Where to Find a Cheap and Reliable Power Meter?

• 

  hashtagbargain on 13/07/2015 - 14:53

  Do you want to use it for just a day or something? In that case, you can borrow mine :) PM me.

  • 

    ProjectZero on 13/07/2015 - 15:19

    Probably will only use it periodically, so I thought I might as well get one =)

    Are you selling? ;)

    • 

      hashtagbargain on 13/07/2015 - 15:26

      +2

      Not selling :) I got one off ebay like this.Is that what you had in mind?

  • 

    ProjectZero on 13/07/2015 - 15:35

    That's twice the price, is there really any extra features? Besides the larger screen, it seems to be the same.

    Also, it seems to be the one hashtagbargain linked to, with the exception of the 1m extension.

    • • 

        ProjectZero on 13/07/2015 - 15:57

        Thanks mate, might get hashtagbargain's suggestion.

  • 

    mskeggs on 13/07/2015 - 16:19

    +2

    Jaycar as a brand generally sells pretty reputable products.

    I think this is true of some items, but their "gadgets" are all junk and overpriced.

    I have the one the OP linked (bought not from Jaycar, but identical) and it is accurate enough, though it has a very poor interface.
    I would also get the $30 more usuable one you linked.

    However, I would first ring the local library. I know ours and many others have power meters available for free loan.

    • 

      ProjectZero on 13/07/2015 - 16:27

      I know ours and many others have power meters available for free loan.

      Hmm… that's news to me, will give that a try first =)

      Thanks!

      • 

        mskeggs on 13/07/2015 - 16:44

        My Dad's council has a "Sustainability Manager" who oversees this and other council services, so it isn't exclusively via the library.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 13/07/2015 - 21:01

  I bought that cheap Jaycar Powertech-badged one back when it was twice the price, but pretty much the only game in town. Rather more convenient than using a handheld clamp-meter, but proved to be very inaccurate for low and standby loads - the main reason to buy these things in the first place - and as mskeggs said, had a lousy display.
  I left it plugged-in for a while at some point to monitor something and it carked-it after a bit.

  Choice tested three of those identical, but differently-badged units, back in 2011. Big variation, but all inaccurate for low/standby, as per experience.

  Belkin source / badge some very ordinary kit, but the $50 (at the time) Conserve Insight meter tested as excellent for both low and high readings. It is no longer listed on the Belkin Australia site, which is a pity.

  Choice also tested the Steplight / WattsClever / The eBay One. Not accurate (70% rating) for low/standby. If you do buy, just don't rely on the accuracy of the low-watt readings it gives. Absent the little Belkin one, you do need to spend over $100 for something properly decent in that regard.

  If you can't borrow a meter and do decide to buy one on-the-cheap from the Singapore seller hashtagbargain linked, you would, kinda, be buying from the fambam…

  BTW, PZ - in relation to that other thread the other day, a 'cattledog' is / can be a Blue Heeler, or a Red Heeler.. or.. a colloquial catalogue…

  Woof!

  :-)

  • 

    mskeggs on 13/07/2015 - 21:04

    This is true with regard to accuracy. Mine measures ok above a few watts, which is fine for my needs. I don't care if a load is 4w or 5w or 6w, but I care if it is 400w or 500w or 600w.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 13/07/2015 - 21:10

      I remember mine be less than accurate even around the 15w mark - maybe in keeping with the variation seen among the three clone units Choice tested.

  • 

    mskeggs on 13/07/2015 - 21:09

    I haven't used one, but the ATA sell a $280 meter that claims under 1% error. Interestingly, they also sell a $29 one similar to the Jaycar one Cheap Charlie linked above, that they suggest is ok over 2.5w. They are pretty reputable, so I would take their descriptions as accurate.
    https://shop.ata.org.au/product-category/meters-test-gear

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 13/07/2015 - 21:27

      Cheap and cheerful. Same as the Choice 70%er, so maybe…

      Badge-engineered products disperse like dandelion seeds from the Chinese factories.

