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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: jdoppenberg on October 24, 2012, 01:04:49 pm

Title: Measure powerfactor LEDbulb
Post by: jdoppenberg on October 24, 2012, 01:04:49 pm

Hi All,

First of all, i do know nothing about currenct and so on... I'm a total noob!
I'm working for a company that sells all kinds of lightbulbs.
Now my boss wants to measure the powerfactor (non used current?)...

What device do i need and how do i measure it.
We already have a multimeter (Meterman 37XR)
Price doesnt matter that much, only the result... it should be accurate :)

Someone who can help me with this?

Gr, Jeroen

Title: Re: Measure powerfactor LEDbulb
Post by: Psi on October 24, 2012, 01:30:22 pm

It's not an area i know a lot about, however something like this would be pretty good i imagine

http://www.fluke.com/Fluke/usen/Power-Quality-Tools/Troubleshooting-Power-Meters/Fluke-43B.htm?PID=56080 (http://www.fluke.com/Fluke/usen/Power-Quality-Tools/Troubleshooting-Power-Meters/Fluke-43B.htm?PID=56080)

Looks to be around $3,200 USD and you'd probably want a few of the accessories for probing things

I'm sure there are cheaper tools if that's a bit expensive. That one looks to do a lot more than just power factor measurements.

Title: Re: Measure powerfactor LEDbulb
Post by: mariush on October 24, 2012, 02:36:37 pm

Some Kill-A-Watt type devices measure the power factor.

Put several light bulbs in series to use more current than the minimum these meters can measure (these are fairly accurate from about 3 watts and up) and you can then get a value close to the reality, give or take a few percents.

For example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RGF29Q/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=helpediacom-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B000RGF29Q&adid=19G46VTD81SRA61RJM42& (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RGF29Q/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=helpediacom-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B000RGF29Q&adid=19G46VTD81SRA61RJM42&)

Title: Re: Measure powerfactor LEDbulb
Post by: jahonen on October 24, 2012, 02:49:59 pm

If you want something serious and still cheaper than Fluke 43 power quality analyzer, take a look at Gossen Metrawatt metrahit energy, a general purpose electronics DMM with single phase power measurement function.

Regards,
Janne

Title: Re: Measure powerfactor LEDbulb
Post by: Zero999 on October 25, 2012, 08:31:08 am

Quote from: mariush on October 24, 2012, 02:36:37 pm

Put several light bulbs in series parallel to use more current than the minimum these meters can measure (these are fairly accurate from about 3 watts and up) and you can then get a value close to the reality, give or take a few percents.

Corrected.

Title: Re: Measure powerfactor LEDbulb
Post by: jdoppenberg on October 26, 2012, 06:17:49 am

We've chosen to go with the Zes Zimmer LMG95e :)

Title: Re: Measure powerfactor LEDbulb
Post by: Oracle on October 28, 2012, 07:57:34 pm

you can also choose an analog lab power factor meter: something like this:

http://www.provincia.lucca.it/istruzione/collezioni_didattiche_scuola_collezione.php?id=95 (http://www.provincia.lucca.it/istruzione/collezioni_didattiche_scuola_collezione.php?id=95)

shouldn't be expansive as a power analyzer...