You can use a clamp on the phases when you think you are close to peak load or you can just look at the accumulated usage from the PoCo meter but a logger is the only way to be sure you see peak loads.
Power company for one. If they are running equipment like an air compressor, the suppliers will do it for you. There are outfits that do energy audits that will do it and also find ways to reduce load.
How big an outfit is this? 1000 A at 460V will run a lot of equipment. We have 600A and run 14 molding machines, 1 150hp compressor, 1 75hp compressor, 2 boilers, assorted pumps, cooling towers, lighting and more.
I've had 1 week monitoring and never paid anyone anything.
I have zero experience with three phase... What info can you get out of the utility meter? Old meters that have a wheel can be read using something like
formatting link
I have the older model on my two-phase meter.
Mine's not three phase. It's digital, but it has an IR LED that blinks according to the power consumption. I programmed an old Palm Pilot to read the IR and graph/log consumption. Duct taped it to the meter along with a much bigger battery to get enough run time.
If the meter has the blinky IR LED and you can get your hands on an old palm pilot or Handspring Visor, email me.
Written in basic, and trivial. Problem is bootstrapping the palm to get it all loaded. I'm not sure that the basic interpreter is still easily available on the web. I had to load it on a new palm and IR it over the the old palm. I'm not 100% sure that I can reconstruct the details of that process.
FWIW, when considering total loading, don't underestimate the peak transient loads that happen when big motors start. Those are hard to capture with simple equipment.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.