AC Meter for Inverter Output

[Roadtripp]

Im considering adding one of these meters to my system? Only $20 
AC+Amp+Meter+Panel,+DROK+80-260V+100A+6in1+Current+Voltage+Amperage+Power+Energy+Frequency+Factor+Multimeter

[Gr8ful]

Have a link?

[rvpopeye]

I don't know the quality of that particular one but I'll just say ,,,metering anywhere in your system gives you information on what's going on at the point it's connected and will add to your understanding of how it all works together overall.

[frater secessus]

I'm guessing it's this one

The description says it's for AC:  "this meter can only be used for measuring 50-60Hz pure AC city electricity,"  So if you are monitoring your inverter or shore power output this one's is the ticket.

[sternwake]

Might not read a current properly wifh modified sine wave inverter. Let us know.

[Wayne49]

From the Amazon link.
"NOTE --- this meter can only be used for measuring 50-60Hz pure AC city electricity, it will be damaged if used to measure square wave, inverter output or modified sine wave circuit. "

Repeat for effect:
"can only be used for measuring 50-60Hz pure AC city electricity,"
"it will be damaged if used to measure square wave, inverter output or modified sine wave circuit. "

Will be damaged. Not might or could.

[Gr8ful]

When I was using Onans in remore cabin builds chinese crap was just taking off & chinese motors wouldn't run on Onans. Most chinese motors armetures aren't dipped or varnished but if you have a motor shop in town most will do it or you can spray it yourself.

[rvpopeye]

I would think it would work on a PSW inverter but ????

MAybe a kill-o-watt meter would work on the inverter , 
Pretty sure cuz,,,I have one on mine.

https://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=kilowatt+meter&qid=1596795433&sr=8-6

You can still use that meter on any AC CG hookups or that ext cord from a friend.......

[sternwake]

I've read elsewhere that Kill-a -watt meters work on PSW and MSW inverters, but is highly inaccurate on MSW inverters. No idea if this is true.

Pops, you got a way to confirm whether it is accurate 'enough'?

I wanted a similar device, which would also measure record and display peak wattage, such as the surge when starting a motor, but never enough to actually purchase one.

I've been wanting to put an AC meter not on inverter output, but on DC Powersupply input, just to see how efficient my power supply is, Watts in vs watts out.

I currently do not have a PSW inverter. The one I did have was a Wagan Elite 400PSW, that failed after not very much use. I have no idea how 'true' the sine wave was, as I have no oscilloscope. I suspect not very good.

If a PSW Inverter is putting out a good clean sine wave, then I'd think any hall effect sensor/meter would work fine measuring the output, as it would not know the difference.

The disclaimer in the product description a few posts up is likely as so many PSW inverters are Pure sine wave, in marketing terms only, and they might only have one or two more steps than a modified step wave inverter.

More profitable for the meter seller to say it will simply not work and will be damaged on an inverter, even though there are some quality inverters with a sine wave as clean or cleaner than the grid.

One reason I've never bothered with AC on the inverter output, as inverters are only 85% efficient or so.

I'd rather count wattage going into the inverter from battery, not coming out.
Output 100 watts, input 115.
There's a pretty big difference to the battery powering the inverter.

I'd rather not use the inverter ever anyway, but I consider them necessary evil.

I can watch my shunted DC ammeter as it measures the inverter load, but I do not have a dedicated measuring device to inverter itself. I can use my Clampmeter on the input wires, or shut off all other loads/ charging sources, but it really does not make much difference.

Last I used the inverter was powering my 'buckethead' shop vac sucking up ants. It's about 42 amps of load on the battery through my 800 watt MSW inverter. That's about 520 watts with 12.4v battery voltage. The buckethead is rated at 4.5 amps. I'll assume that is the start up surge as 115x4.5 is 517.5 and there is no way my inverter is only wasting 2.5 watts. Its loud ass annoying fan draws more than that

It would be neat to collect the actual data, comnpare and contrast, enlighten, but in the end, to quote a stable genius, it is what it is.

As if anything, isn't, what it is.

I am glad I never split the AC wires to the buckethead vaccuum, and put my AC/DC clampmeter over one of them. I knew it was unlikely to read accurately on MSW but never suspected it might be damaged by trying to read output from a MSW inverter. I'd be seriously pissed off if it was damaged because of it. I do not recall any warning in the directions about being damaged by using it on the the output of an inverter, but have not read them in 8 years and likely not all that closely back then.

The DC clampmeter is an incredibly useful and enlightening tool. Can be gotten for under 35$ too

[rvpopeye]

I have at various times used a kill-a-watt meter on both a Honda 2k and a Renogy 700w , it seemed to be working normally on both .
 Never compared the readings though.
I haven't had shore power in a looooong time and didn't have access to a kill-a-watt back then.
I do have a couple of those china panel meters but haven't hooked them up so no input on them...
Since my Link 10 fizzed I've mostly just been letting the boxes do their things and am pretty conservative on usage.
Have been up-guaging my wiring this summer.
And wall repairs , it's always something.....