Can I Measure Grid-tie Inverter Output With a Kill-A-Watt Meter?

I have successfully used a Kill-a-watt meter to measure the output of my grid-tie inverter by reversing the plug input and output, but that was while the sun was shining. However I'm not sure what will happen when the sun goes down. Will the meter be OK with the mains voltage on the output side and no power coming from the inverter? Secondly, can I just plug the meter in normally, and measure a negative power usage?
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-Bill
You can get a regular meter pretty cheap, might even be given an old dial type if you ask nice at the electric company, a lot of them around, as power companies have switched out most of the dial type for digital.
- Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
There is a good chance the original poster is from the South Africa region--So, he would probably be using 230 VAC @ 50 Hz anyway.
And, you do not want to exceed the current rating of the Kill-a-Watt (or similar) meter.
If Tyler comes back, there are a whole bunch of questions and answers we can get into--If he desires.
-Bill
Think of pedaling a bicycle, it is when in the cycle (like voltage, the position of the pedals) that you apply force (like current)... Apply force in 1/2 the rotation, you go faster. Apply force in the other 1/2 of the rotation, you go backwards.
How the power meter will choose to display the two different voltage/current timings, I do not know. Will it simply say 100 Watts? Or will power going the normal direction of the meter display 100 Watts, and backwards power flow display 100 Watts or zero Watts, or something entirely random... Don't know. Depends on how it is programmed (or if the programmer even took the power flow direction into account).
A simple test... Take a known load and apply it normal direction (meter input plug into AC outlet, meter output receptacle to AC load). And see what happens when you plug the meter in "reversed".
There is a danger involved... In the US, for example, when you wire an extension cord with two Male Plugs to "jumper" power... We call that a Suicide plug or cord. If the plug is pulled from the receptacle, it will be "hot" and could electrocute somebody with the exposed blades.
I think I am understanding your questions and answering them... If I am missing something, please ask again.
-Bill