Looking for a 'cheap but good' single phase 120V power line glitch logger - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: cvanc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2019, 10:36:04 pm
content: Hi all-One of my customers has a chronically troubled piece of equipment that I have looked at and tested for days on end without trouble. I think it's perfectly healthy but it still glitches intermittently at the customer location. And by 'intermittently' I mean one second of misbehavior every few days.Veryintermittent.I'd like to test his AC power using some kind of logger. It would have to catch brief glitches and brownouts and store a log of that info for me to evaluate later. I could either access this log via the Internet or just go pick it up and download the history directly.And it has to be cheap, let's start the conversation by saying 500 US Dollars maximum, 200 would be much better.Does such a thing exist? Many thanks.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 11, 2019, 11:37:03 pm
content: I've been looking for something similar for Aussie 240V AC, and in my travels I found these ones on ebay that might suit youhttps://www.ebay.com/str/powermonitors

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2019, 11:55:56 pm
content: You can easy do this with a DSO with a Pass/Fail mask and get a logic output when it happens.Wise operators would use a 100:1 probe.

author: windsmurf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2019, 12:01:51 am
content: You can buy an old UPS system. You can configure many of them to log frequency and detailed info regarding the powerline condition.Your customer may already have a UPS, in which case the data may already be there, or the logging just needs to be configured to your desired frequency.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2019, 01:20:19 am
content: I have a similar problem where I wanted to detect dropouts at home and record it over an extended time.Cheap pedometer with it's switch connected in parallel with a relay. The relay is powered from a wall wart. Power drops, the counter increments. Not sure on the cost as it's just junk I had laying around.I started logging on 6/28/18. Not sure how long the battery is good for in the pedometer.Of course, in my case I really only care about dropouts. You may need something better. Looking at more complex problems may run you well over $500.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2019, 01:30:57 am
content: Quote from: cvanc on March 11, 2019, 10:36:04 pmwallwart arduino and pc with mysql?

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2019, 04:30:42 am
content: I have a Dranetz 626 that you can have for the cost of shipping. It hasn't been used in years but worked when put on the shelf. I opened it and the NiCad pack hasn't leaked and it looks very clean inside. The Dranetz has a thermal paper printer, I believe.I also have an older model Powertronics that has a built in inkjet printer and uses the old school computer continuous paper with the tractor holes on the sides that I would let go cheaply. The Powertronics is more user friendly than the Dranetz and has a parallel printer port which I used with an old school dot matrix printer so I didn't have to fiddle with the built in inkjet.PM me if you are interested.

author: threephase
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2019, 10:09:42 am
content: Have you looked at the Hantek 365F. I don't believe it has internal memory so has to be communicating to a PC to record data.https://www.amazon.com/Hantek-Recorder-Multimeter-Resistance-Measurement/dp/B07GZJRKH1http://www.hantek.com/en/ProductDetail_156.htmlOf a similar nature is the Powertronic Probe 100+ module, again hooked to a PC to collect datahttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYRLH24/ref=psdc_14244481_t1_B001DNLW82There is the Extech DL160 and a host of other similar single phase recorders that do have internal memory.http://www.extech.com/display/?id=14418https://www.amazon.com/Extech-DL160-Voltage-Current-Datalogger/dp/B004OSHVQKSome models from electrocorder, but they are approaching / above your upper price limit.https://www.electrocorder.com/products/voltage-loggersMicrodaq have a few recorders available, one in articular from LOGiT may suit youhttps://www.microdaq.com/supco-logit-current-voltage-data-logger.phphttps://www.microdaq.com/data-loggers/voltage-current.phpAlternatively, if this is a one off, could you hire an energy analyser in your area?

author: LapTop006
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 17, 2019, 07:32:40 am
content: Quote from: cvanc on March 11, 2019, 10:36:04 pmEven the better loggers may not be that helpful. At $ORK's larger sites they have permanently installed loggers on all feeds, but the few times I wanted to get the data they had nothing on events that almost certainly were power line related.