Wattmeters play an important part in the maintenance of any large electrical system. They are one of the first lines of defense against electronic wear by testing the overall wattage of a system. Power levels that are too high or too low will produce an abnormally high strain on the electronics, causing them to fail far earlier than expected.

There are several types of electric wattmeters, each with their own specialty. Plug-in meters measure power at a specific outlet or single appliance. Power usage monitors plug into a specific location and monitor a room or building. Electricians use professional-grade wattmeters in the field for on-site troubleshooting. Consider the following benefits of using a wattmeter to maintain your office's electrical system:

1. Wattmeters protect your electronics.

2. They monitor your electrical systems.

3. Portable wattmeters detect trouble spots in the field.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

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.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Usage is the most important consideration when deciding what types of wattmeters you need. Monitoring your office requires different equipment than finding faulty electrical circuits. Know what you need before you invest a substantial sum in something that isn't a good fit.