Wattmeters are widely used in industry and at home. They are used to measure the power of household appliances, determine the total cost of electricity consumed, detect current leaks, etc. d. The principle of operation of wattmeters is quite simple, the device registers the voltage and current intensity of the current flowing through it, multiplies the data and displays the final result on the screen in watts. In our country’s sales network there is a wide range of wattmeters. They differ in cost and functionality. Recommendations of our experts will help potential buyers to choose the most suitable model.
Selection guide
Types of wattmeters. There are several varieties of wattmeters.
- Analog devices consist of a moving and stationary coil and an arrow indicator. Devices are considered outdated, but reliable and durable.
- Digital wattmeters have a microprocessor, current sensor and display. Can be used as professional instruments or portable measuring devices.
- Household wattmeter is a power adapter (adapter). It is equipped with a plug and socket, the connection of electrical appliances looks quite simple. When you turn on a household appliance, the LCD display of the wattmeter will show the power consumption, the cost of electricity, as well as some other parameters of current. The main advantage of household wattmeters is their affordability.
Measuring power range. When choosing a wattmeter you need to know about the power measurement range.
- Lower limit can be from 0,1 to 6W. If low-powered electrical appliances will be connected to the wattmeter, preference should be given to models with the lowest wattage range (0.1 W).
- The maximum power in household appliances ranges from 3500 to 4500 W. Choice of wattmeter depends on the total power of household appliances that will participate in the measurements. Therefore, before buying you should open the passports of all devices and summarize their power consumption.
Accuracy of measurement. Household applications do not usually require high accuracy from wattmeters. However, many models show a small error (1-2%), which is enough to determine the power or cost of energy in the house or garage.
Additional options. For convenience in operation and long life, manufacturers equip their products with some useful options.
- Illuminated display helps you to take readings in the dark without turning on additional lights.
- Thanks to the built-in memory the wattmeter saves the last measurement results. This is convenient for analyzing power consumption.
- Overvoltage protection prevents the device breaking down in case of a power surge.
We have selected 7 best wattmeters in this review. They are all available in Russian stores. When assigning the place, the editorial staff of expertology magazine drew on the opinion of the expert community, taking into account feedback from Russian consumers.
Rating of the best wattmeter
| Nomination | location | product name | price |
| Best wattmeter rating | 1 | ROBITON PM-3 | 1 100€ |
| 2 | MEGEON 71017 | 2 665€ | |
| 3 | Energenie EHB12-1 | 1 079€ | |
| 4 | REXANT RX-8 | 1 380€ | |
| 5 | ROBITON PM-1 | 668€ | |
| 6 | Energenie EG-EM1 | 840€ | |
| 7 | ROCONNECT PC-7 | 890€ |
ROBITON PM-3
Rating: 4.9
Simple and easy to operate electrical measuring device is ROBITON PM-3 wattmeter. Russian development advantageously differs from the competitors by high measured power (4416 W). Total current of electric appliances must not exceed 16A. The device is designed for measurements in the network with AC voltage within the range of 190-276V. Experts appreciated the wide functionality, with the help of a wattmeter can determine the power, current, time, frequency, cost of electricity. To work in the dark, the manufacturer has a backlit screen. The model wins gold in our review.
Domestic users liked the device for its affordable price, ease of operation, wide functionality. Of the disadvantages noted the small font of letters on the screen.
Advantages
- ease of operation;
- affordable price;
- multifunctionality;
- screen backlight.
Disadvantages
- small letters.
MEGEON 71017
Rating: 4.8
Russian wattmeter MEGEON 71017 won the experts with its compactness and lightness (136 g). The device can operate over a wide temperature range (0…+45ºC), the maximum power measured is limited to 3520W. The voltage in the network can range from 180 to 260 V, the range of measured current is 0-16 A. Measuring results are shown on the liquid crystal display, which is equipped with LED backlight. The device is also able to determine the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air, it is especially useful to know when working in closed rooms. Data can be stored due to built-in memory. The model gets the silver of our review.
Russian consumers are not in a hurry to buy wattmeters in the stores. One of the reasons of low popularity is high price.
