Plug-in energy monitor

k_man

TheGardener said:

Wouldn't it be nice if manufacturers gave this specific information in their product details so we didn't need tapos - something I think customers would really like to see now. I tried to work out a programme comparison on my integrated dishwasher as the plug is inaccessible and was told the 'eco' mode was based on performance, water use and energy rather than just straight power use but they couldn't/wouldn't tell me actual consumption. 

I agree. The more details provided the better.
E.g. from another thread (about washing machines) manual only include consumption for certain cycles.

The risk though, is we believe the stated figures, when actual usage depends on other variables (for some devices more than others).

A bit like mpg ratings, no one believes or uses quoted figures!

pochase

Even with better manufacturer information smart meters still make sense.

If you take a fridge freezer for example there is not just one usage figure, depending on the environment temperature the usage will differ a lot. With the current temperature you will be using more than what you find in your user manual.

The second point is that the energy use may change over time, for example one of my fridge freezers starting to make a noise every few hours, but was working still without problems. What was a problem was tha tenergy use had gone up by about 40%.

So even if there would be better information, it still makes sense to test your appliances once in a while.

markin

dogshome said:

Solved the problem of reading a Watt meter at odd angles by using a short extension lead plugged into the socket

Thats a no with many devices, Washing machine, Dryer, Portable AC and many others, All insist that they are not to be used with any extension and for good reason.

Mstty

You can get heavy duty extension leads rated above what a washing machine etc will use just for monitoring then reconnect it to its original plug.

Astria

Spies said:

3kw would be plenty unless you have a it plugged into a fast boil kettle as they can pull 3.3kw. 

I'd like to see that considering our power supply is typically 240V @ 13A, so 3.1kW is the absolute maximum. Most kettles are 3kW for this reason. Industrial kettles typically use more but also typically permanently wired.

Xbigman

I bought this one  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B085S7Q1T4/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has a large bright screen that is easy to read and loads of functions, although I just used the watts being drawn and total kwh screens. The screen goes dim after about 30 seconds but you can press the button to change functions 4 times and it cycles back around to where you started from and wakes up the screen. The only place I had a problem was under the stairs where the 2 plugs sockets are one above the other and in a fiddly place but, as above, I used an extension lead. 

I measured everything I could and kept the details on a spreadsheet. Very useful. 


Darren

Section62

Astria said:

Spies said:

3kw would be plenty unless you have a it plugged into a fast boil kettle as they can pull 3.3kw. 

I'd like to see that considering our power supply is typically 240V @ 13A, so 3.1kW is the absolute maximum. Most kettles are 3kW for this reason. Industrial kettles typically use more but also typically permanently wired.

13A is nominal.  A 13A fuse plug top fuse will allow 20A to pass indefinitely.

So 3.3kW on a 240v supply = 13.75A, well within the tolerance of a 13A fuse.

Many domestic appliances may draw peak currents in excess of 13A, whilst rated much lower than that. Inductive loads (e.g. motors and transformers) are more of a problem than resistive loads (e.g. most kettles).

Section62

Spoonie_Turtle said:

2.  Displays seem to vary, I was looking at the Energenie Ener007 but the MkII has reviews saying the display is difficult to read.  Any recommendations for one that's easy to read even at awkward angles?

I've had an Energenie ENER007 (Batch code 0412) for a long time (10 years?) I'm not sure whether it is a MkII, but it looks identical to the current model on the Energenie website.

It is accurate enough, but I've found if it is left on for long periods of time it can 'lock up' and stop measuring - it requires a 'reset' to get it going again. Normally it is OK for a day or two, but beyond that the lock up can happen at any time it seems.

I'm also not a fan of it needing two LR44 batteries.  These appear to drain whether or not the meter is powered by the mains, the meter won't work at all if the batteries are dead, and removing/replacing them means unscrewing a cover on the back.  So to save running the batteries down when the unit isn't in use, they need to be removed by unscrewing the rear cover.

That said, the description of the ENER007 on some websites doesn't appear to mention anything about batteries, and the 2018 version of the instruction manual doesn't mention them either. So I wonder whether these have been dropped in the current model?  If so, someone needs to let Amazon (and others) know.

xeny

pochase said:

You are missing two points here.

1. When you buy the Tapo when it is on offer (which happens regular) you pay with £10 less than with most of the other meters.
2. If the P110 is not used as meter it doubles as a smart plug, so it has a second life. The normal smart plug is £8 on offer, so you buy the smart meter functionality for something like £2 if you plan on using smart plugs in the log run.

I know both those things. I find a "traditional" energy meter easier to use, and easier to lend to other people (because once you've measured everything in the house you need them very little) than one where I need to unlock my phone to look at it.

Most of the time I only need a device on the monitor for a minute at most to get the information - the monitor is in front of me and my hand is on the appliance's plug, so grabbing a phone or tablet is more trouble.

A smart metering plug is useful for telling someone how much fan heatering they've done over the past 6 months, but for very quick and dirty assessments I find them more trouble than benefit.

aaiiee

I have an ENERGENIE  model ENER007 batch code 2321, bought a few months ago. I've found it very useful - I've only used it to measure current and accumulated power use (kWh). When you remove it from the plug socket, the display continues to show the latest stats for a few seconds (not very long). In really inaccessible places, I have resorted to taking a photo of the display with my phone.