Is there a way to measure watt output (instantly)

[eflat]

I bought a Kill-a-watt gizmo which I thought would give me instant watt usage use but it only seems to monitor kilowatt hours over a period of a few days.

Is there something that will straight up tell me how many watts I'm using?

 

[FoBoT]

P = V x A

you know the voltage, so if you use an amp meter (correctly) and measure the current, you can calculate it

i forget if power factor comes into play for AC, been too long

 

[randay]

I use my UPS, it has a little thing that shows how much watts are being used by whatever I have plugged in.

Either that or just calculate it. look for the amp rating on the thing and then multiply by 115 or 120 and you get a good indication of wattage. It wont be entirely accurate, but it will be conservative since youll usually be using less then max.

 

[Viper GTS]

Did you bother reading the manual? Unless you're trying to catch such short spikes that the Kill-A-Watt can't handle it it DOES do current usage.

If you'd read the manual you would know that.

Viper GTS

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
I bought a Kill-a-watt gizmo which I thought would give me instant watt usage use but it only seems to monitor kilowatt hours over a period of a few days.

Is there something that will straight up tell me how many watts I'm using?

The Kill-a-watt does give you instant watt usage, so yes it will tell you how many watts you are using.

It will also accumulate a "consumption" number which is KWH.

Edit: lol, GTS beat me to it.

 

[FP]

There is a button on the darn thing labeled 'Watt' and another named 'Amp'... You can figure it out from either of those.

 

[trmiv]

What Viper GTS, Drako, and binister said. I use my kill-a-watt all the time on my reef tank to see the draw pumps are doing.

 

[Tiamat]

killawatt works, just push the button that toggles from power to current

 

[Miramonti]

The OP is looking for something that will "straight up tell me how many watts I'm using", and unfortunately I don't believe there is a version of the killawatt that offers Text-to-Speech.

 

[d33pt]

this thread is a good example of FAIL.

 

[trmiv]

Originally posted by: jjsole
The OP is looking for something that will "straight up tell me how many watts I'm using", and unfortunately I don't believe there is a version of the killawatt that offers Text-to-Speech.

They have one, it's called the "Kill-A-Watt: Paula Abdul Edition."

"Straight up now tell me how many watts are ya usin'! Oh oh oh!"

 

[Passions]

LOL...I have Kill-a-watt...DUDE just push the watt button. ROFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL OH MAN.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: trmiv

Originally posted by: jjsole
The OP is looking for something that will "straight up tell me how many watts I'm using", and unfortunately I don't believe there is a version of the killawatt that offers Text-to-Speech.

They have one, it's called the "Kill-A-Watt: Paula Abdul Edition."

"Straight up now tell me how many watts are ya usin'! Oh oh oh!"

I ROFLed.

 

[FP]

Originally posted by: trmiv

Originally posted by: jjsole
The OP is looking for something that will "straight up tell me how many watts I'm using", and unfortunately I don't believe there is a version of the killawatt that offers Text-to-Speech.

They have one, it's called the "Kill-A-Watt: Paula Abdul Edition."

"Straight up now tell me how many watts are ya usin'! Oh oh oh!"

You know how I know you are gay? You like Paula Abdul

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: trmiv

Originally posted by: jjsole
The OP is looking for something that will "straight up tell me how many watts I'm using", and unfortunately I don't believe there is a version of the killawatt that offers Text-to-Speech.

They have one, it's called the "Kill-A-Watt: Paula Abdul Edition."

"Straight up now tell me how many watts are ya usin'! Oh oh oh!"

lol :laugh:

 

[JohnCU]

real power = V*I*cos(pf angle)

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Did you bother reading the manual? Unless you're trying to catch such short spikes that the Kill-A-Watt can't handle it it DOES do current usage.

If you'd read the manual you would know that.

Viper GTS

Hell I didn't even read the manual and I knew that... all you have to do is read the damn buttons!

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
real power = V*I*cos(pf angle)

The kill-a-watt measure both real and apparent power. W gives you the real power, VA is the apparent power.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: JohnCU
real power = V*I*cos(pf angle)

The kill-a-watt measure both real and apparent power. W gives you the real power, VA is the apparent power.

ok? and?

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: JohnCU
real power = V*I*cos(pf angle)

The kill-a-watt measure both real and apparent power. W gives you the real power, VA is the apparent power.

ok? and?

You posted the formula, like you had to go through some calculations to figure out what the real power was. I'm not really sure why you thought adding the formula to the discussion was useful

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Drako
You posted the formula, like you had to go through some calculations to figure out what the real power was. I'm not really sure why you thought adding the formula to the discussion was useful

It is finals week. If you can even write down the proper formula to use, most professors will give you at least partial credit. You get that partial credit even if you have nothing of use to add to the thread.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: JohnCU
real power = V*I*cos(pf angle)

The kill-a-watt measure both real and apparent power. W gives you the real power, VA is the apparent power.

ok? and?

You posted the formula, like you had to go through some calculations to figure out what the real power was. I'm not really sure why you thought adding the formula to the discussion was useful

i havent used the kill-o-watt meter and he wanted instant wattage, and thats the formula for it, considering you have a way to measure the current, voltage and power factor.

 

[Evadman]

This thread needs a sticky.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: JohnCU
real power = V*I*cos(pf angle)

The kill-a-watt measure both real and apparent power. W gives you the real power, VA is the apparent power.

ok? and?

You posted the formula, like you had to go through some calculations to figure out what the real power was. I'm not really sure why you thought adding the formula to the discussion was useful

i havent used the kill-o-watt meter and he wanted instant wattage, and thats the formula for it, considering you have a way to measure the current, voltage and power factor.

Hit the "W" button on the kill-a-watt, and there you have your "real" power number, in watts. That's all you have to do

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: JohnCU
real power = V*I*cos(pf angle)

The kill-a-watt measure both real and apparent power. W gives you the real power, VA is the apparent power.

ok? and?

You posted the formula, like you had to go through some calculations to figure out what the real power was. I'm not really sure why you thought adding the formula to the discussion was useful

i havent used the kill-o-watt meter and he wanted instant wattage, and thats the formula for it, considering you have a way to measure the current, voltage and power factor.

Hit the "W" button on the kill-a-watt, and there you have your "real" power number, in watts. That's all you have to do

well hot damn, merry christmas.