Wattmeters

Use plug-in wattmeters around your office and computer rooms Plug-in wattmeters are useful for testing the viability of an outlet and the power consumption of items plugged into it. They can find damaged electronics or bad electrical wiring by measuring the power flow through the single outlet.

I recommend:  The Kill-A-Watt EZ from the PowerMeterStore is a simple and easy to use wattmeter that also measures the expected and projected electrical cost of things plugged into it. The Watts Up? Pro from Professional Equipment interfaces with a computer for extended power analysis.

Find out of the way places to put power wattmeters and stay on top of your electric bills Power monitors test the overall power usage of an electrical system. These digital wattmeters have readouts showing where and how power gets used. Advanced models allow the power monitor to make small changes in the electrical power flow.

I recommend:  Purchase The Energy Detective directly from the manufacturer to monitor a home office or small business. The EIG Shark 100 from Electro Industries is used for much more robust applications, such as large businesses or IT rooms.

Take portable wattmeters to important places outside your office or building Electrical repair crews and system troubleshooters often use these tools. The accuracy and variety of the equipment make it an invaluable tool for tracking down trouble spots.

I recommend:  The Test Equipment Depot offers a portable wattmeter from Extech that's built right into a handy carrying case. The Bird Model 5000-EX digital wattmeter from the RF Parts Company is an industry standard portable power meter.