ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 USB-C cable with power meter.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

If you're a professional repair technician, then you'll likely have one -- or many -- USB power meters in your toolkit. They're a must-have. 

But if you're a hobbyist, then you don't really want to be dropping over$100 on an all-singing, all-dancing USB power meter that does it all. Formost folks, a power meter that shows the basics is all that's needed.

Also: This powerful, pocket-sized gadget is perfect for all your USB troubleshooting needs

And this is what theChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 offers. 

RECOMMENDS

ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001

For $30 you get a high-quality five-foot USB-C to USB-C cable capable of carrying 240W of power that comes complete with a built-in power meter with color display. It's perfect for diagnosing problems with chargers and power banks.

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ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 tech specs

• Length: 1.5 m/5 ft.
• Connectors: USB-C.
• Power rating: up to 240W.
• E-Marker chip: Yes.
• Display: 0.96 inch/2.4 cm color display.
• Information: Voltage, current, power, temperature, current direction, energy, timer, and more.
• Accuracy: 0.002V, 0.002A.

Also: Repairing electronics with the wrong tools can be dangerous. How to stay safe

I have a lot of different USB power meters that are jam-packed with features, but the one thing that I love about the Power-Z AK001 is the simplicity. You plug it in, the display lights up, and you get all the vital statistics about the power going across the cable.

ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 display showing voltage, amperage, and power.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

There's even a handy arrow on the display that shows the direction in which the power is flowing. This is a great touch because it has caught me out using power meters where I've become confused as to what's charging what -- especially where power banks are concerned. 

A little arrow on the ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 display shows which direction the power is flowing in.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

I also like the simplicity of the inputs. 

There's just one button on the ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 power meter.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

There's a single button on the back of the display that controls both switching screens (a single press cycles through the power meter screen, protocol detection, a blank screen, and title screen) and rotating the display (this is done by pressing the button for three seconds).

Protocol detection screen.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

I've tested the accuracy of the power meter against a calibrated meter, and it easily achieves the rated accuracy -- more than accurate enough for these types of measurements.

Also: The perfect$16 USB-C tester for your repair kit (and how to use it)

It's hard to find fault with the ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001. For$30, it's an amazingly cheap and versatile power meter that doubles day-to-day as a 240W USB-C cable.

If you want a USB-C power meter with more functionality, I recommend the ChargerLAB Power-Z KM003C. It will tell you everything you need to know about what's happening over a USB-C cable.

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