Souther Electric - Energy monitor

GEEGEE8

Just got my spangly new electric monitor from Southern Electric and it's great!

I'm home on my own today and when I first switched it on I was using 220 Watts. :eek:

• the kitchen light that I'd left on
• the computer charger running and not even plugged into my computer
• lamp on in living room when it didn't need to be
• TV on when I wasn't watching it
• Cable box on
• 4 plugs in my study that weren't even being used, charger, iPod speaker, desk lamp, all plugged in but not been used for at least 2 days now!

So, after all that I've got it down to 40Watts.. :cool:

Does the boiler use Electric to run? It's a combi boiler.. and also, what about when you flush the loo?

I'm not on a water meter, so that is good.. but just want to keep saving as much as possible, I've got the bug!

Any other ideas to keep electric useage down? especially in the evenings..

penrhyn

Does the boiler use Electric to run? It's a combi boiler.. and also, what about when you flush the loo?

Of course it does, what do you think pumps the water round and operates the ignition, only a few hundred watts though.

Unless you have a Saniflow macerator no, its a water powered syphon.

The highest users will be your electric shower, tumble drier, washing machine electric cooker, and a filled electic kettle.

I'm impressed your meter reads down to 40 watts, just be aware that they are highly inaccurate at low currents.

GEEGEE8

It's sitting between 17-40watts.. that is with two fridge freezers running, BT internet Hub and landline phone.

No electric shower, don't use tumble dryer anymore, gas cooker.. but the kettle is on a lot and the washing machine every other day, so I can work on these areas.

Shame there isn't one for monitoring gas, as that is out biggest outlay.

Thanks for the reply

penrhyn

That seems too low, are you sure you have clipped the sensor onto the live side of the feed, or if you turn on the kettle does it read between 2 and 3kw?

Agree about the gas, we'll have to wait for smart?? meters.

GEEGEE8

penrhyn wrote: »

That seems too low, are you sure you have clipped the sensor onto the live side of the feed, or if you turn on the kettle does it read between 2 and 3kw?

Agree about the gas, we'll have to wait for smart?? meters.

Well I've just popped the heating on and it's at 85 Watts now? Does that sound more like it?

I'll go boil the kettle..

GEEGEE8

1715 Watts when the kettle was on, kettle was 1/4 full.

MyRubyRed

OP did you buy the monitor?

GEEGEE8

MyRubyRed wrote: »

OP did you buy the monitor?

No, it's free. You go on their website and request one to be sent to you.

savemoney

I have an owl meter and when I go to bed I check it as its in hallway. Mine is nearly always around 200w. We do have several pvrs on standby most are low power and computers switched of and tv on standby. We aslo have a fridge/freezer and a large freezer on and odd battery charger in garage on topup oh and adl router on

GEEGEE8

Okay, so this is exactly what I have running:

• Two fridge freezers. One old, one less than a year old.
• BT home hub
• Land line phone
• 1 bedroom light
• Cable box on standby
• Heating is on at 20 degrees, but I think it's reached that and the boiler has gone off?

That's it, and it's reading 71 Watts, it was at 100 Watts for the last 15 mins or so.

savemoney

I seem to recall energy monitors aren't 100% accurate and doesn't measure low powered devices very well ultimate measure is of course your meter which I use regularly to read measurements of consumption

I am lucky to get below 500w at any time during late afternoon/evening and normally its around 800w+ during evening more if I have dehumidifier on, we dont use electric for heating