• 

  theguru1 on 14/07/2015 - 07:20

  I bought the Aldi one, but did look at the Jaycar versions.
  One thing I have found is that it is totally useless for inductance loads such as electric motors.

• 

  ProjectZero on 14/07/2015 - 09:18

  Based on what I've read of mskeggs and Tas, seems like my best bet is the one linked in Cheap Charlie's post. Whilst the ebay one is cheaper, I'm kind of put off by the fact that it ships from overseas, they take too long, and that I'm unsure of the quality because I cant see it physically before buying.

  Guess I'll try the library first and then if they don't have it I'll stop by Jaycar on the way home. I plan on using it mainly for my computer builds so I can decide what kind of PSU I want to get, my current PSU is loud as hell when gaming, my other parts are water cooled so it is relatively quiet and the only loud component is my PSU.

  I'm not too sure what "inductance loads" is, would that affect me if I were to use it to check my PSU?

  @Tas

  'cattledog' is / can be a Blue Heeler, or a Red Heeler.. or.. a colloquial catalogue…

  That I didn't know, learn something new everyday =)

• 

  boccos on 14/07/2015 - 11:28

  Save you the trouble. An desktop I3 PC with a platinum grade power supply chews about 80 watts (no graphics cards)and peaks at 100watts under load. An I7 PC with standard power supply chews about 140-160w at idle, peeking at 200watts under load. In terms of Dollars cost of running. Current T11 tariff (General Use) is 24.46 cents per kwh (Ergon NQ). The difference (at idle) the above two computers running 24 hrs daily over a one year period is about $150. If you are on an energy saving war path, then it is probably worth the cost of a computer rebuild using energy efficient components. If not, then consider turning it off when not in use.

  • 

    ProjectZero on 14/07/2015 - 12:27

    I always turn it off, and not just standby… I turn it off at the PSU.

    My concern is my PSU is too loud when gaming, main objective of this exercise is to figure out if there are any fanless or semi passive PSUs that will suit my needs. The OCZ Gold 1250 PSU is so loud I can't stand it anymore… especially when it drowns out 16 radiator fans… these fans that I have (Corsair SP120) are surprisingly quiet when on low settings.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 14/07/2015 - 20:20

  I want to buy a generator to run the fridge and a freezer during power outages. They cost a small fortune so I don't want to buy one too small (because it won't run them) - and if I buy too big, they use more fuel than is necessary.

  Refrigeration appliances have a high, and fast, intial surge when their compressors come on.

  Does anyone know of a meter that will measure - and retain in memory - a momentary peak surge?

  • 

    boccos on 18/07/2015 - 08:10

    Rule of thumb, start-up on an old style refrigerator is 3-4 times normal operating wattage. Newer refrigerators are "soft-start" and do not need much extra for starting.

• 

  denuto on 17/07/2015 - 17:35

  +1

  I cannot now remember where I did all the research, but I do know that it pointed fairly conclusively to this as being the most accurate power meter available at a half reasonable price. It is not thrown out by the power spike that occurs when a motor device (such as a refrigerator) starts up and it's also quite accurate in measuring very small amounts of current. I managed to get a secondhand one on fleabay ( the ozbargain spirit is to get a cheap buy on something that you'll then use to save money). It works as it should.

  • 

    ProjectZero on 17/07/2015 - 20:03

    Whoa that's steep, will keep it in mind if it ever shows up on ozb but for now I don't think I'll need a semi pro measuring gear.

• 

  nagel on 18/07/2015 - 12:48

  I just picked one up at red dot store for 8 bucks! was marked at 19.99 scanned at 7.99 :D

  It looks exactly like this one http just without the logo on top http://www.jaycar.com.au/Power-Products-Electrical/Power-Mon…

  not sure how to test how accurate it is but it wouldn't suprise me if it was made in the same factory