Electricity Monitor

victor2

I have a free monitor I got through E.On quite a few years ago.
It's fine for identifying when something is using a lot of electricity. I can even tell from it when the fridge compressor cuts in, but for low consumption items it's no good. I once tried switching an energy saving light on to see what it registered - it reported a small drop in consumption. Must get more of those bulbs!
If I had paid anything for the monitor, I would consider it a waste of money, but I still run it and moan at the OH when she's spent too long in the (electric) shower!
To reduce costs slightly, I bought a plug-in monitor for about a tenner and went around the house seeing what individual items use. Of course it only works on items with a plug, so the cooker, shower and central heating pump can't be measured. Was the most useful of the two items though.

GingerBob_3

penrhyn wrote: »

You have until 2020 to go off grid then Bob,

No. You can refuse to have one. Sorry OP, your post does seem to have been hickjacked. I'll say no more about this.

[Deleted User]

GingerBob wrote: »

Why should I be fearful of a smart meter? I'm not going to get one.

Dont be fearful, but get ready to pay £60 a year metering costs.you will be causing suppliers to maintain expensive costs and they will pass it on.

faineant

A week ago I was just about to buy one of the really fancy online OWL monitors at about £56 when I remembered a previous energy supplier had sent me one of the basic monitors free a good few years ago but which had never made it out of the box. I set it up really easy and have already made significant changes to energy consumption. So, yes I would recommend a basic one because a quick glance lets you know your consumption and within seconds when it goes up or down and by how much but I'm glad I didn't go for the all singing, all dancing one. One of the things that really surprised me was the cost of lighting (so plug in ones are not so useful) especially G10 halogen bulbs and I have already changed 6 of these from 50w each to 5w ones and actually prefer the light from the new ones. Maybe the sums won't add up in the short term but it just feels the right thing to do in the long term. Anyone know a good home for left over stock of expensive to run G10 halogens?

lstar337

faineant wrote: »

Anyone know a good home for left over stock of expensive to run G10 halogens?

No. I've got 10 of them in a cupboard from when I switched to LED's, even I don't know why! :rotfl:

victor2

lstar337 wrote: »

No. I've got 10 of them in a cupboard from when I switched to LED's, even I don't know why! :rotfl:

Ditto.
I've got 3 sets of 3 halogens with transformers. Replaced by 9 cool white LEDs at 4W each. Beats the 180W the old ones consumed considerably, especially as they are in an area heavily used.
Thought about selling them on fleabay, but having seen what sets of low voltage halogens go for on there, it didn't seem worth the effort. I'll put them on the loft for 10 years or so...:)

Norman_Castle

faineant wrote: »

One of the things that really surprised me was the cost of lighting (so plug in ones are not so useful)

Light bulbs run constantly at, or very close to their stated power so a monitor of any sort is not really needed for them.