Logging data from clamp meter

[electricianforum-rob]

Hi, I'm looking at having an electric shower installed and want to know how close I am to the 100A limit on one of the phases coming into the house (it's a split property). If I can I want to avoid the cost and hassle of having to use the free third phase to accommodate this extra draw. I bought this clamp meter a while ago: https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-ac-d...V4KRQBh129jYyEAQYASABEgK24PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
This is fine for making instantaneous measurements, but I want to measure over an extended period, of a few days / weeks. Is anyone aware of a way I can log the data from this clamp meter? Or does anyone have another way that I can achieve what I'm trying to?
Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[nicebutdim]

You'll need a data logger, which costs a bit more more than a clamp meter. You might find them available for hire or you could pay an electrical contractor for the service.

 

[electricianforum-rob]

You'll need a data logger, which costs a bit more more than a clamp meter. You might find them available for hire or you could pay an electrical contractor for the service.

Thanks, sorry pretty ignorant on this. How would I connect the clamp meter to the data logger to record the signal?

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

The clamp meter you have registers the amount of current being used at the time (As you said) What you need is something that shows how much current is being used AND has been used. I suggest you might want to buy one of these Click me (It does require 6 batteries, 3 x AA and 3 x AAA)

 

[Murdoch]

I'd be surprised if you were using 50A twice - what makes you think you are?

What do the meter readings show over a few days?

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Hi, I'm looking at having an electric shower installed and want to know how close I am to the 100A limit on one of the phases coming into the house (it's a split property). If I can I want to avoid the cost and hassle of having to use the free third phase to accommodate this extra draw. I bought this clamp meter a while ago: https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-ac-d...V4KRQBh129jYyEAQYASABEgK24PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
This is fine for making instantaneous measurements, but I want to measure over an extended period, of a few days / weeks. Is anyone aware of a way I can log the data from this clamp meter? Or does anyone have another way that I can achieve what I'm trying to?
Thanks in advance for any help!

According to the spec from your link the best you can do is use the Max-hold function to see the max current measured on the display for the duration it is switched on....

But if its anything like most of my battery powered meters, if you leave them switched on for too long, they will just automatically switch off to save the batteries, so you cannot do any long duration testing anyway!!

Its probably easier to walk around every room with a pen and paper and make a note of the ratings of every higher power appliance in that room. (ie the Watts / KiloWatts ratings on the appliances)...

Then consider which of these appliances are all likely to be operating at the same time your new proposed shower will be in use..
Add up all of the wattage ratings of the appliances plus the watts rating of the new shower...
Then do a basic Watts divided by Voltage to get an estimated max current (Amps)..

 

[gaxxter]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B092VYQ697?psc=1&smid=A3SCFTIO8CSK1X&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

 

[electricianforum-rob]

I'd be surprised if you were using 50A twice - what makes you think you are?

What do the meter readings show over a few days?

I'm not sure if I'll be close to it under some circumstances. I have an electric shower, reasonably large 3 bedroom home, e.v. charger, sink water heater. If I install an additional electric shower, I want to be able to convince the electrician to sign off on the 100A supply being sufficient.

 

[electricianforum-rob]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B092VYQ697?psc=1&smid=A3SCFTIO8CSK1X&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

Thanks, it's not clear to me that this will historically log peak current values, have I missed that in the description.

 

[electricianforum-rob]

The clamp meter you have registers the amount of current being used at the time (As you said) What you need is something that shows how much current is being used AND has been used. I suggest you might want to buy one of these Click me (It does require 6 batteries, 3 x AA and 3 x AAA)

Thanks, it's not clear to me that this will historically log peak current values, have I missed that in the description?

 

[binky]

I'm not sure if I'll be close to it under some circumstances. I have an electric shower, reasonably large 3 bedroom home, e.v. charger, sink water heater. If I install an additional electric shower, I want to be able to convince the electrician to sign off on the 100A supply being sufficient.

Most showers are 40A so that would still leave 20A for other appliances. It's also unlikely that you would have both showers working for long periods if time, unless you have teenage daughters of course . EV charging is usually at off peak times to take advantage of cheap rates.

 

[Geoff1946]

How much hassle would it be to utilise your spare phase ? Are you metered as three phase or two singles?

 

[gaxxter]

Thanks, it's not clear to me that this will historically log peak current values, have I missed that in the description.

it has an alarm setting that one could modify but for £15 ?

 

[binky]

it has an alarm setting that one could modify but for £15 ? iSound

It does say it automatic data capture, so I suspect it will do what you want, although being cheap, it may well be fiddly to use.