Peak Reading Voltmeter

Is it possible/reasonable to build a peak reading voltmeter for 100 to 120 volt (RMS) near sine wave? The application is measuring peak voltage output from engine driven generators that power battery chargers. Most of these units cannot supply the current required at the top of the sine wave for efficient battery charging, the result is reduced charging rate due to flattening of the peak. I would like to be able to measure this.

Jack

Reply to
Jack Hayes
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If you want to predict what the output from a rectifier will be (without actually measuring that waveform or charging current) you might replicate the rectifier with a smaller copy and load it with a capacitor and a resistor (to slowly discharge the cap if the voltage goes down). This gives a fair approximation of the peak voltage of the loaded generator.

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John Popelish
Reply to
John Popelish

Get a diode and a capacitor, and then measure it on your DC setting. You'll need to select the diode and capacitor carefully, making sure they're rated for at least the peak-to-peak voltage with some margin to spare (say 20%); the most common random diodes and capacitors you might have sitting around will be rated only for 50 or 100V, so you'll most likely need to get some specifically.

A current-limiting resistor might also be a good idea for operator safety.

Reply to
Terran Melconian

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