AC mains voltage logger - where to get?

A

Arthur

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I want to start monitoring and recording the AC mains voltage coming into the house. Ideally I want something that I can plug in to a socket, connect to the PC and log the voltage every once-in-a-while (minute, hour whatever).

Pointers muchly appreciated.
 
The newer APC units keeps quite a nice history.

For a more decent logger, you are looking at biiiiiggggg bucks. Fluke has something like that.
 
Big bucks eh?

Can be made for about R400, I did one a few years ago for 3 phase, but it can be modified in software to do single phase and it is accurate, we used it at my previous workplace.
 
Turiko said:
Can be made for about R400, I did one a few years ago for 3 phase, but it can be modified in software to do single phase and it is accurate.
Click to expand...

Cool, @ +- R 400 I will take one !!!

What sort of interface does it have back to the PC ? Serial, USB or ethernet ?

Is it time based logging or is it triggered ?
 
At R400 I'll take one too :)

Fits nicely into some of the plans that I have...
 
The problem: I made these things last about 5 years ago. I don't know what I've done with the CAM files and the source code. The last one I made is still installed at my previous workplace, no chance of getting it back.

The solution: Do a new one, with USB, which could be even cheaper. I can get working on this shortly but at the same time it could do with some modernisation I guess. So what kinds of things do you want?
 
Thanks, Turiko! I 'm quite prepared to pay upfront if you want.

I envisage the following:

* little box with two plugs : one for mains (eg shaver plug) and one for standard USB.

* At a minimum, a simple app that logs AC voltage to a file on the PC.
DATE - TIME - VOLTAGE
Ideally file is tab delimited or CSV for easy import into spreadheet

* Ability to set monitoring intervals, eg every second, minute, hour ... perhaps have the monitoring period specified in seconds and multiples thereof.

* Ability to record and log all out-of-spec events (even transient dips and spikes) below and above specified voltage (with date and time)

* Start a new log file every month

* App on std Win API (ie runs under XP, Vista)

* No need for bells and whistles such as on-screen display, minimising to notification area, etc

If you do this right I'm sure some entrepreneur here will be able to sell 10,000 of these in 3 months ... that could be useful pocket money!
 
Turiko said:
The solution: Do a new one, with USB, which could be even cheaper. I can get working on this shortly but at the same time it could do with some modernisation I guess. So what kinds of things do you want?
Click to expand...

Easiest USB (virtual com port) = CP2102

If you need some production facilities, give me a shout...
 
Whats the point in one of these? Is this exclusively for monitoring mains output AC VOLTAGE amount (and if so, why?), or also to monitor frequency etc? I dont see the point in MONITORING, as such... if you REQUIRE stable power, get an on-line UPS system going and you'll be able to provide superclean sinewave power to satisfy your needs...

But if I needed to monitor voltage, i'd get myself a standard home UPS and just hook up the serial connection and SNMP probe it with a graphing utility such as RRDTOOL rather than plain csv
 
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fragtion_ said:
Whats the point in one of these?
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Simple I don't feel like buying a 8KVA double conversion UPS for home use.

The idea is to monitor the power, not fix it ;) .

What I would like

* Trigger (frequency / voltage - settable) - I only want to know when power is outside limits (which I can set ?)
* Logging for X - Cycles until power stabilises for X - cycles with date/timestamp
* Current Monitoring would be a huge bonus

Ta
 
Ah, but what good is monitoring your mains voltage only to find that it IS IN FACT unstable and does go beyond acceptable the limits'? :P It's completely cosmetic and a waste of money unless you're doing it because you're an enthusiast and just want to monitor for fun. If you're looking to RENT such a device to establish whether or not you need to fork out that cash to buy the UPS though, then fair enough :)
Plus, R400 was the price discussed for one of these... For that same price you can get a low-VA UPS that has this exact feature... why spend the same amount for less functionality?
Definitely not an idea to scrap -- but worth it only if it's going to be sold for a decent price (R50-150)
 
fragtion_ said:
Ah, but what good is monitoring your mains voltage only to find that it IS IN FACT unstable and does go beyond acceptable the limits'?
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Eskom bashing :D

Seriously, it is quite usefull especially for monitoring power @ customers, even if they have some form of UPS (many older ones without any monitoring facilities).

Many people (customers) believe that the mere fact that they have a UPS of sorts that their power is fine.
 
i fully agree with fragtion spendin R400 just too see what comes out of your mains is surely a waste its not like the blokes at eskom really care
 
wezhira said:
i fully agree with fragtion spendin R400 just too see what comes out of your mains is surely a waste its not like the blokes at eskom really care
Click to expand...

And the fact that those voltages shown on that other thread taken from a UPS (shown below), which were being ripped apart by posters with reference to Eskom, were shown to be within the accepted variances....

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=1955618&postcount=11
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=1956261&postcount=13
 
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