Mooshimeter: The Smartphone Multimeter

Sparkfun offers the Mooshimeter, the wireless multi-channel multimeter and data logger that uses a smartphone or tablet as a display

SparkFun offers the Mooshimeter, a multi-channel multimeter that harnesses a smartphone or tablet¡¯s hardware as a wireless, high-resolution graphical display using Bluetooth^® 4.0. The Mooshimeter is able to safely measure 600 V at 10 A with 24-bit resolution from up to 50 meters away making multi-channel measurements possible in situations that are too fast, too slow, too sensitive, or too dangerous to use a traditional multimeter.

Traditional digital multimeters will only operate in a single mode at a time, meaning that to watch relationships in an active system multiple meters need to be used, but two channels means a relationship can be monitored. The Mooshimeter can measure any two of its three inputs, and the high-speed synchronized measurements allow for very fine measurement of power, including:

• Actual power usage: Measuring volts and amps on separate meters and then multiplying gives volt amps, which is watts only when the power factor is perfect.

• Power factor: How effectively is the power provided being used?

• Harmonic distortion: What sort of noise is being pushed back on to the lines?

Simultaneous voltage and current also allows more detail to be seen on how the system performs across its operational range.