RE: Input Power Measurement

To: tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
Subject: RE: Input Power Measurement
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Sat, 31 May 1997 13:46:02 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

Subject:  RE: Input Power Measurement
  Date:  Sat, 31 May 97 03:52:42 UT
  From: "William Noble" <William_B_Noble-at-msn-dot-com>
    To:  "Tesla List" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>

the absolute cheapest, and reasonably accurate, form of a hot wire
ammeter is 
a light bulb and a light meter.  Calibrate it using known loads.  As
required, 
add a shunt.  It will be nonlinear, but pretty accurate.  For improved 
accuracy, shield the lamp from extraneous light sources.  A thermocouple
or 
thermistor bonded to a power resistor would be good also.

giant snip
----------
I would think you could also go the route of the good old hotwire
ammeter 
(good way to measure RF power coming out of a transmitter) in series 
with your variac input and settle for knowing average RMS power with 
a fair degree of accuracy.  Any fellow deciples of the KISS Principle
try this yet? 

rwstephens