Kill-a-Watt metering unit

F

Frankie

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Jun 21, 2007
Messages
5,785
This device may work as claimed, but I don't see it being such a practical or useful tool for keeping a check on your overall household consumption.
It can only measure the consumption of one or two appliances connected to it, whereas you could read this info off the label on each appliance.

I would rather spend the money on a prepaid meter installation and use it to monitor the whole household consumption.
 
R

risingtide

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
693
My pre-paid meter can show me the current consumption. Type #1# on the keypad. Resolution is only to the nearest 60W though.
 
F

Frankie

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K

kaspaas

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Frankie said:
This device may work as claimed, but I don't see it being such a practical or useful tool for keeping a check on your overall household consumption.
It can only measure the consumption of one or two appliances connected to it, whereas you could read this info off the label on each appliance.

I would rather spend the money on a prepaid meter installation and use it to monitor the whole household consumption.
Click to expand...

What is the weekly running cost of your fridge, or even better, how much does it cost to run the bar fridge to keep your beer cold?

The label gives maximum energy consumption, which in the case of a fridge working only part of the time is not of much use. Do yourself a favour: Check the label on your fridge and calculate the cost of running it for a month based on that info. It is doubtful if you would be able to afford it.
 
Z

zesto

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Feb 27, 2006
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310
km2 said:
I bought:

http://more.take2.co.za/moreuk-plug-in-power-and-energy-monitor-meter-b000q7pjgw.html

for around R500 including delivery. It works pretty nicely, except you'll have to buy a couple of UK->SA, SA->UK plug adapters which I had lying around. At least the voltages are the same between here and the UK, unlike the Kill-a-watt.
Click to expand...

Thanks, just what i need.
My electricity bill has doubled in the last month, i suspect it is the home server i am running but i need to be sure.
 
F

Fudzy

Guest
What is the size of the PSU on that Home server? If you're electricity bill has doubled its most likely something a bit bigger like a pump or geyser.
 
Z

zesto

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Feb 27, 2006
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310
I think it's about 450W but i have had it on 24x7 for the past month.
Could be the swimming pool pump as well, i have reduced the number of hours it runs now. Is it safe and wise to turn the geyser off during the day?
 
B

BCO

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Dec 17, 2004
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Well, MontyPython came around to my place with his Kill-A-Watt and I got to play around with it a bit. I didn't want to take up too much of his time so I did not undertake as much testing as I could have but here are some of my test results:

The first thing I tested was my "entertainment hub" in the lounge (which all currently runs off one plug).

  • TV (42" full HD Sinotech LCD) + Logitech Z5500 surround system + PS3 + Xbox 360 + HD PVR decoder ALL ON STANDBY: 44W !!!

  • TV + Z5500 + PS3 + Xbox ON STANDBY: + PVR ON: 44W

Surprise! The HD PVR is basically on all the time, even if it's not outputting a signal to your TV. I was not happy to realise that I've been burning 44W 24/7 for the last 6 months.

  • TV + PS3 + Xbox ON STANDBY + PVR OFF + Z5500 ON (but not outputting sound): 65W

  • TV + Xbox + Z5500 on 60% volume + Roland TD3 drum kit (basically everything that's on when playing Guitar Hero) ON PVR OFF PS3 ON STANDBY: 455W

  • With the same configuration as above, except with the Z5500s ON STANDBY: 390W

  • With the TV ON and everything else (including the PVR) ON STANDBY: 238W

  • With the TV and the PS3 ON and everything else ON STANDBY: 326W

  • TV ON and everything else OFF: 198W

Next was my and my g/f's PCs which both run off one plug point. Basic specs:

My PC
E8400 @ 3.6
Radeon 4870 512mb (mild OC, can't recall the settings)
4gb RAM

GF's PC
E6600 @ stock
Radeon 4850 512mb @ stock
4gb RAM

Both machines have Samsung 2232 22" monitors.

  • My PC DURING IDLE: 240W

  • My PC 3D Mark '06 GPU TEST: 330W

  • My PC 3D Mark '06 CPU TEST: 290W

  • Both PCs ON IDLE: 415W

  • Both PCs WHILE GAMING: 611W
 
L

Lope

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Apr 19, 2007
Messages
478
Its crazy with the ever rising electricity prices that these units aren't selling at picknpay...
 
