Re: Balck and Decker Power Monitor frugal?

 me@privacy.net says...

Are you referring to the whole-house meter thing?

If I were to concerned with micro-managing, I would buy something
like a "Kill-A-Watt" device:

http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-
CE.html

(Beware the line break in the URL.)

This place is selling them for US$15:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882715001&n
m_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Electronic+Gadgets-_-
P3+International-_-82715001

(Beware the line break in the URL.)

It measures one item at a time, so you can see the exact amount
used by your computer, or your television, or any individual item
that plugs into a wall outlet.

This can help you to figure out how much it costs to do a load of
laundry.  Or the operating cost of an old refrigerator or CRT
monitor, to estimate the financial payback of buying a newer,
more efficient one.

A hot water cylinder is a major power-hog, but may be difficult
to measure.  Mine doesn't have any place to insert a Kill-A-Watt
type meter for measurement over time.  I think a clamp-on multi
meter can be used to see the consumption, although I could also
just turn everything else off, and see how fast the main meter
feeding my apartment runs.  But that still doesn't tell how many
hours the water cylinder runs on an average day.  OTOH, that
Black And Decker unit wouldn't work for that, either.

Anyway, as mentioned by another poster, these devices only give
you numbers.  The savings come from physically doing other things
to actually reduce your usage.

Personally, I don't feel any great urge to buy any of these
devices.  I have already made conservation efforts, with
weatherstripping, CFL bulbs, warm clothes, etc.  My fridge (owned
by me) is relatively new, as is my water cylinder (in a rented
flat.)

I do still use a CRT monitor, but I got it for free, and have two
spares (also for free.)  And I suppose I tend towards enjoying
power-gulping hot showers.

But I still qualify for my provider's "Low User" plan.  Which is
another thing to look for.  This is a way of balancing the flat
daily connection fee versus the per-KWH usage fee.  So, if my
consumption is below a certain KWH per month threshold, this
billing plan costs less compared to the regular plan.  
Availability depends on your location and provider.

Also, Kill-A-Watt type device would be more cost and hassle,
since I am on 240-volt, 50-hz.  And, for some strange reason,
there is limited availability of that version.


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  Coffee's For Closers wrote:

It's easier and cheaper to measure such things with an hour meter than a
power meter.  The power consumption of (e.g.) a water heater when
switched on is pretty constant, it is usually written on a rating plate,
and you can check it any time with a multimeter.  The big variable is
the on-time, and you can record this by simply connecting a time
recorder across the element terminals.  LCD hour recorders cost about
£10 here in the UK, and only require wiring to existing terminals on the
heater or thermostat.

The same technique can also be applied to non-electrical devices such as
central heating burners, by connecting to the thermostat or control valve.


Tim Jackson

 
Or indeed you could use a mains powered electric clock. Set to 12 o'
clock & you can count up to twelve hours for nothing. (Assuming you
have one to hand :-)

 On Dec 22, 4:52 am, david.willi...@bayman.org (David Williams) wrote:

If you look at a clock synchronous motor there are a couple of thick
copper loops on the stator that create a revolving flux that starts
the motor in exactly the same way as some single phase induction
motors.  Without, it would need "flicking" to make it revolve at all.
If you want to reverse this motor, you have to take the stator apart
and physically turn it over.  Unless the shaft projects out of both
ends of the motor that is.
No-one wants a clock to run backwards.
This is the traditional motor, nowadays (if you can even find a non
battery clock) they work with a peizo-electric crystal thingy. &
usually have a radio on them as well!

 harry wrote:

Curiously, my local barber has a clock that runs backwards.  And the numbers
are painted on the face backward.

While sitting in the chair getting a haircut, it looks perfectly normal in
the mirror.  I get a kick out of it everytime I look at it in the mirror :-)

daestrom