OWL Wireless Energy Monitor - your findings?

Magentasue

I don't take any notice of my monitor when 'something is on' - washing machine etc. What I look at is a) how many kwh a day and b) the total used when we're in normal mode. If it goes above 1kwh there are too many lights on or something's been left on.

That's a family of six - all 15+ so spread out through the house. We average 13kwh a day summer and 16kwh a day winter.

moonrakerz

I must confess to finding this thread somewhat mystifying.

Pay £35, or something, for a device that tells you when you switch on a 2kW kettle it draws 2kW - absolutely astounding !

Every piece of electrical equipment you buy has a "rating plate" which either tells you the wattage rating of the item or the current it draws - why buy something that just confirms that ! plus or minus 20 or 30% !
The only thing it might tell you (that isn't readily available) is how much power your fridge uses in 24 hours - so what are you going to do ? reduce the number of times you open the fridge door ? but even then you can make a fairly good estimate at it's power usage without paying 35 quid !
£35 pays my electricity bill for a month - that is money-saving !

Sorry folks, but I really find these things to be just another "snake-oil" eco gadget !

Magentasue

moonrakerz wrote: »

I must confess to finding this thread somewhat mystifying.

Pay £35, or something, for a device that tells you when you switch on a 2kW kettle it draws 2kW - absolutely astounding !

Sorry folks, but I really find these things to be just another "snake-oil" eco gadget !

Yes, I agree. But ... Well, I do love a gadget and so have an energy monitor but only bought it because I couldn't get through to the rest of the family. I clocked that our maximum evening reading should be around 900w. Every time it went over, I'd send the nearest carbon fiend round unplugging and switching lights off until it dropped. They soon got fed up with that. Wouldn't say they're cured but I no longer walk around the house turning every light off and switching off the TV in an empty room.

Magnolia

It sure does make you more aware of what is using electricity and being a constant drain. We do have the intelipanels for 'mission control' so our tv/dvd/topfield/satellite isn't left in standby anymore.

Oh and for the record - I would love to have £35 pay my monthly electricity bill :rolleyes:

aliasojo

Lol...me too, I'm £35 a week!

Cardew

I really can't understand how this device is popular.

It is absolutely useless to tell you how much electricity all the major items in the house use. You have absolutely no idea how much the following cost to run,

Washing machine, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, dryer, immersion heater, cooker, PCs, electrical heaters, Irons, etc etc.

Apart from anything else it is just not sensitive enough to pick up the tiny amounts of electricity consumed on standby. (measured in pence per year.)

looby-loo_2

I wouldn't have paid for it but did get it via the Daily Mail offer.

Magnolia

Checked the tick over rate this morning first thing - 0.354 - now to keep track of the total and see if it matches in with the meter reading (I know it wont be that accurate but it will give us a good idea)

1carminestocky

FANTASTICALLY useful 'gadget' (especially if you have kids!). Most people who have actually used it tend to agree - it's normally criticised by those who haven't used it. Nuff said.

moonrakerz

Magentasue wrote: »

Yes, I agree. But ... Well, I do love a gadget and so have an energy monitor but only bought it because I couldn't get through to the rest of the family. I clocked that our maximum evening reading should be around 900w. Every time it went over, I'd send the nearest carbon fiend round unplugging and switching lights off until it dropped. They soon got fed up with that. Wouldn't say they're cured but I no longer walk around the house turning every light off and switching off the TV in an empty room.

You have hit the nail on the head there Sue - it is a (pointless) gadget. Do you need a £35 gizmo to tell you that if there is no one in a room, then you don't really need the lights or the TV on in there.

I actually have a similar device, it is VERY accurate, and measures my power consumption down to a very low level. The only slight disadvantage is that it is in a white cupboard on the outside of the house - but it was free !