test equipment etc

[mobile_bob]

Guys:

as you know i am into testing, and i am thinking there ought to be a couple others here as well.

the problem we have with getting accurate results comes down to the use of common methods and measurement tools

here is what i am using for kw/hrs, it can be set to tally watt/hrs output from the genhead while powering a load
and makes it so we don't have to use a clampon meter, a separate voltmeter and worry about drift of voltage or frequency
while the test is ongoing, it accounts for all that and does so in a consistent and accurate manner

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310098401301

the seller has them listed for 129.95 each, but i just got another for a friend from this same sale for a 50 dollar offer.

these are very interesting and useful meter heads, they are digital readout, and will measure and report over 200 parameters
of which there are about 5 or 6 on each of 3 screens that are accessible without programming the meter head.

these are standard heads that plug into a standard meter box that can be bought very inexpensively from anywhere electrical parts are
sold including all the box stores.

after the meter is used for testing it can be used to monitor your gensets cummulative hours, kw/hrs produced etc because it has a
memory that saves when the power is out. all in all an incredibly useful unit

accuracy is well within the limits we need at 1/2% and when you are measuring kw/hr via the watt/hr scale that gives you a very good resolution
and excellent accuracy, far better than is attainable with clampon meters, voltmeters, and having to monitor both and average them over the length of time the test is in operation,, and you don't have to do any math.

anyone that is thinking of joining a research group might give one of these units some serious thought

bob g

[WGB]

I saw Bobs meter in person!
Looks like a handy tool.

[AdeV]

Can the frequency be changed? If it was a 50Hz unit, I'd be all over it (there's nothing remotely like it on ebay.co.uk)

[mobile_bob]

somewhere i have the pdf file, and if memory serves me it either is compatible with 50/60 hz
or can be programmed for 50hz.

austin international in either north carolina or south carolina will program these heads for us
to read out anything we want them to.

so far i have figured out how to get them into test mode, so i have not sent one in for programming
they tell me it takes about 20 seconds to reprogram the meter and they would be happy to do it.

also this particular meter head has an option card available from GE that will close a set of contacts if
a specific parameter that is programmed in goes out of spec, such as frequency over/under or voltage over/under

the guy at austin doesn't have any of the option cards, but i suspect one could be ordered from GE

btw, the programming has to be done at a certified shop, they use an optical link that attaches to the front of the unit
and GE does not want the general public to have the ability to program them for obvious reasons.

if i can find the pdf file i will post it to this thread, these meter are just too cool not to at least take a look at.

bob g