Advantages
- multifunctionality;
- intuitive menu;
- backlit display;
- Detects carbon dioxide content.
Disadvantages
- high price.
Energenie EHB12-1
Rating: 4.7
The role of a wattmeter can be played by the Energenie EHB12-1 wattmeter. The device can measure and control the consumption of electricity by various devices with a total current of 16A. All data is displayed on a 2.8 inch liquid crystal display, and there are four buttons for operation. Safety of the model is achieved by the installation of protective shields of the socket. But in accuracy the wattmeter is inferior to the leaders of the review, showing an error of 2%. The manufacturer has not provided and backlighting of the screen. Therefore, the model ranks third.
Domestic users are flattered by the quality of assembly, rugged housing, protective socket and built-in battery. To the disadvantages, they include the lack of display backlight.
Advantages
- multifunctionality;
- ease of operation;
- protective socket curtains;
- built-in rechargeable battery.
Disadvantages
- no display backlight.
REXANT RX-8
Rating: 4.6
The Russian-Chinese wattmeter REXANT RX-8 demonstrates high measurement accuracy (1% error). Experts have appreciated the ample opportunities of the device, it can not only display the current parameters, but also to calculate the total cost of energy consumed. The power limit reading is 3600 W, the maximum amperage of all devices must not exceed 16 A. Operating temperature of the device is in the range of 0…+50ºC, it is powered by three LR44/AG13 batteries. The wattmeter has an LCD display and three control buttons.
Russian consumers are happy with the meter’s simplicity and convenience, high quality components and wide range of functions. The disadvantages are the lack of display backlight, small letters.
Advantages
- qualitative assembling;
- measurement accuracy;
- extensive functionality
- Ease of use.
Disadvantages
- No display backlight;
- small letters.
ROBITON PM-1
Rating: 4.5
The most affordable wattmeter in our review was the ROBITON PM-1. The device is equipped with a plug, socket, electronic unit and LCD display. Total amperage of all electrical appliances must not exceed 16A. Experts note the decent accuracy of a budget wattmeter (1% error). No backlight in the display. The model’s compactness, lightness, ease of use should be noted as an asset. The power limit load is 3680 W. The counter is able to work in a wide temperature range (+5…+40ºC).
In reviews, domestic users praise the device for its low price, versatility, compactness. To the disadvantages of the model, they include an ill-conceived zeroing mechanism and fear of cold.
Advantages
- low price;
- wide functionality;
- compactness;
- easy to use.
Disadvantages
- no display backlight;
- ill-conceived zeroing mechanism.
Energenie EG-EM1
Rating: 4.4
The Energenie EG-EM1 wattmeter closes the Top 6 of our review. Experts note the advantages of the device, such as reasonable price and ease of use. With the device you can find out the power of electrical appliances from 5-3680 W, as well as monitor the cost of consumed electricity. Budget wattmeter features a backlit display, overcurrent protection. Built-in rechargeable battery powers the model to save settings and readings.
But the precision of measurement raises some doubts among the customers. For example, when a 15 W light bulb is turned on, the display shows 12 W; when measuring a 100 W light bulb, the unit shows 86 W. And the power consumption of devices consuming less than 6 watts on the display tends to 0.
Advantages
- reasonable price;
- ease of use;
- display backlight;
- built-in battery.
Disadvantages
- Limited functionality;
- inaccurate readings.
ROCONNECT PC-7
Rating: 4.3
Another budget wattmeter came into our experts’ field of view. The PROCONNECT PC-7 model is characterized by ease of operation, allowing the user to obtain information about the consumed and accumulated power, the total cost of consumed electricity. The device helps to detect current leaks, saves on energy consumption. The total load on the wattmeter should not exceed 16A, and the maximum power is limited to 3520W. The device is equipped with an LCD display and three buttons to control. The declared error does not exceed 1%.
On thematic forums many flattering words are said about the Russian-Chinese product. High praise for its affordable price and ease of use. However, it is not suitable for two-tariff metering, quite modest look and functionality.
Advantages
- low price
- convenience in application;
- high quality build;
- simple settings.
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for dual metering.
