I have a Dukane Generator. I want to measure how many watts it produces. Do I need to purchase a watt meter to measure the amount of watts it produces, or is there a way to measure watts with a multi-meter?

Do you know anything about its rating at all?
Reason for asking is if its rated in amps you can figure watts. And Vice Versa. You could also use a clamp on meter to get a reading then calculate it from there. Unless you know for sure the generator is under the capacity of the multimeter better be safe then sorry.

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Originally Posted by califdadof3

Do you know anything about its rating at all?
Reason for asking is if its rated in amps you can figure watts. And Vice Versa. You could also use a clamp on meter to get a reading then calculate it from there. Unless you know for sure the generator is under the capacity of the multimeter better be safe then sorry.

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It is a Dukane Ultra 1000 Auto-Trac 20A1000C. 1,000 watt?
Thanks for the quick response. Mike

Yes, it is a 1000 watt generator. At 120 volts 8.3 amps would be the maximum you should load it to. I take it that this is a rather small generator?

The original question is how can I measure the watts this small generator puts out. Can I do it with a standard multi-meter or do I need a watt meter?

This small device, the Kill-a-watt is probably all you need:

P3 - Kill A Watt

It's not an instrument for measuring power for accuracy, but it may do.

Power measuring in AC circuits is very complex when the loads are not resistive.

A clamp True RMS meter for current and a regular voltmeter can sometimes work.

Power formulas are:
P=V * I
P = V * I cos (theta); for sinusoidal voltage and current

For complex loads it can be difficult getting the correct power value. Motor loads change the value of cos(theta), the phase angle between voltage and current.

You would need a watt meter to measure how load you apply to the genset.

To use a multimeter, you would need to measure the amp draw and voltage output, and do the math according to Ohm's Law, P=EI or power equals volts times amps.

To know what the unit can provide (puts out), need to refer to the manufacturers datasheet or nameplate.

Hold the fort here. What exactly are we talking about here? From what I looked up this isn't your standard power generator. Like you would use for camping or home use.
Ref:

Ultra Series Generators Technical Data

Is this what we are talking about ?

If that's true then the ultrasonic Wattmeter is likely in order, otherwise, you have to have TRMS meters with enough frequency response to work. They exist, but are pricey.

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Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid

If that's true then the ultrasonic Wattmeter is likely in order, otherwise, you have to have TRMS meters with enough frequency response to work. They exist, but are pricey.

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Im not sure about you but I was thinking of a different kind of generator when the OP asked the question. Lol.

You can't measure the watts it puts out, only the watts the load you put on it consumes.