Heavy Duty Kill A Watt Project Completed - see pix

Be sure to show us the finished product. :C

Nice find! I never plug in the RV but the one of these would be handy for checking out how much energy an appliance uses. I see eBay.ca has it as well, $18 Canadian with free shipping.

eBay.ca

i have a kill-a-watt , but its only good for 15amps max and you have to step thru
the readings
this one will show you three things at once
going to use at at the generator, so i can measure the whole rv PF with the a/c on
and also see the amps and watts for the whole RV

Hi MrWizard,

Looks like a nice unit. I love having a watt meter.

Yes, I am VERY interested also.

Not clear to me how big this thing is, it looks like it ought to fit in one of those grey plastic untility outlet boxes that surface-mount and are like three inches deep--the kind that mate to conduit. Esay enough to cut the appropriate opening in a plastic blank if it did fit.

yes it might fit an outlet box, but it is a bit deep/thick

Installation hole Size 76mm x 39mm , face 79 x 43 x 48mm Deep/thick

i was thinking of the an ammo box, remember got to get the "current transformer" in there too, although its not very big

maybe use a deep 4x4 or 6x6 box, although i like the narrow ammo box idea, deep sturdy, weather proof seal on the lid snap latch latch no screws, put rubber grommets around the 30amp cord going in and out of the box

Does it come pre-calibrated?

The cheap little 100Ah meter we bought (think you got the 200A version) didn't, but definitely needs to be at high currents.

I've got to re-calibrate mine at higher currents ...

AC meters using a current transformer, have been around since the beginning of AC power distribution, should be just as accurate as a kill a watt
Maybe more so

here are a few pix




besides the step drill, i used a cut off wheel on a battery powered dremel tool, some commercial grade copper crimps (Not butt splices),
heat shrink tubing, cordless drill,





video will be up, once photobucket gets done with its processing

meter displays volts and amps (all the time)
and the green window will either watts, kwh, Cos aka power factor

so you have three items on display instead of just one, like the KAW

amps*volts gives the VA, easy math
or watts divided by the Cos/PF gives you the VA

here is quick vid on youtube https://youtu.be/wu5pD5zm8RI

i apologize for the bad audio, will get a better one up tomorrow

I love it!
Going to copy your example. I use plastic compression gland nuts which if gobbed with dielectric grease are waterproof. A heck of a good strain relief that doesn't damage wire insulation. I used them on the Borg. Tomorrow when on the modem I'll post a link to some cheap surplus generator panels with built-in breakers, ultra heavy duty receptacles including 1 twist lock. Would make a great cargo electrical service bay and site for meter.