I'm looking at build one of those Kill A Watt meters. I know I could buy one but where is the fun in that.
Going to be using an Arduino with a current sensor.
I would like to use it to work out the cost of a AC device which is plugged into the unit and run for a certain period. Say for example I plug my TV in and run it for 30 mins - how much could it cost?
Originally I thought it would be simple using P=VI but after some more reading up it looks like I will need to take the power factor into account.
A few questions:
1) I've got a sensor (**broken link removed**) which I will use to determine the current, I know the voltage - 220V in South Africa, what else would I need to work out the cost?
2) If I didn't take the power factor into account how inaccurate would the results be? How do I determine the PF is I should be using it?
How do these kill a watt meters work - do they take the PF into account? How do they do it?
I would like to use it to work out the cost of a AC device which is plugged into the unit and run for a certain period. Say for example I plug my TV in and run it for 30 mins - how much could it cost?
Originally I thought it would be simple using P=VI but after some more reading up it looks like I will need to take the power factor into account.
A few questions:
1) I've got a sensor (**broken link removed**) which I will use to determine the current, I know the voltage - 220V in South Africa, what else would I need to work out the cost?
2) If I didn't take the power factor into account how inaccurate would the results be? How do I determine the PF is I should be using it?
How do these kill a watt meters work - do they take the PF into account? How do they do it?