Watts up meter - Looks good, but expensive.

[gotwind2]

I am in the process of building a pedal powered generator,rated at 400w this might be over optimistic, but I hope 200 watts.

This looks like a handy piece of equipment to monitor it's performance. It is designed for Radio Control vehicle enthusiasts I think. Has anyone tested it?.

As the picture illustrates, it is a digital ammeter, voltmeter, wattmeter, Amp-hour and Watt-hour meter.

Sells for $58.95 - I wonder if it could be 'home brewed' more cheaply?

detailed info here

http://www.powerwerx.com/product.asp?ProdID=3809#description

Ben

[watermanhfl]

Hi,

I have this meter and it works fine except the Watt-hr limit is low, so it resets after a few hours on my 10' turbine.  I recommend you buy their Doc Wattson version if you purchase one.  Use the three wire installation and put a switch on the positive so that you can reset it anytime.  The full amperage goes thru the negative wires.

[Norm]

Lot better and cheaper to just get a ampmeter

from autoparts....most already have a multimeter

you can keep track of both meters....

when you look down and happen to see about

14 volts going into the 12 volt battery and the

ammeter reads 28 amps that would be about

400 watts....for about 10 minutes....a very ambitious

workout indeed !

  You can quite quickly work out a table for

this with a calculator....then memorize it just

like any advanced multiplication table.

    I've handcranked about 80 watts for about a

minute....40 watts for 20.....so I can imagine

even 100 watts pedalpower would be a challenge

for me.

    Once you really get into pedaling all you

really need is voltage...you can tell by the

exertion how many amps you are putting into the

battery.

I just recently acquired an almost new 18 speed

mountain bike...so I'm starting to get around to

hooking it up to a generator....probably the

treadmill motor.

     ( :>) Norm

[Jerry]

I agree with Norm. With my pedel/gen I could hit 100 watts but not for long and I even out did the teenage grand kids.

200 watts sounds mighty strong. If you do that 200 watts we need you in the Olimpics LOL.

                    JK TAS Jerry

[gotwind2]

Norm,

Good advice - the 'watts up' meter is seriously over priced in my opinion - I believe it is U.S made or designed?

I suspect the Far east could manufacture it for maybe $5.....

And retail for 25 - 30 dollars, worth considering then.

Thanks

Ben