CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

A wattmeter is a device which measures electrical power, a newer technologies have provided

the ability to produce digital; wattmeters, these meters usually have a digital display and are

portable, resulting in a more versatile and easy to use product. Because these devices are digital,

the analog approach is replaced with digital circuits to read in and compute measurements.

Digital devices offer the ability to read measurement of any frequency, and also compute many

different quantities. Digital wattmeters provide versatile capabilities and accurate readings in a

Power instability and phase failure in developing countries like Nigeria has posed serious threat

to her economic development. This is because one of the factors that boost the economy of a

country is the availability of steady and stable power supply.(Oduobuk & Ettah, 2014)

Continuity of supply is very important in electrical systems and manual verification of incoming

and outgoing supply in large electrical installation is difficult and ineffective, it erodes the

reputation of concerned individuals. An automatic controlling of electrical system becomes the

demand of the day to streamline such an effective system.(Soniya, 2011)

However, most companies; industries, commercial and even domestic are dependent on public

power supply which are mostly faced with problems of epileptic supply such as phase failure,

phase imbalances or total power failure due to one or more technical problem in power

generation, transmission or distribution. Hence, there is need for automation of phase change

during phase failure or total power failure in order to safe guard consumer appliances from

erratic power supply.(Oduobuk & Ettah, 2014)

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In cases where companies, be it domestic or industrial, employs single phase equipment for its

operation sometimes experiences challenges during unbalance voltages, overloads and under-

voltages in power supply, much time would be required in the process of manual change over.

This means that the time and process needed for the phase change may cause serious damages to

machines and even productsleading to revenue loss, hence, the need for automatic phase

switching system.(Oduobuk & Ettah, 2014)

In a case where single phase public utility prepaid meter is operated with a single phase power

supply unit and there is phase failure from the public utility power supply, the prepaid meter will

stop reading. At this point if the phase is not manually changed, the single phase prepaid meter

will stop reading. That is to say someone needs to be present always to make the change at any

point. But to overcome these protocol, automatic system need to be used.(Oduobuk & Ettah,

2014).

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The epileptic power supply and power outage across phase is rampant in Nigeria today, thus

leading to some sensitive equipment and appliance being kept without usage. Sometimes this

equipment get damage or burnt as a result of power outage resulting from the failure of one

phase or the other. These brought about the motive of designing and implementing an automatic

switching system to reduce these problems to the barest minimum. (Paul, 2016).

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this project is to design and implement an automatic three phase 220v wattmeter

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 1. The device will have input and output terminals for connecting the device to the

system under analysis, as well as a display to more accurately convey the

measurement.

2. The user will be able to incomputerate this device within a circuit between the paper

source and the load and the device will in turn digitally display the voltage absorbed

and power factor of load

3. The meter will also display voltage and current.

1.4 PROJECT MOTIVATION

The need to have uninterrupted power supply with little sense of reliability has been a necessity

to power consumers all over the world. Epileptic power supply has been causing more harm than

good to consumers, hence the need to design an automatic phase selector. (Paul, 2016).

1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY

3 phase Wattmeter is an instrument which is used to measure the power consumption of an

electric circuit or an appliance which is connected to the supply in terms of watts.

Digital Wattmeter provides versatile capabilities and accurate reading in a very short period of

time. (Paul, 2016).

1.6 SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of this work will be concerned only on 3 phase 220v Wattmeter, how it works the

functions of digital Wattmeter, why is digital Wattmeter important in electrical labs, the

components use in building it and how they function.

This work is limited to the component and accessories as obtained from the current diagram

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 WATTMETER

The wattmeter is an instrument for measuring the electric power (or the supply rate of electrical

energy) in watts of any given circuit. Watt is a derived unit of power in the International System

of Units (SI), named after the Scottish engineer James Watt (1736–1819). The unit defined as

one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion. Electric power is the rate at which

electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit.

2.2 TYPES OF WATTMETERS

A wattmeter is used to measure the voltage in an electronic circuit. Originally only a tool of

professionals there are now many different types of the device available that are both cheap and

easy to use and available for home use. A wattmeter is generally used for checking on the power

supply of a given power-outlet in a house and for estimating the electricity costs of different

appliances. Like many technologies the device has gone digital.

2.2.1 PROFESSIONAL WATTMETERS

The power company still uses a basic wattmeter to measure the amount of power that your

house or apartment is consuming from the general power supply. The wattmeter measures both

the amount of energy consumed and records the time when it was consumed. Generally these

electric meters will be located somewhere outside a building so that a representative of the power

company can come by in person to see the readings of the device.

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2.2.2 DIGITAL WATTMETERS

According to Pearson Education Limited 2004, Wattmeter is an instrument for measuring the

electric power (or the supply rate of electrical energy in watts of any given circuit.

Digital Wattmeters have become available for home use and are capable of providing users with

information that is far superior to that which was provided by the Wattmeters of professionals

only twenty years ago. Instead of a very imprecise needle display, a digital Wattmeter measures

the current which is passing through its cables at a thousand times a second, measuring every

small change, and providing an average which is the true power supply.

According to Aaron Fogle and Pat Rice in Ohio Northern University 2012, a Wattmeter is a

device which measures electrical power, the meter can be analog or digital.

The Wattmeter is an instrument for measuring the electrical power (or the supply rate of

electrical energy); by Dr Sam Clay Ohio Northern University 2009.

Below is the flow diagram that illustrates the step-by-step processes that is been embarked on to

accomplish this project work. The flow diagram of the project includes; Articles and researches

related to the project study, block and schematic diagram of the project, flow chart and source

code and programmable prototype and functional prototype .The expected outputs of each

activity are also provided on the diagram as seen below.

