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Possible to measure how much wattage my WHOLE pc uses?

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  • Computers
  • CPUs
  • Components
Last response: in Components
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September 27, 2014 1:51:02 PM

Hi,

Im going to buy a multimeter on Monday, because I'd like to check how my CPU draw in idle, load etc. But I would also like to check the WHOLE computer draw. Is that possible? If yes, is a multimeter the only required tool to measure?

What im intrested in, is wattage.

Would this multimeter be enough for doing this?I cant afford anything else, and I also dont wanna spend over 20 bucks for a multimeter which im only gonna use like once in a year :p 
http://www.uni-trend.com/UT20b.html

More about : measure wattage

a b à CPUs
September 27, 2014 2:09:13 PM

Buy a Kill-A-Watt meter from P3. they are less then $20 on newegg or amazon
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a b à CPUs
September 27, 2014 2:11:04 PM

You can multiply volts times amps using a multimeter but using this meter is much much easier as you dont have to hold the leads or do anything unsafe with your 110v line, and can also measure kwh over a period of time
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September 27, 2014 2:23:16 PM

boosted1g said:
Buy a Kill-A-Watt meter from P3. they are less then $20 on newegg or amazon


I dont know what P3 is, Newegg doesnt ship to Sweden, and I also like to skip ordering from around the world, hehe.

But it is possible to get approxiamtely wattage draw with that meter I linked? And by holding the leads, what exactly does that mean? I
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a b à CPUs
September 27, 2014 2:28:10 PM

To use a multimeter you will hae to find away to clip the leads to an unsafe AC power cable with the sheilding pulled away to touch the wires. You have to hold the leads to the live power wire yourself, you then have to switch the dial from volts to amps and change the red lead to the amps section, write the amps down and multiply the volts and the amps together.

The P3 (that is the brand) Kill-a-watt meter is the easiest (and safest) way to measure it.

I dont know if bucks is also used to mean Euros, but seeing the word bucks i assumed you ment USD, my mistake on that. Im sure there is some vendor that ships it to your locaiton.
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September 27, 2014 2:43:05 PM

I mentioned bucks, as in USD, so you guys have easier to understand. Sweden use Swedish crowns, hehe.

Well, then I skip that, lol.. The thing is, I would nee da european "Kill-a-Watt" then.. U know any?

Edit - Oh.. Lol, The "Kill-a-Watt" is just a electricity meter. Its called that in sweden. U plug it in ur wall, then u plug ur pc to the meter device, and it shows KWh, Watts, Amperge, volts etc. around 10 euros :) 
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