A stupid question, but here goes.......

melbury

the other day I was in a shop that was selling plug in things that told you how much electricity you were using.

My question is, does it tell you how much the whole house is using in the way of electricity or just one appliance?

Thanks:)

energysavingexp

it tells you just what the one appliance that is plugged in to it is using

melbury

Is there something you can buy that does actually tell you how much electricity is being used by the whole house at any one time?

rhiwfield

Some monitors have a remote sensor that clips around the cable next to your meter. This will give a reading for how much electricity you are using for the house as a whole

Eon distributed the ENVIR and I use two other makes (including OWL) to monitor PV array generation.

energysavingexp

melbury wrote: »

Is there something you can buy that does actually tell you how much electricity is being used by the whole house at any one time?

yes they are a clip on meter that you clamp on to the tails of your electric meter you can buy them at most electrical outlets for about £30 they are called owl meters also some energy companies give them away for free

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=buy+owl+meter&hl=en&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1600&bih=697&wrapid=tlif131939789819110&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=17072393746516242143&sa=X&ei=LWqkTp2kHoqg-wbi7tiQBQ&ved=0CGQQ8wIwAA#

Pincher

Read the meter?

macman

Pincher wrote: »

Read the meter?

Which is by far the most accurate measuring device that you can get (and it's already installed free of charge too).
Multiply the kWh's used by your unit rate, job done.

rogerblack

macman wrote: »

Which is by far the most accurate measuring device that you can get (and it's already installed free of charge too).
Multiply the kWh's used by your unit rate, job done.

It's spectacularly useless in practice at measuring power, and seeing it change.

For example, I can hear my breadmaker cycling on and off.
The OWL next to me is saying 'up 380W' 'down 380W' shortly after each click, as the heater goes on and off.

Retire

Read the meter?

That is all very well if the meter is easily accessible.


Some people have to go outside in the dark with a torch in the pouring rain to read their meter, then you get neighbours thinking you have gone nuts.


One of my neighbours, when she met my daughter, actually asked her if I was all right as she had seen me peering at the meter in the dark for 5 minutes.

energysavingexp

jull wrote: »

That is how they are meant to work.

You don't expect it to read 380W for the whole length of time your bread maker is on do you?

i get my bread from tesco:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

grahamc2003

energysavingexp wrote: »

i get my bread from tesco:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

But Tescos are meant to sell you bread.