2.3 PREVIOUS STUDIES RELEVANT TO THE PROJECT

As the world becomes more technologically advanced, access to ample electricity becomes more
important than ever. How is that electricity measured? A watt is the unit of measurement for
electrical power consumption. A three phase wattmeter measures how much electrical power is
flowing through a circuit. Three phase wattmeters can be used to measure how much electricity a
specific product or circuit consumes. (Alexandrea Dillion, 2019)

Three phase wattmeters are also used to measure the amount of electricity flowing into buildings
and provide a way for electrical companies to measure how much electricity is being used by a

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household or commercial building. In both cases, the three phase wattmeter measures how much
electricity an electrical circuit is consuming. Some three phase wattmeters are analog, like the
one pictured below, and some are digital. Digital displays use LCD screens to display the
wattage being measured. Alexandrea Dillion, 2019)

Wattmeter

What Does a three phase Wattmeter Measure?

Three phase Wattmeters measure how much electricity is being used by an electrical product or
circuit. Handheld three phase wattmeters can be used to measure the consumption of a specific
product. Products are usually plugged directly into the three phase wattmeter unit. Then the three
phase wattmeter is plugged into the wall, allowing the device to measure how many watts are
flowing into the product. Alexandrea Dillion, 2019)

In order to understand the mechanism behind how the three phase wattmeter functions, first, an
understanding of voltage and current must be learned. The formula for wattage is:

P=V*I

In this equation, P is watts, V is voltage, and I is current. Voltage is the pressure from an
electrical circuit's power source. This can get a little confusing because voltage can also
sometimes be represented by the letter E in equations. As electricity was being studied for the
first time, the voltage was originally named electromotive force. These terms are synonymous,
but voltage is considered the more scientifically correct word to use today. Current is the rate at
which electrons travel past a certain point or the speed of electrical flow. So, what does a three
phase wattmeter measure? It measures watts, and watts are defined as the pressure and speed of a
circuit multiplied together. The three phase wattmeter functions by measuring voltage and
current and multiplying them together. Alexandrea Dillion, 2019)

A few practice equations will help gather more understanding.

For example, Yolanda loves to make stained glass windows. To melt the cane, she uses a
soldering iron. As she moves towards making her stained-glass a business, she wants to account
for electricity costs in her prices. She plugs her soldering iron into her three phase wattmeter and

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spends 10 hours making a beautiful stained glass window featuring white doves for a local
church. She's shocked to find that her three phase wattmeter reads 200 watts or 20 watts per
hour! She decides to calculate how many watts would be saved during her stained-glass creative
process if she were able to unplug the soldering iron while she grinds glass, saving about two
hours. Twenty watts per hour multiplied by 2 hours would save 40 watts of power per finished
window. (Alexandrea Dillion, 2019)

Another example is Elijah. He is an electrical engineering student designing a new type of

Wattmeters measure how much electricity is flowing through a circuit.

Lightbulb

How to Use a three phase Wattmeter

Three phase Wattmeters are used in a variety of fields, so thankfully, they are relatively easy to
use. Both analog and digital wattmeters are used in similar ways.

What Is a three phase Wattmeter?

The name sounds funny: three phase Wattmeter. What does it measure? Watts! It could sound
like a slogan, but the wattmeter is actually a very useful tool used by electricians and anyone in
the electricity business to measure the amount of electricity being used.

If you live in a home with electricity, then you have a three phase wattmeter attached to your
home somewhere. These wattmeters measure how much electricity you are using. Yes, it is these
meters that your utility company comes and looks at every now and then to figure out how much
to charge you every month.( Alexandrea Dillion, 2019)

A light bulb using electricity wattmeter

What Does It Measure?

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So how do three phase wattmeters measure electricity being used? You can plug in a wattmeter
to your outlet, plug in your laptop, and it will tell you just how much electricity your laptop is
using.

You see your results measured in watts. This is a good way to remember the name three phase
wattmeter and the measurement units it gives you. (Alexandrea Dillion, 2019)

A watt is a unit of measurement for power and can be calculated by multiplying the voltage by
the current in DC circuits.

P=V*I

For AC circuits, you have an extra power factor since your electricity in AC circuits is a
sinusoidal wave, so you'll need to multiply by an additional factor of cos theta.

P = V * I * cos (theta)

Many electrical appliances have a wattage amount listed on them. This shows the maximum
wattage that a particular appliance will use in an hour. For example, a 13-watt compact
fluorescent light bulb will use a maximum of 13 watts in an hour. So, if this light bulb is on for 3
hours, it will use 13 * 3 = 39 Watts in those three hours. You'll see these numbers on your three
phase wattmeter if you have one plugged in to measure the light bulb.

How to Use It

It's pretty easy to use a three phase wattmeter.

If you wanted to measure the amount of electricity your laptop is using, you would get a three
phase wattmeter and plug it into an outlet. Then, plug your laptop into the three phase wattmeter.
Your three phase wattmeter will now read the amount of electricity your laptop is using over
time.( Alexandrea Dillion, 2019)

To read your three phase wattmeter, you'll either be reading an analog version with a needle that
moves across a scale or a digital version that displays the current value.

What are the types of wattmeters?

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There are two types of three phase wattmeters. Analog three phase wattmeters have dials on their
faces that measure wattage. Digital three phase wattmeters use an LCD screen to display the
measured wattage.

How does a three phase wattmeter work?

Three phase wattmeters measure how many watts have been used by a circuit. Watts is a unit of
power, which is calculated by multiplying current and voltage together.

How is a three phase wattmeter connected in a circuit?

three phase Wattmeters can be connected to circuits in two ways. Handheld three phase three
phase wattmeters are plugged into the wall, and then the product being tested is plugged into the
wattmeter for testing. Buildings and homes also have three phase wattmeters installed at the
power grid access to measure how much electricity is being used.