K

killkom

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Jul 21, 2009
Messages
449
I have one of these

http://www.efergy.co.za/pages/86009315/shopping/product-details.asp?uID=2

Works like a charm

Its better than this one
http://www.igear.co.za/pWEM1/TOP-SELLER---Wireless-Electricity-Useage-Monitor.aspx
Because on the E2 you can pull graphs off it to your pc and get a good idea on what is going on

You also don't have to put the sender box next to the meter outside what I did is I put the sender unit on my DB box on the cable comming into the trip switch its just as good as putting it by the meter
 
K

killkom

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Jul 21, 2009
Messages
449
BCO said:
Well, MontyPython came around to my place with his Kill-A-Watt and I got to play around with it a bit. I didn't want to take up too much of his time so I did not undertake as much testing as I could have but here are some of my test results:

The first thing I tested was my "entertainment hub" in the lounge (which all currently runs off one plug).

  • TV (42" full HD Sinotech LCD) + Logitech Z5500 surround system + PS3 + Xbox 360 + HD PVR decoder ALL ON STANDBY: 44W !!!

  • TV + Z5500 + PS3 + Xbox ON STANDBY: + PVR ON: 44W

Surprise! The HD PVR is basically on all the time, even if it's not outputting a signal to your TV. I was not happy to realise that I've been burning 44W 24/7 for the last 6 months.

  • TV + PS3 + Xbox ON STANDBY + PVR OFF + Z5500 ON (but not outputting sound): 65W

  • TV + Xbox + Z5500 on 60% volume + Roland TD3 drum kit (basically everything that's on when playing Guitar Hero) ON PVR OFF PS3 ON STANDBY: 455W

  • With the same configuration as above, except with the Z5500s ON STANDBY: 390W

  • With the TV ON and everything else (including the PVR) ON STANDBY: 238W

  • With the TV and the PS3 ON and everything else ON STANDBY: 326W

  • TV ON and everything else OFF: 198W

Next was my and my g/f's PCs which both run off one plug point. Basic specs:

My PC
E8400 @ 3.6
Radeon 4870 512mb (mild OC, can't recall the settings)
4gb RAM

GF's PC
E6600 @ stock
Radeon 4850 512mb @ stock
4gb RAM

Both machines have Samsung 2232 22" monitors.

  • My PC DURING IDLE: 240W

  • My PC 3D Mark '06 GPU TEST: 330W

  • My PC 3D Mark '06 CPU TEST: 290W

  • Both PCs ON IDLE: 415W

  • Both PCs WHILE GAMING: 611W
Click to expand...

Yeah i know all about the PVR HD I got closer to 100W whether its on standby or not makes no difference.
I thought of putting it on a schedule but its a bitch to do that as specially when you have scheduled recordings. So I just had to take this one on the chin and move on

I find your PC power usage very high I have my power meter right next to me and usually at idle it does not go over 100W when I start to play a game or something it stays just over 100W I have a E6600 with a Nvidia 8800 GTS and a Samsung 2350XL LED screen

You want to see something surprising check how much your geyser chews
I have a timer on mine I run it for only 4 hours per day and it uses 50% of my total daily usage
 
L

Lope

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
478
those things that measure your whole house are nice, but I just want one to measure one plug at a time.
 
5

50Kv

New Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2010
Messages
8
I got the OWL from Radiant from any electrical shop. See
http://www.theowl.co.za/
This is an upgraded or clone version of the Kill-a-Watt. I heard there was a company dispute somewhere, and this ended up in the OWL product.
I was actually trying to get the agency, but all emails were in vain.
However, there is a problem which Radient cant solve, and that is the unit cannot be set for more than R1.00 per kWh.
With our municipal winter rate now at R1.02 per kWh this is a serious problem. This will be temporarily resolved when we all go back to the summer rate of 84.36 cents per kWh. These rates include VAT because I pay VAT.
Otherwise, the unit functions very well. When I see the costs running above R3 per hour, I quickly run around the house to see whats been left switched on.
As of last week I have seen usage of over R15 per hour. Geyser back-up elements on and cooking.
R150 per day and R900 per week.
And all that is with 3 solar geysers.
Our best summer consumption was R830 for the month.
Winter looks more like R3000 +
Still got to get the June bill, but the OWL has told me to expect R3200.
 
Park@82

Park@82

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Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
13,404
Anyone now know of a locally available unit similar to the Kill-a-Watt?

Bit of a resurrect....

Anyone now know of a locally available unit similar to the Kill-a-Watt? /the other ones suggested seems to measure the total usage and not one plug at a time.
 
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