Cheap Hardwired Power Monitors

[oldchachie]

Does anyone know of any cheap power monitors that could be used for data acquisition in a home automation system? I'm thinking something that could work by either adding directly inside my main panel, or right outside. The concept is to monitor each circuit, telling me where my high usage rather than on an outlet by outlet basis. I preference would be some sort of clamp on sensors...

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Search on Brultech, WattNode and TED.

 

[tmbrown97]

:hesaid:

The brultech is the way to go... but, if you are trying to roll your own system or learn more about it, you can look up how CT sensors work... basically you put the hot wire alone through a little donut sensor, and based on the CT used and the amount of current passing through it, the CT sensor will create an amount of voltage. That voltage needs to be read by something that can read an analog voltage and take samplings often and take quick samplings.

The brultech is the system that puts it all into a nice little package and ties it all together.