PC based power/energy analyser brand ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: JeanF
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2013, 01:04:39 pm
content: Hello,A few years ago, when I was still a kind of kid, I used to "read" (more like "pretend i'm reading") an electronics magazine ("Electronique Pratique", in French) because I found it interesting at the time, even if I understood nothing but very simple circuits and I missed the point of many articles. Now I'm slowly getting more experienced and I can now tell that many articles were BSAnd in an ad in this magazine, I once saw a power analyser which was intended for hobby or educational use (I think). The problem is, I can't remember much about it and I haven't been able to find the ad. I think it was just a big mains plug (male to female) containing the frontend and an isolated PC interface, and software. So I guess it was quite basic and single phase only... if I remember well. The software allowed to plot the power factor, harmonics, reactive power etc.. Maybe for highschool courses ?Do you know a manufacturer who provides such kinds of kits ? Something not in the range of several thousands of $ThanksJF

author: JeanF
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 09:42:49 pm
content: Hello again,I finally found where I first read about this small-ish power analyser. It happens to be French design (and apparently French manufacture, or so it claims ; I hope its true since they definitely don't sell it cheap, at 240€ excl 19.6% tax (nearly 390USD inc. tax. Phew !)It's the PowerSpy2 by Alciom :http://www.alciom.com/fr/produits/powerspy2.htmlhttp://www.alciom.com/images/stories/downloads/rl1236-004%20powerspy2%20user%20manual%20v0101.pdfIt seems to be aimed at small power measurements (single phase only btw, looks like it could work on US mains too) and to be PIC based but the photo (from Alciom) is very small so I can't be sure.Anyone knows similar devices from other manufacturers ?thanks

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 10:08:47 pm
content: HiI don't know any other brands of the top of my head but I have heard there are a few.Some don't even monitor the voltage, just the current and the assume that the voltage is the same as nominal and the pf is 1??!This one seems to give plenty of detail about your power.I made one myself using an MCP3901. Seems very similar to what I was trying to achieve.Can you get a better photo, and maybe one of the back. Wonder what chips they chose, maybe the same.I am wondering how they get 1% accuracy. I guess they must calibrate it individually and store the info on chip.

author: JeanF
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 10:48:09 pm
content: No, sorry, I cant get better photos... These are not mine. They are screen captures that I hosted because I couln't find proper links to JPG photos on their website... I don't own this device and I won't buy it anytime soon ; maybe the performance is great but I don't have the money... That's why I was wondering what other instruments are on the same market

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 11:26:21 pm
content: I think you will have trouble beating that sort of accuracy for the price.Although often the specs in the manual do push to the edge of truth.