Vernier rarely discontinues items, but in August 2016 we made the difficult decision to stop carrying the Watts Up Pro. The manufacturer had become unreliable and could not provide products to us. The issue was getting worse as time progressed, and we saw no plans for improvement. Supporting teachers is very important to Vernier and after thoughtful consideration, we felt it was better to not offer this product rather than offer a product we couldn’t deliver.
There are several products on the market that take similar measurements. We have not been able to integrate these products with our software because each one has its own proprietary communication formats, and none can really be a drop-in replacement for the Watts Up Pro. We are exploring alternatives to add to our product line. For now, below are some other products to consider for classroom use:
Used and left over stock of Watts Up Pro units
Right now you can get a used Watts Up Pro on Amazon from a non-Amazon seller. You can probably find them other places. If you can find a Watts Up Pro from another vendor, it will probably be a good choice.
Note that Watts Up has several different models, and that only the “Pro” and “.Net” versions include a USB port that communicate with Logger Pro or LabQuest app.
Belkin WeMo Insight Switch
This meter provides a Wi-Fi connection to Belkin’s smartphone app and can log data over time. We have not yet had the chance to investigate how its export and API functions. These are available at Best Buy and Amazon, as well as directly from Belkin:
http://www.belkin.com/us/F7C029/p/F7C029fc/
Kill-a-Watt
The Kill-a-Watt is very inexpensive. We looked at this one years ago, but ruled it out because it does not export the data. The manufacture has other models now that might have more logging.
http://www.p3international.com/products/p4400.html
A Bigger List
There is a thorough review of several different models at:
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-smart-switch/
A good overview site and tips on how to do it the old fashioned way:
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/measure.html
DIY Option
There is an instructables on how to make a homemade version. This looks inexpensive, but unlikley to meet regulatory requirements to be sold as a product:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Energy-Meter-V20/
More info
If you would like to get an e-mail update if/when we start carrying a different model, please sign up at:
https://docs.google.com/a/vernier.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaQNrOF6XbqQxsbSMFyvordnI5fkMXDadpFHrJZOtnOYe5Wg/viewform
Related:
If you have a Watts Up Pro, we have troubleshooting tips at:
Watts Up Pro Troubleshooting and FAQs