Plug-in electricity monitors - differences

Cardew

tarranty wrote: »

I still prefer the wireless monitors. Just as accurate and shows consumption of more than one device, they also have a memory function allowing you to see how much you use over a week, say if it's cold, when there are dark nights or whilst you're on holiday and compare it to other times. Cheapest one with all these functions at the monment is the OWLCM119, I got mine from Greenstamp.

The owl can't let you know the consumption of your:

Fridge,
freezer,
washing machine
dishwasher
heaters
Cooker
microwave
Computer equipment
almost all standby equipment
etc etc

They really do totally different jobs.

1carminestocky

Cardew wrote: »

The owl can't let you know the consumption of your:

Fridge,
freezer,
washing machine
dishwasher
heaters
Cooker
microwave
Computer equipment
almost all standby equipment
etc etc

They really do totally different jobs.

Of course, it has to be also stated that the plug-in monitors are about as useful as a one-legged bloke at an @rse kicking party at telling you the consumption of many household's 3 biggest leccy-guzzling appliances:

1. Electric Cooker (there it is again).

2. Immersion Heater.

3. Electric shower.

It's not actually impossible to (individually) measure the consumption of these with a wireless monitor (granted, it would take a bit of planning, shall we say) whereas it is with a plug-in monitor (though I'm sure we will get coffee-loving 'you know who' suggesting RE-WIRING the leccy oven at some stage tonight, lol)...

penrhyn

Wonder if anyone has produced a domestic version of the good old Clamp meter.
Works the same way as the sensor for the meter that dare not speak its name.

Pretty picture of a Fluke (most excellent make) meter.



You'd have to do a bit of maths though. Watts = Amps xVolts

Cardew

1carminestocky wrote: »

Of course, it has to be also stated that the plug-in monitors are about as useful as a one-legged bloke at an @rse kicking party at telling you the consumption of many household's 3 biggest leccy-guzzling appliances:

1. Electric Cooker (there it is again).

2. Immersion Heater.

3. Electric shower.

It's not actually impossible to (individually) measure the consumption of these with a wireless monitor (granted, it would take a bit of planning, shall we say) whereas it is with a plug-in monitor (though I'm sure we will get coffee-loving 'you know who' suggesting RE-WIRING the leccy oven at some stage tonight, lol)...

If someone needs a wireless monitor to tell them that a 9.5kW electric shower consumes - errrr 9.5kW and a 3kW immersion heater consumes errrr 3kW then they are very useful.

The "Planning" involved to check the consumption of thermostatically controlled hob plates and oven would be quite daunting; unless you looked at your normal meter.;)

tarranty

Cardew wrote: »

The owl can't let you know the consumption of your:

Fridge,
freezer,
washing machine
dishwasher
heaters
Cooker
microwave
Computer equipment
almost all standby equipment
etc etc

They really do totally different jobs.

why can't they? If I switch on my microwave the owl tells me how much it's costing.

1carminestocky

Cardew wrote: »

If someone needs a wireless monitor to tell them that a 9.5kW electric shower consumes - errrr 9.5kW and a 3kW immersion heater consumes errrr 3kW then they are very useful.

The "Planning" involved to check the consumption of thermostatically controlled hob plates and oven would be quite daunting; unless you looked at your normal meter.;)

WHY do I even respond to you?? It must be some sort of character defect which I promise to get sorted at great expense privately in the next few weeks. Back to youtube and Colm Wilkinson singing Bring Him Home for me - something that gives me pleasure. Have a great night.

<< Hangs head in shame >>

Cardew

tarranty wrote: »

why can't they? If I switch on my microwave the owl tells me how much it's costing.

Because most appliances are thermostatically controlled - i.e. they switch on and off, or have variable power.

To give you examples.

Your fridge/freezer might have, say, a 500 watt compressor. When the compressor is running your Owl will indicate it costs, say 5p an hour to run. You leave that on 24/7 it doesn't cost £438 a year to run, that is because most of the time the compressor isn't running; it is switching on and off.

My washing machine has a 3kW heater and a cycle lasts 90 mins. The Owl will show the cost at 30p an hour. However most of the time the heater is not operating and it doesn't cost 45p for a cycle but usually 4p or 6p.

Most microwaves on lower settings give short bursts of power.

A cheap plug in monitor can tell you exactly the power used over a period of time, the Owl can't.

espresso

tarranty wrote: »

The Brennesthul is a good plug in monitor, I had mine for a few years but I still prefer the wireless monitors. Just as accurate and shows consumption of more than one device, they also have a memory function allowing you to see how much you use over a week, say if it's cold, when there are dark nights or whilst you're on holiday and compare it to other times. Cheapest one with all these functions at the monment is the OWLCM119, I got mine from Greenstamp.

Due to the way that they work (not physically connected to the supply), they can never be just as accurate as a plug-in energy meter! They do not measure the supply voltage, you have to tell your Owl what you think it is e.g. 220V, 230V, 240V or 250V and even then your actual supply voltage fluctuates wildly throughout the day see here.

As stated many time on this forum "A cheap plug in monitor can tell you exactly the power used over a period of time, the Owl can't"

Herbyme

does anyone know if the government plan to give them away free, announced in 2007 or 2008, ever happened? And if so, how do you get one>!

tarranty

They've been talking about it for ages, last I heard it was going to be wireless monitors by 2012.