Power Measuring Methods

[Suds]

Hi

I'm working on a design project that requires the measurement of power usage in a home. The PC is used to display a log of this. What I would really appreciate is if someone could give me a brief idea of how many methods there are of actually measuring the power.

I found out that one could use a current transducer at the mains or count the number of times the meter needle spins. Which of these will be easier to implement? And what are the drawbacks?

Thanks

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Assuming the idea is to monitor your actual costs?, then the meter spinning is the only way to do it - that way you're actually monitoring what you're going to get charged.

If you want to monitor power consumption?, check EPE, they did a two channel PIC based monitor the other year, which used a special monitoring and multipying chip.

 

[Suds]

Thanks Nigel, how can I get hold of EPE?

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

It's a UK magazine **broken link removed**

 

[Bob Scott]

EPE has forums:

https://www.chatzones.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi

 

[Suds]

Thanks Nigel and Scott