Any suggestions on which wattmeter I should purchase. I'm setting up my first electric and it looks like a watt meter will be required for fine tuning. Thanks

I use a simple Multiplex one, nothing fancy, just shows Volts, Amps, Watts and amount consumed. That's enough to ensure you do not fry your system.

A basic wattmeter costing in the range of $40-$50 is all you really need. More expensive models add some convenient features such as memories and the ability to connect to a computer. The extra features are nice to have but not necessary.

Avoid wattmeters that require pressing a button to cycle between the measured parameters. That is, you can only view one parameter, such as voltage, at a time and must press a button to see other parameters. These meters are less useful than those that display the important parameters volts, amps, watts, and mAh all at the same time on one screen.

The majority of wattmeters are of the latter type, displaying all four parameters simultaneously, which is what you want.

- Jeff

I just ordered this watt meter from Hobby King. Turnigy watt meter and power analizer $23.95 or get your self a watts up meter at about $54.00 in the U.S. Another basic watt meter from Hobbypartz.com I think it is a PL-1 or something close to that at about $30.00. Of the three that I mentioned the Watts Up is the best one, but they all will keep you from frying your motor or ESC.

I use an Astro Flight watt meter. It shows amps, volts, and watts. It works well and really holds up well.

I also use an Astro-Flight wattmeter. Excellent choice!

- Jeff

The only bad thing about the watts up meter is that it's not compatible to use with li-po batteries, is there another power meter that can be used with lipo batteries?

The Watt's Up meter can certainly be used with lipos or any other voltage source of up to 60V. What made you think it can not be used with lipos?

All wattmeters can be used with lipos. A wattmeter does not know or care what type of battery is being used.

- Jeff

I just started using a watt meter. I know I should have had one a long time ago. I use this [link=http://www.hobbypartz.com/aeo-p0-watt-meter.html]watt meter[/link]

It does not have all of the fancy memory or logging, but it does tell me the watts I am using.


Buzz.

Hi Buzz -

A little less accuracy for a lot lower price sounds like a good compromise to me. We don't need lab-grade accuracy!

- Jeff

http://progressiverc.com/index.php?p...emart&Itemid=1

50 bucks. Comes with an RPM, temp, and alarm sensor, and USB cable. Does logging to PC, and about a dozen things I haven't figured out yet including servo driving and testing.

I hope you are wrong as Iuse my watts-up watt meter with lipos all the time.

I'm using both a Watts-up meter and a GT Power Watt Meter and Power Analyzer. The GT Power Watt meter is about half the price of the Watts-Up, But is still a very good meter. It's currently out of stock, but might be worth the wait.

J

http://www.valuehobby.com/product_de...34&item_id=210

Like everyone else, Ihave not tried a whole range of products. So I am always interested in the range of responses. And another gadget is always of personl interest.

The watts-up has served me well and I can recommend it easily. But knowing about someting with more features for a similar price is interesting and something with similar features for a lot less is likewise of interest.

Ease of use is important to me. I don't want to have to set up my computer or a whole bunch of stuff in order to take a simple volts/amps/watts measurement. Iam not a power system engineer and don't need logging.Iuse my watt meter on maybe 10 occasionsa year to check a set-upfor my own planes or perhaps to help a friend, so ease of use, quick set-up are valuable. Small size can be good but not if the display is too hard to read. for the planes that Iam likely to touch Ithink I need the 50 amps continouse capacity of the watts-up meter since Ihave already tested set-ups that exceed 40 amps and will likely do that again.When Irun these tests Iwill take a reading over a period of perhaps a minute so peak specs may not be good enough.

Ihave not seen this meter before. Ihope you will post more about your experience using it. Looks like a very good value for the money if it works well. A lot more features than the Watts-up meter.

How easy is it to use? It says it has a computer interface. Do you have to use it with a computer? The built in display seems very small considering the features listed.

130 peak amps is cool but 40 amps continous might too low for me but should be good for most parkflyers. Iwould be concerned about burning it outon someof my set-ups. The Watts-up is 100 peak and 50 continous.



Buzz, that is an extremely low cost watt meter which is always attractive Tell us more about how you use it. What you like and diss like. Iam always interested in new gadgets for myself or for others who ask me for advice.

There is no on-line manual. The specs say it is good for 100 amps, but it doesn't say if that is peak or continous. There is no on-line manual. Can you check the documentation and let us know?



Since you use the popular Watts-up and the GT, a lower cost option, perhaps you can do a comparison for us.

So far, I put connectors on it, plugged it between the battery and the ESC. Did a run up, it showed the watts and amps. There is a button on it, that will hold the readings as long as it is plugged into the battery. That is about it. It is SIMPLE!!! I am more interested in not melting my ESC then a complete recording of the power used during a flight.


I will work on getting a few pictures of it in use.


Buzz.

Actually data logging is quite effective for power system analysis, what happens in flight when the prop is unloaded may be very well different from what you're seeing on the ground.

I'm just going to put the recommended prop that the model asks for and save the whole buying a meter thing

Well emederos, I used to do that too. I would follow what other people had been running. Yet I found it did not work as well for me as it did for others. So I figured I could throw $20.00 out the window and get a watt meter. I have found that it works very well. I used an online calc program to figure out what I should run and it listed the amps it should pull. Well it listed at at 57 amps and I am only pulling 49 amps. Plus I get a lot longer flights then it said I would get.



Buzz.

I agree with you it's just a matter of trial and error, example when a plane recommends a setup such as 3s and 12x8 prop you know you have a margin to play with like maybe up to a 13 inch prop or even down to a 11 inch prop what comes to be a major factor is the pitch, I was always told if the recommended prop pitch is a "6" for example if you increase diameter you need to decrease pitch and if you decrease pitch you need to increase diameter, I don't know how well this really works out

A watt meter is a MUST HAVE. With the motors now having variances in KV values from what is listed in the specs, you can hurt something very easily by guessing.

I love my Astro meter. Mine is ancient by electronics age. I even hacked it with an rx pack so it's even more accurate, like the newer versions. Using the pack to run it, instead of drawing of the plane's pack it's way more accurate on the little stuff. Simple on off switch lets me run it with the rx pack or with out it.