Energy Meter - need a recommendation

[Rollerball]

In order to determine which of my devices/appliances is using the most power I thought I'd invest in a simple energy meter. but which one to buy?

They seem to average out at about £15, but which one is both easy to use and accurate?

For example, this one seems to be quite well regarded but apparently is awkward to read and perhaps also awkward to use:

www.amazon.co.uk/Plug-In-Power-and-Energy-Monitor/dp/B000Q7PJGW/

Any recommendations please?

Thanks

 

[ban-all-sheds]

In order to determine which of my devices/appliances is using the most power I thought I'd invest in a simple energy meter.

And simply looking at the rating plate or the specs is not an option because......?

 

[phatboy]

BAS has a point.

May I suggest you monitor the whole house electricity usage instead, thereby you can check the reading each day before you leave for work, and if it goes up a lot suddenly when you look you can see if someone has left the oven on or something.

I have one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004BDNR84/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and it does the job just fine.

 

[JohnW2]

In order to determine which of my devices/appliances is using the most power I thought I'd invest in a simple energy meter.

And simply looking at the rating plate or the specs is not an option because......?

... perhaps because that will rarely tell one exactly how much energy the device/appliance is actually using in service - particularly in the case of high-powered, but thermostatically-controlled, things? ... not to mention all those lower power things which come with power supplies that tell one little more than the maximum power consumption of the power supply.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

... perhaps because that will rarely tell one exactly how much energy the device/appliance is actually using in service - particularly in the case of high-powered, but thermostatically-controlled, things?

So do you suggest that the OP sits staring at the monitor with pencil, notebook & stopwatch in hand?

In order to determine which of my devices/appliances is using the most power I thought I'd invest in a simple energy meter

When you've found out, what will you do?

 

[JohnW2]

So do you suggest that the OP sits staring at the monitor with pencil, notebook & stopwatch in hand?

Why on earth would he do that? One can but speculate about why he wants this information, or what he'd do with it once he had it, but I would imagine that his interest would probably be in how much energy a particular appliance/device/whatever used in X hours or Y days - in which case he would presumably just leave the measuring device in place for that period of time and then make a note of the answer!

Kind Regards, John

 

[empip]

Have two of these plug in adapters... They read reasonably the same for a given appliance.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/plug-in-mains-power-and-energy-monitor-38343

Read Volts, Amps, Watts and VA (Volts x Amps), PF and Frequency, kWh used and elapsed time. No set up required, Plug and Play !
NB. No info back up therefore loss of power loses data.

Pretty much in constant use for some years, monitoring kettle and freezer.

Also have a plug in adapter type 'Workzone' Power Meter, data held with battery backup, this requires setting up, records elapsed time, real time, costs, plus the same stuff as the Maplin kit. Matches the other two adapters pretty well.
Unaffected by power loss due to coin type batteries.

-0-

 

[mfarrow]

In order to determine which of my devices/appliances is using the most power I thought I'd invest in a simple energy meter.

Power and energy meters measure different things; if you want to measure power you need an ammeter and voltmeter, or look on the rating plate for a fairly accurate approximation as BAS suggests.

If you want to measure energy consumption you need to measure time as well, and the item listed above, available from many places including Maplin, should be suitable. They work quite well, even though I chucked mine because I thought the voltage reading was too high (then I later measured with a multimeter myself... ).

 

[ericmark]

I bought a cheap one either Aldi or Lidi can't remember which and it was interesting to see how much the sky box used on stand by but the real use is with fridge and freezer when insulation (thermal) starts to fail then the motor will run for longer and it comes time to change.

However the main problem is lack of data. Some where I have record of what my freezer used but when I tried to find out what it should use that was a problem. Clearly it will vary on how often the door is opened and if auto de-frost or not.

Maybe we can all post out readings and build up a data base? But most items have power requirements shown on plate and it's only a case of reading the plate.

As a result of using the meter I scrapped on fridge and I unplug sky box when not set to record. I also stopped turning TV off at wall just no point it uses so little I use more energy walking to the socket.

As to overall meters can't really see the point it did not change anything I or my wife does we know how much a tumble drier uses it written on plate OK dish washer and washing machine will alter according to cycle but how can one compare a hot and cold fill to cold fill? And also even if it does use more than you expect then what. I am sure I use more hot water to hand wash dishes than the dish washer uses. Mainly as I would not allow the dishes to build up the same. And dish washer does better job but since energy meter only measures electric it will not help.

Mine is borrowed by family to test fridges and freezers that is now it's only job.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Why on earth would he do that? One can but speculate about why he wants this information, or what he'd do with it once he had it, but I would imagine that his interest would probably be in how much energy a particular appliance/device/whatever used in X hours or Y days - in which case he would presumably just leave the measuring device in place for that period of time and then make a note of the answer!

I'll be back as soon as I can find the explanation of why I assumed it was an instantaneous display only. I know it's around here somewhere...

 

[JohnW2]

Why on earth would he do that? One can but speculate about why he wants this information, or what he'd do with it once he had it, but I would imagine that his interest would probably be in how much energy a particular appliance/device/whatever used in X hours or Y days - in which case he would presumably just leave the measuring device in place for that period of time and then make a note of the answer!

I'll be back as soon as I can find the explanation of why I assumed it was an instantaneous display only. I know it's around here somewhere...

There isn't really a specific "it" to talk about because the OP came here specifically for advice about what sort of meter to get!

If it had only an 'instantaneous display', it would surely be a 'power meter' (in reality, a current meter plus a multiplication by a {assumed or measured} voltage), rather than an 'energy meter' (which is what the OP asked about), wouldn't it?

Kind Regards, John

 

[plugwash]

And simply looking at the rating plate or the specs is not an option because......?

AIUI the numbers on the ratings plate are supposed to be "the appliance should never draw more than this" numbers. So useful for cable sizing, not so useful for energy management.

 

[JohnW2]

And simply looking at the rating plate or the specs is not an option because......?

AIUI the numbers on the ratings plate are supposed to be "the appliance should never draw more than this" numbers. So useful for cable sizing, not so useful for energy management.

Indeed - and, as I said, if the load is thermostatically controlled (ovens, hobs, heaters, immersions etc.) or is on only intermittently (WMs, dishwashers etc.), that 'rating' will not given one even a useful clue as to how much energy the appliance actually uses in service.

BAS's suggestion would be heading in the direction of adding up the ratings of all the MCBs in a CU (and getting a frightening answer!) in order to determine the maximum demand on an installation!

Kind Regards, John

 

[SimonH2]

For example, this one seems to be quite well regarded but apparently is awkward to read and perhaps also awkward to use:

www.amazon.co.uk/Plug-In-Power-and-Energy-Monitor/dp/B000Q7PJGW/[/QUOTE]
That looks just like the ones I have several of. Work quite well, as well as volts and amps, they measure both real (W) and apparent (VA) power, Power Factor, power on hours (runs from when power is applied) and total energy consumed (accumulates since power on).

I keep one at work - the rating plates on computers are as good as worthless for determining power consumption.

 

[winston1]

The plugin types are reasonably accurate. The wireless types that cover the whole house such as the Owl are totally inaccurate and in my opinion not fit for purpose. The reason being is that they only measure current and assume a fixed voltage and unity power factor neither of which happen in practice.