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Modify theKill A Watt It's a tool designed around one of the principle philosophies of utterpower. Do your own Math! I've mentioned this handy and inexpensive device many times, it gives the DIYer a very inexpensive method to monitor Voltage, Current, Frequency, Watts and Power Factor, Few of us need much more, and at a cost of $28 or less, it is very difficult to pass up as your monitoring display(s). Plug one in where ever you want to monitor voltage and Frequency, add ONE external component, and get total load information at your generator head, or at the first distribution box. Thanks to DIYer 'Bill Rogers', it's now real easy to extend the Amperage reading capacity to cover most every DIYer's requirements. Bill shared this little trick with me back in January?, and it's just too good not to share with everyone in our DIYer community.
Here's a picture of two 'KILL A WATTS' monitoring a test load, both are set on the AMPS scale.
Above: Part of an Utterpower Load Cell Here's Bill's Little addition, a common CT transformer, wired per his test, you can use the Stock 'Kill A Watt' to read up to 100 amps. Now go back and look at the two Kill A Watts above. The one on the left is reading the total Amperage of the Generator Head via the common 'CT' , the one on the right is reading the same total load 'As Designed'. When we use the CT, we simply move the decimal point one place. We appreciate the cost effective solution, if something breaks, we throw it away and buy another one and plug it in, some of those really cool panel meters are expensive to buy and replace.
Above: Bill's Drawing
Above: Utterpower Test Bench, a small heated room where I make and break stuff. Looking at the current (voltage wave form) out of the CT. Connecting to the output of the CT, you can look at that big compressor load, and know exactly what it took to start it. Since there are now inexpensive scopes that will log data, you can make changes to your compressors, AC units, Motors and more, and actually record the results and see if you made that improvement you were after. Use the Kill A Watt on an individual appliance, and see what changes you can make. Take that fridge for example, it you glue some foam sheet to the sides and top, what's the difference? If you increase the efficiency of the condenser, by adding some aluminum cooling fins, or making an exchanger fed by cold mountain spring water (because you have it), you will be able to record the difference. As I say all the time, you must do your own figuring. Remember there are people out there that get their scientific data from a dog, OR they are motivated totally by sales, they'll certainly tell you whatever their selling is best. There are also people on forums who will give you their expert advice, and many who have the strongest opinions have zero 'hands on' experience! Do yourself a favor, and do your own math! And for those of us who are attempting to measure those Kilowatt Hours, this little meter now has the total, we just move the decimal a place, and we know what we made. fill up the fuel tank, reset the meter, and you'll have an idea as to what it cost you in fuel to make that power. YES, those who read this page will be skeptical, they'll have questions, maybe they'll go to some forum and get an opinion from someone that doesn't even own one! For a few dollars, you can buy your own, and do your own experimenting. Question: How accurate is the KW and KWH figures produced by this cheap little 'Kill A Watt' ? Answer: As we know, we'd need to perform tests on a bunch more units selected at Random to impress many engineers, BUT the KWH accumulations did match the readings of an expensive commercial KWH meter in one test by one engineer! Probably as accurate as any hobbyist will ever need! Question: Hey wait a minute! what about the 240 volt side of things? Answer: When all of the load you are monitoring is 240 volts, simply double the KW or KWH figures shown on the 'Kill a Watt'. This is a starting point, there's probably a ton of clever ideas you can apply to the Kill A Watt. There's an article on utterpower called 'things I hate', if I ever make up a article for the things I love, the Kill A Watt will be close to the top. Cheers to the engineers who designed this little bargain :-) utterpower disclaimer: If you are certified believer in free energy, if you are attempting to prove the cost effectiveness of hydrogen power, do not buy a Kill A Watt, or nay other measuring equipment! It'll only "bum you out". All the best, George B. |
