Plug-in Electricity Monitor £7.99 Instore @ Maplin

Clowance

I have one of these plug in monitors, but as the energy suppliers bills are not at all clear as to the price per kW (seems to vary, first kWs cost more than later BUT there seems to be no fixed number as far as I can tell that they bill at the higher rate, this is EON) its very difficult to work out. Not to mention the fact that we switched to a more expensive but fixed tariff just before the price went up.
So I don't know about everyone else I am confused. I can work out what the power consumption of an appliance is: but not how much it is costing me to run eg one tumble dryer cycle.
Anyone got any ideas?

espresso

Clowance wrote: »

I have one of these plug in monitors, but as the energy suppliers bills are not at all clear as to the price per kW (seems to vary, first kWs cost more than later BUT there seems to be no fixed number as far as I can tell that they bill at the higher rate, this is EON) its very difficult to work out. Not to mention the fact that we switched to a more expensive but fixed tariff just before the price went up.
So I don't know about everyone else I am confused. I can work out what the power consumption of an appliance is: but not how much it is costing me to run eg one tumble dryer cycle.
Anyone got any ideas?

Just ignore the tier 1 rate as you will pay that anyway and it's likely to be a small percentage of your overall bill. The tier 1 rate usually charges exactly the same amount, that a standing charge tariff would. No standing charge tariffs are a marketing ploy and only of benefit if the property is unoccupied and using no energy.

1carminestocky

Actually, I wouldn't agree. What's the point of people extolling the virtue of the accuracy of these plug in monitors then just using the Tier 2 figure as an indication of real cost? To be absolutely accurate, all you have to do is ascertain your yearly usage in khws (if you haven't got the last 4 quarterly bills just ring your supplier and ask for the figure). Then it's simply a matter of multiplying the Tier 1 price per kw by the quoted threshold figure, then multiplying the remainder of your total usage by the Tier 2 figure. To get the TRUE cost per kw then simply add the 2 figures togther and divide by the TOTAL usage. The figure now showing will be your EXACT pence per kw charge.

Crabman

Plug-in energy monitors are only £3.49 in LIDL (half-price), they were in the 'clearance' area with other random products.

Just found out our fridge-freezer costs around 25p per day

espresso

Crabman wrote: »

Plug-in energy monitors are only £3.49 in LIDL (half-price), they were in the 'clearance' area with other random products.

Very good value at that price, one tenth of the price of an Owl monitor!

:rotfl:

Crabman

3 weeks on, the 2 x LR44 batteries are dead and need replacing... costing more than the meter itself :rolleyes: :wall:

dc

Crabman wrote: »

3 weeks on, the 2 x LR44 batteries are dead and need replacing... costing more than the meter itself :rolleyes: :wall:

Go to Poundland or a 99p shop and get a card of 40 or 50 watch batteries, they usually have 10 off LR44 (AG13) on the card for a quid or less. So nowhere near the cost of the device, and you will have some spare for your watches usually AG4 these days.;)

PS the batteries only power the memory that totals useage, the plug-in will still give a power readout without them by using the mains.

dc

espresso wrote: »

Very good value at that price, one tenth of the price of an Owl monitor!

:rotfl:

Surely you have more than ten appliances plugged in and what about the cost of the calculator to add up all the individual appliance readings

Crabman

dc wrote: »

PS the batteries only power the memory that totals useage, the plug-in will still give a power readout without them by using the mains.

That's what I initially thought, however this won't display anything even when plugged in...

I actually left it to monitor a DAB radio's usage overnight and in the moning the display was blank.

dc

Crabman maybe there is a loose conection and the whole device is duff or they have changed the design. My old Lidl one needs batteries but the display lights up when plugged in so, I just leave it plugged in.

You could try bashing it, a well known technicians approach to fixing stuff.:D