Measure power consumption?

[Aioanei Rares]

On 10/26/2009 01:26 PM, Joerg Bergmann wrote:
> Am Montag, den 26.10.2009, 16:57 +0530 schrieb Jatin K:
>    
>> On 10/26/2009 04:32 PM, Aioanei Rares wrote:
>>      
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Was wondering if any of you know about a tool to measure the number of
>>> watts drained by a machine. Trying to make my machine as
>>> power-efficient as can be.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance.
>>>
>>>        
>> you need ampere meter [1] ..connect it in series[2] with your system
>> (assuming you are using  desktop  ) and get the reading on meter
>>
>>
>> [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampere-meter
>>
>>
>> [2] http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_6/chpt_2/4.html
>>
>>      
> This approach neglects the influence of idle power. Some better
> PC power supplies have near to zero idle power, but cheap power
> supplies show large idle power even nowadays. You should better
> use some kind of wattmeter. Such a tool should be available
> for about 10$ from any local electronic discounter (here in Germany
> from Conrad Electronic).
>
> Joerg
>
>    
Thanks for all your replies.