Customer Reviews

GenTran Portable Generator Line Voltage Meter LVM450

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For the price, this is not a bad meter at all, but considering that the kill-a-watt meter set also gives you wattage, kvars, and voltage, as well as runtime and kwh digitally for around the same price, its definitely got the advantage.

Both products use the feed through socket which is handy in that you know THIS item is gettng this voltage, but the kill-a-watt also gives you power consumption off each item, so if you go into a power strip, then try to find out what is putting a heavy load on your genset, the killawatt will do the job, while this won't.

There are two versions of the kill-a-watt - both are bigger than this metere, but both give more information: the basic model P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor and the slightly more advanced model P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor

The only real tradeoff is they are larger units - I use small 1 foot extension cords with mine to make it easier to plug in, and being self powered when ac is present you don't need batteries. Knowing wattage is as important with gensets as knowing voltage, which is why I switched to the killawatt meter - everything is available on a digital readout and it includes kvars which are how some gensets are spec'ed.

A simple, inexpensive way to verify that my new home and outbuildings are powered appropriately by main feed and by generator. This would be a handy device for anyone who wants to informally check a property they are considering leasing or purchasing.

Great meter for plugging in anywhere. Has a "suppressed scale" so you can read
the upper range which is all you want. I bought 2, and will probably buy more for my installer's tool kits.

If you're looking for a utility or commercial grade instrument built to milspecs and accurate to 0.5%, this is not it. But if you're looking for a quick way to monitor line voltage at a glance, this meter is perfect for the task. The scale is a bit odd in that it maxes out at 130V (despite the red legend, no too many things would fry there). The backlighting is a nice touch, and LED rather than electroluminescent, so possibly longer-lasting than the eventual decay that comes with EL. The convenience outlet will be more convenient for some than others. No UL approval if that matters in your application. Bottom line: can't beat it for the price if you need to know that if line is around 120V or not. If you need to know that the line is precisely 123.6V, get out your Fluke.

I bought this meter to use in our travel trailer to make sure we are receiving proper voltage at campgrounds. All you have to do is plug it in to any outlet and then check that the voltage is in the safe range. The dial is illuminated so seeing it at night is easy. Low voltage can be damaging to A/C units and when you plug in at a campground you want to be sure that the hookup is proper. The meter is cheap insurance.

This is a good buy if you need a voltmeter when using a generator. The lighted dial is a nice feature. Most home generators already have voltmeters but this one seems to be a little more accurate.