Energy Display Meters - I like them!!

wizzywig27

I just found something really weird with mine...I read somewhere that when you are set to off peak times (on Economy 7) the blue light comes on, well mine didnt, so I checked it, anyway, it appears I have to wires leading to my boiler that are each sending 300w-400w to my flat....ok one could have been offpeak cable, so then, when I flicked my immersion heater on did both readings (when I switched clamp over to different cable) did it say i was using nearly 2kwh

Ken68

Rian1988 wrote: »

If you are with Southern Electric or Swalec phone up and ask for better plan they will send you a free monitor and it doesn't cost you anything.

Nearly done this Rian, but have an inkling they change your tariff.

1carminestocky

shopndrop wrote: »

We bought one of the plug in units from Aldi a couple of weeks ago and it has been a real eye opener. We bought it when we returned from holiday after reading the meter before we went away and reading it when we got back home and were horrified at the amount of electricity we had used and the house was empty!

Last weekend we went out and bought one of the wireless ones and using this alongside the plug in one has really made us think about what we leave plugged in but not in use. We have now unplugged all unnecessary items (including mobile phone chargers not actually charging) and hope our next bill will be much cheaper. One thing that I particularly noticed was the reading shot up when the kettle went on. DH has always moaned at me for boiling too much water for 1 drink. I often used to boil the kettle, then do something else, so boil it again and still not make a drink, so could end up boiling it a 3rd time, all to make 1 cup of coffee. Now if I am making a drink I put just enough water for what is required and make sure that I immediately make the drink. This may only be a small saving but every little helps.

Agreed. What some people fail to grasp is it's probably these 'small things' that end up costing you the most! Yes, boiling a cup of water is not massive as a one-off cost, neither is boiling the same water 3 times, but you only have to realise how many times this action is carried out a day and times this 'small cost' by 365 and all of a sudden you have a major saving on your hands (maybe even as much as the wireless monitor cost and remember that's just on ONE appliance!).

Magentasue

Bad enough having to pay for the energy you use; no point paying for what you don't use.

Our devices have had a major impact on leaving lights and TVs on - none of it costs a lot as a one-off but x four hours a day and then x 365 days a year, it adds up to a major appliance. I'd rather pay to use the tumble drier and have dry clothes than pay to light empty rooms.

mattymoo

I made a similar thread regarding energy savings after getting one of these meters. We were idling along at around 800 watts but managed to get it down to just under 200 watts - 25% of the original or 20% when my daughter decided she needed all the lights on upstairs.

We had low energy bulbs beforehand but only in the main room lights. I've since installed low energy in the lamps and also in a 5 lamp ceiling light. We had to take a bit of care selecting the bulbs because the normal Low energy bulbs would look silly. Managed to get some that look like mini ice creams.

We also have a lot of stuff with transformers, i.e. kids toys and computer peripherals. Although the device wasn't on the transformers were still sucking up power and converting to heat. Needless to say, everything is now unplugged or arranged on a remotely controlled socket behind the desk. Aldi sell the remote sockets so no excuse for not turning stuff off now.

Morn

mattymoo wrote: »

I made a similar thread regarding energy savings after getting one of these meters. We were idling along at around 800 watts but managed to get it down to just under 200 watts - 25% of the original or 20% when my daughter decided she needed all the lights on upstairs.

We had low energy bulbs beforehand but only in the main room lights. I've since installed low energy in the lamps and also in a 5 lamp ceiling light. We had to take a bit of care selecting the bulbs because the normal Low energy bulbs would look silly. Managed to get some that look like mini ice creams.

We also have a lot of stuff with transformers, i.e. kids toys and computer peripherals. Although the device wasn't on the transformers were still sucking up power and converting to heat. Needless to say, everything is now unplugged or arranged on a remotely controlled socket behind the desk. Aldi sell the remote sockets so no excuse for not turning stuff off now.

Where did you get the ice cream lights from? I am looking for replacements as well and am finding that they all look horrendous.

mattymoo

http://www.cheapenergysavinglightbulbs.co.uk/

They also sell energy saving monitors as well.

epsilondraconis

mattymoo wrote: »

http://www.cheapenergysavinglightbulbs.co.uk/

They also sell energy saving monitors as well.

Good link MattyMoo - I've been looking for the energy saving candle bulbs but couldn't find them (albeit in the limited number of shops I regularly frequent - Asda, Homebase etc).

We have adopted this energy saving tip in our household, although the wife isn't too impressed with it. To ensure lights are not left on around the house, I've removed all of them and given each of us our own light bulb. Depending upon which room we are in, we can insert our allocated bulb into the desired socket to generate the required light. To overcome the transitioning from room to room, we have each been provided with a small pocket torch (a glove is also in the 'lighting pack' to assist with the removal of the hot bulbs).

I trust the other devout MSE'rs on this forum will soon be adopting this worthwhile practice.

mattymoo

epsilondraconis wrote: »

We have adopted this energy saving tip in our household, although the wife isn't too impressed with it. To ensure lights are not left on around the house, I've removed all of them and given each of us our own light bulb. Depending upon which room we are in, we can insert our allocated bulb into the desired socket to generate the required light. To overcome the transitioning from room to room, we have each been provided with a small pocket torch (a glove is also in the 'lighting pack' to assist with the removal of the hot bulbs).

:T :beer:

Very good

PS: you are joking aren't you.

epsilondraconis

mattymoo wrote: »

:T :beer:

Very good

PS: you are joking aren't you.

Unfortunately the experiment ended when I realised the wife was needlessly leaving her pocket torch switched on.