Power Meters Logging

[Jaime Rodriguez]

I am working on a testing application where I need to monitor and log the energy consumption of refrigerators. We work with 120 VAC and 240 VAC and 50/60 Hz units single phase. Has anyone worked with power meters for this application? Can anyone recommend any to communicate with LabVIEW??? This can be through RS 232 or Ethernet communications. We need to log voltage, current, frequency, KW, and KWh.

Thanks a million in advance,

[ssk]

It all depends what your budget is and what level of accuracy you need.

[unclebump]

I would try something on this website.

http://www.powerlogic.com/home.cfm

[Jaime Rodriguez]

Have you used these with LabVIEW???

Thanks

[unclebump]

No, I have not used them at all. I know that they exist and they talk modbus/ modbus tcp.

[jiangliang]

Hi:

I'm working in a meter shop, I guess you can just pick a FIR LED to pick and send data with the meter.

You might want to digg a little bit in ANSI C12.18(the protocal), ANSI C12.19(the data table in meter).

These two document is easy to handle, you really can spent a week and you'll get things done:)

But these thing only working when you are talk about ANSI meters(the round one), if you are talking about IEC meters, I guess I cann't help you much, because seems there doesn't exsit such a standard yet (there is a draft standard for such defines, but I don't think you can get some meter followed that IEC standard)

BR

[jiangliang]

One more thing

If you are not expect a exactly accuracy data, you could just pick up the KYZ pulse, each pulse represent certain amount of power that goes by the meter.

And by doing that you can only measure the power that consumption, remeber, the voltage and current information is not accessible in this way.

[Alex_Suhisky]

How about the cheapest sensor available?

[Alex_Suhisky]

In application like that you need to read the power consumption data from each and every freezer. I am also trying to find an inexpensive solution for this problem.

[RTSLVU]

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@Alex_Suhisky wrote:

In application like that you need to read the power consumption data from each and every freezer. I am also trying to find an inexpensive solution for this problem.

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How inexpensive is inexpensive? 

There are plenty of panel mount power meters out there designed for "sub metering" applications that have remote interfaces in the $200-$500 range.

Accuenergy's Accuvim series comes to mind.