Doing a proper power audit, what equipment?

[Rednecktek]

So I need to do a proper power audit, and I could get a cheapy Kill-A-Watt type thing, but that wouldn't tell me what I want to know as far as usage based on time of day, surge draw, etc.

All my power comes in on a 120v line from my generator so I could plug something in between the generator and the cord to the cabin, OR I also have the ability to access the wiring in various places where I could put clamps around the hot legs.

Preferably I'd love to get something that would allow me to take data points from multiple sources (a module on the fridge, a module on the outlets, a module on the utility equipment, etc) and let me dump it all to my laptop to see what draws what when.

However, having said that, this is something I might use once every few years so I don't want to spend much. I don't need to know that I used 1,452.44023 watt hours between Monday and Friday with a maximum spike of 9.2536 amps on the fridge at 4:22am on thursday... I don't need it to be THAT exact, nor do I need to be able to do 3 phase or induction or any of the overly fancy functions that we use here in the industrial world. I just need "Good Enough"

So any recommendations?

 

[DaGoose13]

So I need to do a proper power audit, and I could get a cheapy Kill-A-Watt type thing, but that wouldn't tell me what I want to know as far as usage based on time of day, surge draw, etc.

All my power comes in on a 120v line from my generator so I could plug something in between the generator and the cord to the cabin, OR I also have the ability to access the wiring in various places where I could put clamps around the hot legs.

Preferably I'd love to get something that would allow me to take data points from multiple sources (a module on the fridge, a module on the outlets, a module on the utility equipment, etc) and let me dump it all to my laptop to see what draws what when.

However, having said that, this is something I might use once every few years so I don't want to spend much. I don't need to know that I used 1,452.44023 watt hours between Monday and Friday with a maximum spike of 9.2536 amps on the fridge at 4:22am on thursday... I don't need it to be THAT exact, nor do I need to be able to do 3 phase or induction or any of the overly fancy functions that we use here in the industrial world. I just need "Good Enough"

So any recommendations?

I think Will was using one of these https://www.amazon.com/Sense-Energy-Monitor-Electricity-Usage/dp/B075K6PHJ9

@Will Prowse A video on these and other methods of auditing might be a good project.

 

[Rednecktek]

Ouch! Way overkill for a single 20a circuit from the generator, also, I don't have FM radio up there much less cell service or internet access.