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Hey everyone, it's science project time again for my kids, and for this year's science project, we're hoping to do something about energy consumption: specifically, how much energy household devices realistically draw during a day of typical use. But while there are many ways of measuring instantaneous power, I'm not aware of any ways to do it with computer data logging (which is kind of necessary if you want to make a profile of daily energy consumption patterns). Anyone know any vendors for something like this?

Well, you could use a standard Voltmeter (The type available in any electronics workshop, your kids school should have one if it's also a highschool with the option of electronic engineering), since all the new ones let you keep a record and can even be hooked up to a computer. (My school's didn't, but then again, we had antiquated stuff from the 80's ).

Darth Wong wrote:Hey everyone, it's science project time again for my kids, and for this year's science project, we're hoping to do something about energy consumption: specifically, how much energy household devices realistically draw during a day of typical use. But while there are many ways of measuring instantaneous power, I'm not aware of any ways to do it with computer data logging (which is kind of necessary if you want to make a profile of daily energy consumption patterns). Anyone know any vendors for something like this?

From what I understand, power companies in north america are moving to digital power meters for home. Which doesn't neccesarily mean it hooks up to a computer, but it does mean they might have something for you that can connect to a computer. Generally if you're doing a project related to power consumption, they might be able to help out and guide you towards relevent tools.

Also, might help. This seems to have a serial port connection to a PC. So does this.

If you really want to make it a project, get a micro controller, design the necessary circuits, and measure the current and voltage using two ADCs. Then output the measurements (via RS232, USB, whatever) to a PC to do all the other calculations.

Although this is probably in the scope of a third year electrical engineering project, not an elementary or junior high science fair.

Braedley wrote:If you really want to make it a project, get a micro controller, design the necessary circuits, and measure the current and voltage using two ADCs. Then output the measurements (via RS232, USB, whatever) to a PC to do all the other calculations.

Although this is probably in the scope of a third year electrical engineering project, not an elementary or junior high science fair.

Dude, my kid is 12 years old

I loved thinking about building what Braedley described when I was 12. But I was nowhere near normal in my hobbies at twelve.

Wong, did the products me and Kendall mention fit the bill or is there anything more specific I could try and look up?

Ace Pace wrote:I loved thinking about building what Braedley described when I was 12. But I was nowhere near normal in my hobbies at twelve.

Wong, did the products me and Kendall mention fit the bill or is there anything more specific I could try and look up?

It fits the bill, but it's a bit pricey. I'd rather not spend $300 on my son's grade 7 science project.

Maybe I'll go with a Hall Effect meter. That way, I don't have to worry about my boy plugging and unplugging everything in the house.

You can get a meter that does what you want without pc connection ability. So if you don't mind copying data then there's this. $49.99 CDN. The two are a little different in looks but they seem to do the same thing.

Cpl Kendall wrote:You can get a meter that does what you want without pc connection ability. So if you don't mind copying data then there's this. $49.99 CDN. The two are a little different in looks but they seem to do the same thing.

Cool. It won't give me nice data plots, but it gives instantaneous wattage and cumulative kilowatt-hours, which is good enough for the purpose of this experiment (without costing hundreds of dollars).