How can you measure the peak voltage at the outlet?

  • Mar 03, 2021
click fraud protection

I continue the popular "Question-Answer" column. And this is the 56th question from readers. Let me remind you that if you have your own answer to a question, then write it in the comments below. I and other readers will be happy to read it.

I quote the text of the question from the reader Konstantin verbatim:

Hello! I have such a question, is it possible to measure the peak voltage in the outlet and the minimum voltage that was, for example, an hour or more? If the minimum does not work out, then the maximum is more interested! Those. so as not to monitor with your eyes by plugging the device into an outlet, but just, for example, after an hour came up and saw what the maximum voltage was! Thank you in advance!
Plug socket (illustrative)
Plug socket (illustrative)

I reviewed the issue and consulted Konstantin within the framework of my knowledge and qualifications as follows:

The modern market for measuring equipment offers a variety of devices for determining certain parameters of an electrical circuit. The most accurate data on the peak voltage value can be obtained through special analyzers designed to assess the quality of power. Such devices are ways to connect to a laptop or PC and transfer data in the form of diagrams, graphs or tables. In which the minimum and maximum voltage values ​​were recorded at a given frequency.

instagram viewer

But the cost of such an analyzer is impressive, so even professional electricians can hardly afford such a luxury. They can be ordered from companies that provide such services or borrowed if you know the employees. A simpler, but also less informative way is to use a multimeter or clamp meter with this function.

For example, the DM-860A multimeter has the CREST [C] option:

  • Press the corresponding [C] key to enable Peak Hold mode.
  • After that, the multimeter will start measuring data at a frequency of once per millisecond, as soon as it detects the highest or lowest value, it will beep.
  • As a result, using the [C] key, you can display the MIN or MAX values, calculate the difference between them.
  • The duration of measurements in this mode is determined by you personally, so that you can determine the peak maximum and minimum at any time interval.

Note that in this mode, the multimeter excludes the possibility of automatic shutdown in the absence of any manipulation.