The Panbo Forum

Return to Panbo Forum main page »

Installation Issues
New Topic
Ben E

Kee's new blog, & measuring DC amps

By Ben E on May 31, 2009 at 8:03 PM 4 Vote 0 Votes

Panbot Kees Verruijt has a new blog, yachtelectronics.blogspot.com/, and so far it's mostly about the power appetites of the Lowrance HDS-8, Simrad instruments, and Apple monitor Kees is putting on his new boat. It's certainly interesting in a relative way, but Kees is using an AC energy meter and making a guess about what the AC to DC conversion costs in terms of wattage.

I'd like to be able to accurately measure direct 12v or 24v use for individual devices but haven't found a reasonably priced tool. Suggestions anyone?

4 Replies

  • Dan Corcoran (b393capt)
    Dan Corcoran (b393capt) | May 31, 2009 9:39 PM

    When I did the weather article with you Ben, I used this device as part of my mini home lab to measure the power of the various products in preliminary testing before I headed out to my boat:

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

    It dosn't give you everything you would expect from a Link 20 type device (such as % charge remaining), but it gives you that basic instantaneous power consumption number to see how much power the connected device is drawing Approx $60 cost.

  • Ben E
    Ben E | June 1, 2009 6:13 AM

    Thanks, Dan! I've ordered a "Watt's Up Meter" and look forward to trying it.

  • Kees
    Kees | June 2, 2009 8:43 AM

    Cool tool that meter, Dan!

    I'm not that bothered about measuring at the wrong side of a AC/DC converter myself, as I am going to use a DC/DC converter on the new boat anyway, and this will give more-or-less the same overhead.

    Anyway, it's more the ballpark figure that's interesting. You have to be careful anyway, as a number of environmental factors will influence power usage of electronics. The primary one is the supply voltage, but temperature could also play a role.

    I will see if I can calibrate my findings.

  • Ben E
    Ben E | June 2, 2009 9:34 AM

    Welcome back, Kees! Hopefully, your Panbo Forum commenting problems (totally not your fault) are over. Which is especially good now that you are revealing more about your new boat's systems. The prototype iPod Touch remote control screen is intriguing...

    http://yachtelectronics.blogspot.com/2009/06/dc-and-ac-power-control.html

    By the way, I realized that the outfit Dan recommended markets an even more sophisticated DC power meter -- it has USB output, and comes with graphing software -- and I switched my order:

    http://www.powerwerx.com/product.asp?ProdID=36047&CtgID=3575

    Maybe I'm foolish, as this thing is designed for analyzing model aircraft, but it sure looks like it will work for marine electronics.