Electricity Monitor

IAmLegend

Just wondered if any of you use an electricity usage monitor to keep an eye on how much electricity you use a day and maybe what guzzles up the most electricity.

Thanks.

:beer:

rogerblack

Yes.
I have a couple of sorts.
First is a 'whole house' meter.
This is visible in the lounge, where I am most of the time.
At the moment, for example, it's reading 160W, which I know is about 'right'.
If it was reading 3080W or so, the immersion heater would have kicked in to top up the tank.
If it was 250 - the fridge has probably switched on for a bit.

You rapidly get an idea of what various loads use, and it's really handy for working out if unexpected stuff has been switched on. If it was reading 550, I've left my garage lights on again.

However.
It's of most use in companion with a plug-in energy meter.
This lets you measure individual appliances.
It's essentially impossible to work out if your fridge is using too much, with a whole-house meter - but a plug in one that you plug the fridge into makes this easy.

good_advice

Hiya, I like my OWL. I have had it long enough to know when the cost number looks high. I then walk around the house and take a look. Just turning things off silently has saved. I try not to say anything to family.

IAmLegend

Thank you both very much for your helpful replies, very much appreciated.

macman

You already have a very accurate electricity meter installed . The standalone ones are very inaccurate at low readings-they give you a idea, but no more.

MillicentBystander

macman, gotta ask - where is your leccy meter actually situated exactly? You have said this before and it's not really a practical alternative to an OWL or similar for the majority of people.

macman

Mine's in the cellar-how about yours?

Buzby

I use Wattson - with a display in the lounge. It is not meant to replace a standard meter as it has a different function - it is meant to show your current consumption, not a running total of your meter use.

It is useful to spot when something is on when it shouldn't be - and you get to be concerned when tracking down something is higher than normal.

MillicentBystander

macman wrote: »

Mine's in the cellar-how about yours?

I rest my case. Unless you live down there?

PS Mine is outside. And no, I don't live there . Like I said, it's really not practical to use the leccy meter like you would an OWL or similar. They tend to be placed on the mantelpiece IME.

macman

Those regular trips to the cellar save on gym membership...
I do have a monitor, but I don't rely on it for accurate readings. I realise that meters are not always easily accessible, but some of the posts on here give the impression that people aren't even aware that they can read their own meter, and measure consumption from it.

rogerblack

macman wrote: »

You already have a very accurate electricity meter installed . The standalone ones are very inaccurate at low readings-they give you a idea, but no more.

My prior electricity meter was less accurate than my 'clip on' one.
It was underreading by around 10%.
I assumed that the error was in the clip on meter, until it was changed, and the new meter matches (to within 2%) the reading of the clip-on one.
And more careful measurement using test loads verifies those two.

Can energy meters be substantially inaccurate - yes.
In general, a constant inaccuracy is quite irrelevant.
If it reads 50% up or down, it gives a moment-moment readout, letting you see what the current rate of usage is.