Electronic power usage meter where to buy?

[Chrisbinbkk]

Does anyone know here I can get such a plug in meter in Thailand, to test say a fridge to see how much power it's using?

Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RGF29Q

Many thanka

[CharlieH]

Probably better in electrical forum, so moving there

[ukrules]

I picked up something similar in the UK. Items like this I tend to mail order from abroad.

[Crossy]

Ebay is your friend in this case.

These beasts are available here (have a search for threads involving kill-a-watt) but they are by no means common yet.

[Langsuan Man]

Here on Ebay, but be aware they are a PITA to use since you have to either be a midget or get on your knees to read the damn thing

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-FR-energy-meter-Watt-Voltage-Volt-Meter-Monitor-Analyzer-with-power-factor-/201352109251?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ee1855cc3

[Crossy]

Here on Ebay, but be aware they are a PITA to use since you have to either be a midget or get on your knees to read the damn thing

Being neither I plug mine into an extension lead which is sat on a stool

[Langsuan Man]

Here on Ebay, but be aware they are a PITA to use since you have to either be a midget or get on your knees to read the damn thing

Being neither I plug mine into an extension lead which is sat on a stool

Here is one that was not available when I purchased mine but someone must have stolen your idea to make it more flexible since the unit should be plugged in for a period of time to get a reliable reading, especially for a refrigerator that cycles on and off

source: http://www.ebay.com/itm/EU-Energy-Meter-Watt-Voltage-Volt-Tester-LCD-Power-Monitor-Analyzer-Smart-Socket/281519981164?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140602152332%26meid%3D48a0e75d404c49959ed953cc116da9b1%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D231385590332#shpCntId

[Crossy]

I have one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electricity-Power-Energy-Monitor-Meter-KWH-Watt-NEW-/110886947501?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19d1608aad Measures Voltage (V), Amps (A), Watts (W), Volt-Amps(VA), Hertz (Hz) and power factor (PF)

[bankruatsteve]

I have one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electricity-Power-Energy-Monitor-Meter-KWH-Watt-NEW-/110886947501?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19d1608aad Measures Voltage (V), Amps (A), Watts (W), Volt-Amps(VA), Hertz (Hz) and power factor (PF)

I have read that a lot of appliances these days, including A/C, have PF close to 1. If you have done some testing, could you show results of PF for some of your stuff? Cheers.

[Chrisbinbkk]

I have one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electricity-Power-Energy-Monitor-Meter-KWH-Watt-NEW-/110886947501?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19d1608aad Measures Voltage (V), Amps (A), Watts (W), Volt-Amps(VA), Hertz (Hz) and power factor (PF)

Yeah that's the boy, the kill a watt cost more to ship here than the cost to buy... do you have it in Thailand?

[Crossy]

Yup, I'm actually on my second one after the first had an 'accident' when it was borrowed.

The seller I liked to has it for 14.95 + 4.99 postage, 20 Squid all in (no connection, he just happened to be the first I spotted with this unit).

[Pib]

You can get below Electan at Homepro, Global, many stalls that sell electric stuff.....or at least here in Bangkok they see them at a quite a few stores. Costs around Bt600 to Bt800. I've got one ..works great....hard it for over a year now...can handle up to 16A/3680W.

Buy an adapter anywhere for about Bt25 which allows you to also plug in round pin plugs.

Here's a link that gives another picture and the specs. Link

Edited June 18, 2015 by Pib

[Chrisbinbkk]

You can get below Electan at Homepro, Global, many stalls that sell electric stuff.....or at least here in Bangkok they see them at a quite a few stores. Costs around Bt600 to Bt800. I've got one ..works great....hard it for over a year now...can handle up to 16A/3680W.

Buy an adapter anywhere for about Bt25 which allows you to also plug in round pin plugs.

Capture.JPG

Here's a link that gives another picture and the specs. Link

Yep thanks guys I just picked one up 6xx baht

[Chrisbinbkk]

Here it is from home pro changwattana

[Pib]

That's the one....it can do so much. I programmed in my cost of electricity per KWH to include all taxes/fees of about Bt4.66 right now and did quite a few tests around the house of areas/setups I had a lot of electronics concentrated...also checked individual appliances. Also done plenty of brief tests just to see how many amps/watts a device is drawing. Great little instrument.

[bankruatsteve]

So, anybody check the PF for various appliance using one of those things?

[Crossy]

So, anybody check the PF for various appliance using one of those things?

Gizza break Steve, you only asked about it last evening, even Mods have to sleep (and work)

Does the Electan unit do PF?

I'll do a few PF checks over the weekend if I get the odd microsecond

[bankruatsteve]

So, anybody check the PF for various appliance using one of those things?

Gizza break Steve, you only asked about it last evening, even Mods have to sleep (and work)

Does the Electan unit do PF?

I'll do a few PF checks over the weekend if I get the odd microsecond

No pressure (as long as you do it over the weekend). Actually, just thought it was something you may have already done. Cheers.

[Crossy]

No pressure (as long as you do it over the weekend). Actually, just thought it was something you may have already done. Cheers.

I did in the past, but I've long since "misplaced" the results.

I do recall some cheap compact fluorescent lamps that had a PF of worse than 0.5 which were causing my lighting UPS to trip out on overload, this despite the connected Wattage being well within the rating of the unit. Replacement with good quality lamps solved the issue (PFs in the order of 0.9).

In reality for domestic users the actual power factor is purely a "for interest" figure, unlike industrial users (who often have a surcharge for poor PF) we're not charged for Apparent Power (VA) but Real Power (VA*PF). Unless of course we have a UPS, genset or AVR (all of which are rated in VA) which are operating near their maximum load.

[Pib]

So, anybody check the PF for various appliance using one of those things?

Gizza break Steve, you only asked about it last evening, even Mods have to sleep (and work)

Does the Electan unit do PF?

I'll do a few PF checks over the weekend if I get the odd microsecond

Yes, the Electan has a PF selection.

[fishbrando]

Mods may want to edit OP's affiliate link to Amazon.

[Crossy]

1 hour ago, fishbrando said:

Mods may want to edit OP's affiliate link to Amazon.

 

Done, but why did you wait over a year to point it out.

 

Also, the unit linked to is 115V and would make a satisfactory pop if connected here.

[fishbrando]

7 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

Done, but why did you wait over a year to point it out.

 

Also, the unit linked to is 115V and would make a satisfactory pop if connected here.

 

Better late than never.

 

Yesterday I was looking for a power meter and came across this topic.  Almost clicked on the first link when I noticed it was an affiliate link.

 

That Electan unit looks pretty good.