Re: Water kettle energy consumption logging

"Wu Ming"  wrote in message news:[email protected]...

Jim Wilkins <[email protected]> wrote:
> Look into the Kill-A-Watt or the PZEM-061 wattmeter.
>
> If you want to record data automatically a pair of PC-connected 
> multimeters
> like the TP4000ZC can transmit current and temperature readings to a file 
> in
> a computer. A spreadsheet can open the files as type .CSV to combine the
> separate log files, aligned by matching the timestamps. You should measure
> current with a separate AC clamp-on probe instead of running line power
> through the multimeter.
>

Would a smart plug also do?
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It might. The Kill-A-Watt P3 shows the present value of Voltage, Amperage, 
Watts or Volt-Amps, and the accumulated KWH and Hours:Minutes since it was 
turned on. Its resolution is 0.01 KWH which may not be adequate for a small 
appliance. The PZEM-061, which has more exposed wiring and is meant to be 
enclosed, reads to 1 Watt-hour, better resolution at low power levels, plus 
it can operate from 240V and measure up to 100A. I haven't tried other smart 
plugs or AC power meters as these are good enough for me.

For both you would have to record the electrical values, temperature and 
time at intervals to plot the data. They will do if you aren't busy with 
something else. They won't easily show you the cycle timing of an on/off 
thermostat but you can watch them to see the current turn on and off.