Affordable power monitors

Many researchers into energy using devices, want a believable way to assess the electrical input into the item under test. For instance, you might want to see how much power your TV, electric radiator or fridge uses over a period of time. In this short article, the devices shown in Figure 1 will be discussed and an overview on video will be given.

Figure 1: Two affordable domestic socket based power monitors

Power analysers

The Martin Fleischmann Memorial Project (MFMP), is a project that is set up to test claims of devices that appear to harness the 'New Fire' and, as part of its activities, it has in the past used a PCE-830, as shown in Figure 2 and a Techtronix PA1000.

Figure 2: PCE-830, 3 phase power and harmonics analyser
These kind of devices are very expensive, $2000 is a typical ball-park for something at the low end. This is actually quite necessary when a researcher is using very complicated control waveforms, plasma or sparks etc. that could have harmonics and the like that would fool a cheaper detector. This would especially be the case if one is trying to determine small variations in input power, compared to say, small variations in thermal output power.

The MFMP is preparing to test claims of 'New Fire' technologies in the months of May (HOMO, AURA) and June 2017 (NOVA/ECCO) , the claimants have said that the devices produce transmutations in elements, and/or excess power (one could say, 'free energy' but it is meant to be capturing energy from somewhere and thermalising it). Some of these claims are of output thermal energy 8 or more times that of the electrical input, for months, with the active fuel component less than 13 grams.

For these technologies to be widely accepted, scores of people will need to verify any successful apparatus we openly test. For more people to be able to easily test these devices, it would be great if the power monitoring did not cost several thousands of dollars. Well, when the power levels get up this high, one might argue that the harmonic energy components may be less important to the overall conclusion, and so power monitoring may not need to be so accurate in ball-park measurement. To that end, the MFMP will test a couple of affordable power monitors it has acquired by testing them at the same time as the reactors.

Power monitors

There are two types looked at in the video at the bottom of this article. The first, shown in Figure 3, cost just $11 delivered, and is able to store cumulative data and minimum and maximum power usage data.

H9755EU Power Meter

Figure 3: H9755EU Power Meter

Features (H9755EU)

Large LCD display displaying voltage, frequency, current, power factor, wattage, minimum & maximum power and recorded cumulative kilowatt-hour, time and electricity expenses.
Seven display modes, navigated by pressing "FUNCTION" button.
Overload warning displayed on LCD.
Built-in 3.6V rechargeable battery (NI-MH) to store electricity and saving setting.
Can set price of electricity.

Attribute	Value
Operating voltage / frequency	230V 50Hz
Operating current	Maximum 16A
Wide voltage range	230 - 250V
Timing display range	0 seconds - 9999 days
Wattage display (watts)	0 - 3600W
Voltage display range	0 - 9999V
Current display (amps)	0.0 - 16.0A
Frequency display	0 - 9999Hz
Minimum wattage display range	0.0 - 3600W
Maximum wattage display range	0.0 - 3600W
Price display range	0.00 - 99.99kWh
Total kilowatt-hour and cost display	0.000kWh - 9999kWh
Product size	15.5 * 7.3 * 7.5cm / 6.1 * 2.9 * 3in
Product weight	200g / 7.1oz

Advantages

• Cheap
• Clear display that when on does not flicker in various lighting conditions
• Simple operation
• Can store values even after a power drop out
• Easy reset button

Disadvantages

• Display times out
• Needs light to see
• Sometimes it is not clear to see the output on photos or video
• Does not have earth hole for standard 13A European sockets
• Can only take plugs of the type the unit is designed for

HP9800 Electric Power Energy Analyzer + USB Modbus Port

The second device looked at cost $80 delivered, which is still a bargain, but it seems to offer a lot more and the ability to integrate it into more complex experiments.

Figure 4: The box of the HOPI 9800 makes it look like a more serious piece of apparatus

Features (HP9800)

The big advantage with this unit is the big, bright displays that have a floating decimal point which stay on and are easy to capture on camera. Again the device aggregates data since it was last reset, however, the HOPI allows you to plug the device into your computer to log data for further analysis later.

Figure 5: Plug the HP9800 into your computer for data logging

Figure 6: The data logging software is easy to set up

Figure 7: You can highlight and copy logged data segments into other applications for later analysis
In addition to the simple logging software, the PDF supplied on the software disc provides the MODBUS codes to allow savvy programmers to integrate the capabilities of the device into other data collection systems. You could, for instance, connect to it via python to broadcast power data metrics via a rPi or PC to Plot.ly or Dashboard.io.

Figure 7: Layout of the HP9800

(1) Load current	(2) Power supply socket
(2) Power factors	(9) Power cable
(3) Input voltage	(10) Model mark
(4) Power frequency	(11) back case
(5) Power test range	(12) lock case
(6) Annual power	(15) USB Modbus port
(7) Key button for adjusting working hours and display mode

You can specify how much time a tested device is expected to be used on a normal day for annual power estimation. The instrument can display voltage, current, power, power factor, power grid frequency and annual power useage.

Attribute	Value
Current test range	0.002 A - 20 A minimum resolution: 0.001 A
range of input voltage	85 - 265 V
voltage resolution	0.1 V
power frequency test range	45 - 65 Hz
active power test range	0.5 - 4440 W
Test current	20A
Accuracy	0.5w
Size	20.3cm x 10cm x 35cm (L x W x H)
Weight	550g

Advantages

• Affordable
• Bright display that stays on and easy to photograph and video
• Most important data seen all the time without having to switch modes
• High power
• Log data to computer
• Integrate into more complex experiments with data broadcasting
• Socket can take a wide array of international plugs

Disadvantages

• Tedious to reset

Video

The video below looks at these two power monitors in form and during operation.