Looking for a Power Meter and driver solution.

[dav226]

Hi,

I am looking for a best available LabView realtime solution for reading (or analysing) and storing AC voltage, current, power, and possibly PF too from a direct 110 V AC line. Is there any cost effective plug and play driver and meter combination available?

Thanks for your time!

[TaylorG]

Hi dav226,

I hope you are doing well today!  I have a few questions regarding your current setup.  Are you reading this data from a particular instrument via Serial or GPIB cables, or is this reading coming in from one of our Data Acquisition devices?  Could you provide us with the model number of the hardware you are using?  Also, be sure to check our Instrument Driver Network for a number instrument drivers, which I have attached a link to below.  Any other feedback regarding your application would be helpful, as well.  Thanks!  Have a great day!

Instrument Driver Network

[dav226]

Hi Taylor,

Thank you for the reply!

I need to plug in the meter to a direct AC line for a unit. The application is simply to keep a log of data (direct AC line i/p) whenever the meter turns ON along with the unit.

I have not purchased a digital multimeter/power meter yet. I am looking to buy one depending on the compatibility with the Labview with RS232 or any other serial interface. If a DAQ can provide a cost effective alternate i can go for one. I saw Agilent#34405, but I am open to the best solution available using Labview driver/interface.

Thanks!

[dav226]

Hi,

I am planning to use Tektronix TDS1001C-EDU scope. I think I can store the AC line voltage and current in real time using Labview software. I am wondering if there is a way to use Labview for calculating and storing power and power factor (need to account for phase variation) in real time?

Any help would be of great help!

Thanks!

[TaylorG]

Hi dav226,

I have attached a link below to an Instrument Driver for the Tektronix TDS1001C-EDU oscilloscope.  While this is not specifically real time, you can use this driver in LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, or Measurement Studio to control your oscilloscope programmatically and continuously read in data to any of the previously mentioned programs.  Also, I have attached a link with more information about installing and using drivers from our Instrument Driver Network.  If you are looking for any other Instrument Drivers in the future, be sure to check out the link below to this network, which has a large number of Plug and Play and IVI Instrument Drivers available for download.  

I hope this helps!  Have a great day!

Tektronix TDS 1001C-EDU

KnowledgeBase 28FFK4QO: How Do I Use My New Instrument Driver?

Instrument Driver Network

[Henrik_Volkers]

As long as you have sin shaped voltages and currents, the power factor is quite easy (I would use the extract single tone information.vi twice) otherwise you will need some more math.

here I posted some links to papers...

I worked a lot with these units in the past. But if you want to measure SMPS  in a traceable way I would take a look at ZES ...

[dav226]

Thank you Henrik and Taylor!

Henrik,

The single tone approach seems great for getting the phase relation. I also found EPM palette driver for both phasor and power, please have a look: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/8652.

[dav226]

Hi,

I downloaded the tektronix TDS2001 driver using: http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.model_page?p_model_id=17988. I am trying to use the continuous acquire waveform VI. Just curious how to get the current and voltage interface to plug in the EPM palette driver for power: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/8652. Attached is the continuous waveform VI. Can I use the DBL indicator at the EPM output terminal as a power indicator?

Thanks for your time!

[TaylorG]

Hi dav226,

If you are referring to the EPM_Power.vi that is included in the Electrical Power Measurement Palette, you can use the Unbundle By Name function in LabVIEW to extract the power calculation from the output.  I have attached a screenshot of this below.  I hope this helps!  Have a great day!

[AndrewAlford]

If you are looking for an actual power meter check out Yokogawa, they have several different Power Meters. I currently use the WT500 for testing our Solar Inverter.