PortaPow USB/DC Premium Power Monitor

I wanted an easy way to read current on projects I'm working on, a little device that I can plug in. This device is perfect, unlike some of the usb types this has so many ways of connecting and comes with a good selection of leads and connectors. The screen is easy to read. I have checked its readings with my digital multimeter, and they are the same. My meter is a quality device but has not been calibrated for years. Most of my projects are arduino based, I calculate what I expect the current to be, plug in the monitor and so far that's the reading I get. I am very pleased with this.

Love this meter, very accurate. I use this for measuring outputs from various solar panels including a large 80w panel. Plus great for testing USB chargers more accurate than some of the cheaper online ones..

If you're looking for a low voltage voltmeter and power meter for USB power banks and other battery operated equipment, then this device is for you!It has functionality that is really hard to find in one device for this price.Unfortunately manufacture quality is not great, because it looks like a hobby DIY project. That's the reason I took one star away in rating.The first device I received didn't show anything on the LCD, just backlight. I reported the failure and received a replacement without cables which had a displaced female connector so that the housing was blocking it and I could't use it either. Then it was time to take out the soldering iron and fix the board which was soldered about one milimeter sideways. After that I took the first unit apart and discovered that it didn't work because the LCD had fallen off. It was badly mounted to the board and perhaps it got loose during transport.If you can handle soldering iron, then you can fix it in case LCD is dead or you cannot plug in the cord.There is a good review on youtube on this monitor which demonstrates the weakness of 3 wire measuring of power. With higher currents the measurement error increases. That's something to keep in mind.Other than that it's a great tester of power bank capacities which in reality are almost half of what it says on the box (if you're lucky).It's also useful for testing the charge cables to see if you are really charging with maximal current your device can charge. That way you don't waste time waiting with low speed charging.

This power meter really is a good product but I'll get the two little negatives out of the way first.Firstly the plastic case is a bit cheap feeling and pops apart easily - it makes it feel a bit delicate. The second slight niggle is that the power port to charge the battery really should be a microUSB port rather than a odd sized barrel connector. With those slight issues out of the way - the good stuff...I've tested this over and over again. The voltage and current readings are both very accurate. The fact that the device has its own battery means it doesn't take any power from the device under test and that battery seems to last for ever.I use this monitor to check USB power bank capacity and the claims that USB chargers make and it's never let me down. It shows volts, current, watts, milliamp hours and time.The fact that this device will do up to 50 volts and 5 amps means it can be used for testing all kinds of other things. I use it to test solar panels and solar charge controllers. The fact that it shows watts on the screen is really handy for these types of tests. [...]

I quite like the device, it’s easy to use but I think the quality is poor. Not had this long, but the display stopped working, after a few unsuccessful switch on and off, I pressed on the case it start working again, I guess maybe a loose cable.

This has been invaluable in judging what is good and bad in the gadgets I have been buying. It's been a real eye opener showing me what lives up to its claims and what doesn't.I had a problem with one of the leads and the company replaced it very quickly and without a quibble. Very pleased with my purchase and the customer service afterwards.

the first unit i got didnt work, i had to send it back which i dont believe i have been refunded for.took weeks for me to actually end up with a working product.

So far I've only used it with the USB monitor, but being able to measure other voltages with the probes is a great function.I have no idea about the accuracy of the readings, but they seem sensible when I have been playing with it.My device was rattling, and it turns out that the battery doesn't glue itself to the circuit board very well.I've had to add some packing material to the case to that is doesn't rattle (which could have broken internal components).The back just pushes on, so I'm not sure how long that will last. It would have been nice if there was a clip or screw to hold it on properly.Also, it would be nice to be told in the documentation how long it takes to fully charge the internal battery.I left it on for hours, and it still only showed 2 out of 3 bars for the charge status.Still, that amount allowed the device to power itself for many hours while I was testing the charge rate for a small power pack I have.Note that when measuring charges, my laptop seems to use the same power lines for more than 1 USB port, therefore make sure you're only measuring the thing that you're expecting to measure and disconnect other USB devices if the displayed values don't make sense!