics, WW Grainger,
even radio shack. Look for one that does amps and then get the necessary
current transformer. ( the little donut that the load wires go through) and
connect accordingly. The scale on the meter will be relevant to the CT
that you use. Your going to need something like a 0-10 amp CT, just guessing
I do not think you mentioned the size. If you gen is less than 12-15 kw then
you are probably running at 3600 rpm and have no frequency control. This can
be an issue for certain appliances. I would recommend that you get voltage
meters as well if you are really going to do this. Me I use an Amprobe when
connecting the load for a few minutes and forget it. Keeping a balanced load
on a small gen is next to impossible. If you can get within 20% call it
good.

 

[Taz]

Analog meters can be had almost anywhere. Dalis Electronics, WW Grainger,
even radio shack. Look for one that does amps and then get the necessary
current transformer. ( the little donut that the load wires go through) and
connect accordingly. The scale on the meter will be relevant to the CT
that you use. Your going to need something like a 0-10 amp CT, just guessing
I do not think you mentioned the size. If you gen is less than 12-15 kw then
you are probably running at 3600 rpm and have no frequency control. This can
be an issue for certain appliances. I would recommend that you get voltage
meters as well if you are really going to do this. Me I use an Amprobe when
connecting the load for a few minutes and forget it. Keeping a balanced load
on a small gen is next to impossible. If you can get within 20% call it
good.

I think I'm going to get a clamp probe for my Fluke 83 series and use that
instead of a fixed solution. Thanks for the info.

 

[Zathera]

I think I'm going to get a clamp probe for my Fluke 83 series and use that
instead of a fixed solution. Thanks for the info.

Good idea, I have 2 for my meters as well as a couple of flexi ct's. Just do
not leave them on for extended length of time. Most CT's of this type are
designed for interment duty. Check with the manufacture to be sure.

 

[Bruce in Alaska]

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, I mean a readable (preferrably analog) meter.
I'd like to try to balance the outputs( or come close). I hear it's better
on the gen head if the outputs are balanced. Any truth to this? Thanks.

Why don't you just put a Load Balancing Transformer in your system and
then you don't have to do anything else. Bring all your 120 Vac loads
to the secondary of a 2:1 Transformer, with a size of the total genset
Kw. Power the Primary from the 240Vac output of your Genset. All the
120 Vac loads are then evenly distributed across the 240 Vac Generator.

Bruce in alaska

 

[Taz]

Why don't you just put a Load Balancing Transformer in your system and
then you don't have to do anything else. Bring all your 120 Vac loads
to the secondary of a 2:1 Transformer, with a size of the total genset
Kw. Power the Primary from the 240Vac output of your Genset. All the
120 Vac loads are then evenly distributed across the 240 Vac Generator.

Bruce in alaska

hmmmmm.....................?