Mains voltage display?

[HighFidelityGuy]

I was watching THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs1aUws0Lrs) video and just under 2 minutes in noticed this little voltage display gizmo:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/DTM2000/Hi-Fi/voltagedisplay.png

The picture is too low res to see a make or model so I need some assistance in figuring out where I can buy such a device.

My idea is that it will allow me to keep an eye on my mains voltage from across the room and see how much it fluctuates. It's very geeky I know but I'm sad like that. :lol:

If anyone could suggest a place I could buy a similar device I'd be most grateful.

Thanks. :)

[Reid Malenfant]

All you need is a DMM (http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313&_nkw=digital+multi+meter&_sacat=See-All-Categories) ;)

[jantheman]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LCD-Volt-Meter-AC-50-500V-Doesnt-Require-Work-Power-/250794088206?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a647e170e
I bought one of these and it works really well...
Checked against a calibrated DVM and its good to within 1V.........

[Mark Grant]

The one in the video is made by Hager I think, the logos are the same.

similar to these but not the same :)

http://www.hager.com.sg/energy-distribution/power-interface/kilowatt-hour-meters/1503.htm

The device on ebay looks good for the price.

Mark.

[Barry]

The display on my Belkin model 40 mains conditioner continues to inform me the mains voltage is 253V, whereas I have measured it with an HP DVM to be 240 -242V.

Caveat emptor!

[Reid Malenfant]

:lolsign: Kind of odd that Barry, both of mine in my rack read within a volt of each other & about 1.5V too high according to the output of my PS Audio P600 on 240V ;)

[HighFidelityGuy]

Thanks everyone. Ray's solution looks the closest to what I had in mind so I might give one of those a try.

Do the two little wires that come out the back just connect to the mains live and neutral?

Cheers. :)

[jantheman]

Yep...the wires connect direct to the mains.....you will have to extend them as they are only a couple of inches long.
Slap it in a box, extend the wires and and connect....thats it.....
No probs with the one I have at all.....

[Reid Malenfant]

Thanks everyone. Ray's solution looks the closest to what I had in mind so I might give one of those a try.

Do the two little wires that come out the back just connect to the mains live and neutral?
It certainly looks that way to me ;) Damn that's cheap & with free shipping to :eyebrows:

[Mark Grant]

Dont forget to fit a very small rating fuse on the live , dont just connect it to the mains :eek:

[HighFidelityGuy]

Thanks for the replies.
I've ordered one of the ebay ones from a UK seller that was only a couple of pounds more expensive but should deliver quicker.

Thanks for the safety tip Mark. I'll be sure to fit a fuse.

Cheers. :)

[JimC]

This is a usefull site:-

http://www.dynamicdemand.co.uk/grid.htm#

I haven't 'listened' whilst monitoring the Frequency but such an exercise may be interesting.

James.

[Trickie_Dickie]

Obviously, it depends on what you intend doing with it but I found a plug-in 13amp socket with a built-in display at B&Q last year at £2 each.
Its a NIKKAI N67HH "Plug-In Power, Energy and CO2 Meter.
It measures Vac, A,W, Wmax,kWh,CO2/kg, total on-time,total electrical cost, Hz, kWh, clock. Bloody amazing.
Don't know if its still available, though. :cool:

Just found something VERY similar on Amazon, Energenie Power Meter for £10.18 and several others too.

[Reid Malenfant]

This is a usefull site:-

http://www.dynamicdemand.co.uk/grid.htm#

I haven't 'listened' whilst monitoring the Frequency but such an exercise may be interesting.

James.
Aha, there is something vitally important that they aren't telling you on that site ;) Over the period of 24 hours the average frequency must add up to precisely 50Hz, the reason for this is to keep mains driven clocks at precisely the correct time over long periods. Some old clocks use syncronous motors & these spin at a precise speed when driven by 50Hz, so averaged out over a day they'll keep time pretty accurately but only as long as the mains frequency is averaged out at 50Hz over the 86,400 seconds of a day :eyebrows:

[Trickie_Dickie]

This is a usefull site:-

http://www.dynamicdemand.co.uk/grid.htm#

I haven't 'listened' whilst monitoring the Frequency but such an exercise may be interesting.

James.

There's an idea for a circuit design. 50hz PLL detector , anyone ? :mental: