It's easy to take meter readings on a periodic (ex. daily) basis and measure average daily electricity usage. How about on a real-time basis? I have access to an old lap-top computer and would like to monitor real-time usage. Does anyone know of any quck-and-dirty means to measure current using shunts or other technology? A/D converters? etc. I'm open to suggestions here. I'm researching inverters and may not need grid-tie ability at all (we're currently on the grid) but I need better data. thanks

I've used a WebDAQ:
http://www.microdaq.com/product/data-aquisition/webdaq100.htm

The RV Power Products folks were great at providing enough documentation to let me use the WebDAQ to "read" the output of their units so I could record the information that was Solarboost displayed.

I've also used a temperature logger from
http://www.onsetcomp.com/

arnold

I have been using www.dataq.com data loggers for over 5 years, starting with a free 1 channel board model 194, and now to a 4 input 12 bit $160 model number 159. Very easy to set up, powered from serial port. Logs + / - 10V inputs. For mV shunts, I use a x100 instumentation amplifier IC