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Sunday, December 3, 2023

Electrical Question

My well pump draws 1.5 kW.  I am unsure how many hours a day it is actually running.  I suspect unless I have the water running it is drawing little or no power.  There are clamp multimeters that go around a power cable to measure actual current draw.

Obviously I want to know total draw over several hours or maybe a day.  I see such clamp DMMs offered that refer to 2000 counts, 4000, 6000.  I am guessing that this refers to how many samples they make of the current draw.  I think thid something that you can set total duration.  6000 counts over a 24 hour period.  Does anyone know?
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4 comments:

  1. B December 3, 2023 at 7:02 AM

    The number of counts is the resolution of the device.

    And no, your well motor draws no power when not running. If is simply a motor controlled by a pressure switch.

    But I think this will get you what you want:

    https://www.amazon.com/Electricity-Monitor-Voltage-Current-Consumption/dp/B0CJXK6HPT/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1D2LGAFTL2TV0&keywords=clamp+power+meter&qid=1701611941&sprefix=clamp+poower+meter+%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-14

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  2. Wayne JohnsonDecember 3, 2023 at 1:46 PM

    "Counts" on a meter refers to its resolution (the same concept is used on scales).

    A 2000 count meter set to a 200-volt range will have a resolution of 0.1 V. A 4000 count meter will likely be set to a 400-volt range to achieve the same resolution. Achieving a resolution more precise than 0.1 A is beyond the ability of many clamp meters.

    The tool designed to calculate total power over time is actually called a 'Power Analyzer'. Unfortunately, these are FAR more expensive than your investigation will justify.

    If you can find a clamp ammeter with Min/Max/Average functionality, you can use the 'Average' function to estimate load over time. Note that there are meters with Min/Max but NOT Average. The Fluke 325 is an example (a great meter otherwise, but no average measurement).

    If you can find a meter with Bluetooth or networking capability, you may be able to log data to a computer.

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  3. Chaplain TimDecember 3, 2023 at 7:22 PM

    https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/multimeter-specifications-what-does-counts-mean.240377/#:~:text=The%20counts%20spec%20tells%20you%20the%20absolute%20value,count%20DMM%20can%20display%20only%202%20decimal%20places.

    What you're looking for is a power meter.
    https://www.amazon.com/DAE-DEM730P-Electric-Submeter-Internal/dp/B01NBOYMJA/ref=sr_1_18_sspa?crid=3IU3G53TVG7RV&keywords=Power%2Bmeter&qid=1701656409&sprefix=power%2Bmeter%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-18-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1

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  4. Grey MobiusDecember 6, 2023 at 11:42 AM

    8060A DDM that has 20,000 counts. There are meters that record/ log current or voltage or wattage over longer periods of time and unfortunately are quite expensive. You can rent those but again $$. There might be a way to connect a meter with an output to a computer or laptop and log a day's or week's usage but that way above my knowledge.

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