[Boatanchors] Long-term AC voltage monitor

Rick Poole WA1RKT wa1rkt at comcast.net
Mon Jan 5 10:32:10 EST 2015


Most boat anchors, it seems, were designed for an AC input voltage of nominally 110-115VAC.  These days voltages are more like 120-125, from most reports, so folks are recommending a bucking transformer or variac in the AC line.

I'm looking for a CHEAP (sorry, gotta be cheap) AC monitoring device, such as a USB voltmeter that stores its readings periodically on a computer, that I can use to monitor AC mains voltage around here and see if I have a problem.  I periodically stick a multimeter into the AC socket and rarely see anything above 120 (last I looked it was 118.2) but that only tells me what the voltage is when I'm looking, doesn't tell me about any other time.

Something that plugs into a USB port, with software to periodically store the results, would work, but Google hasn't been much help in finding one of those.  The Yoctopuch Yocto-Volt from Switzerland will do it but the US distributer is out of stock with no indication when or if they will ever have any more.  I can order from Switzerland if I absolutely must but something that's available in the US would be better.  There's also the Electronics-DIY USB Voltmeter but there is nothing that indicates that works on AC (it looks like the input goes directly into a PIC device through a voltage divider so it's tough to imagine it working on AC).

Any suggestions?  Thanks...

Rick WA1RKT 
Londonderry, NH 
Catch me on 14.300 MHz Intercon / MMSN most days 
    also occasionally on 7.255 ECARS


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