11,000 kw pa - Help with Electric Usage Audit

BooJewels

I bought myself 4 of the Tapo P100s that don't have the measuring capability (the P110 does) and loved them so much that I got another 4 the following day.  I didn't get them to try and save money, but it's very likely that I will.  I got them for convenience - as a lot of my lighting is on timers and plugged in in really inaccessible places - so my initial thought was just to save me hassle when the clocks change or as the evenings change length.

But they are so much more than just a timer switch.  I've already had my moneys worth in amusement factor alone.  It's like having a remote control for all my lighting on my phone - I can put lights on before I go into a room at night.  I can switch them off if I go out or won't be in a room for a while, or after I've got into bed.  Yet they all still run on timed schedules too - but you can easily change or override it.

I went away recently and set up a revised schedule, but it amused me that I could sit in a holiday cottage 100 miles away and switch lights on and off at home - which I did periodically, just in case anyone noticed the usual regularity.   It's like some sort of witchcraft.  Maybe I just need to get out more. 

[Deleted User]

BooJewels said:

I bought myself 4 of the Tapo P100s that don't have the measuring capability (the P110 does) and loved them so much that I got another 4 the following day.  I didn't get them to try and save money, but it's very likely that I will.  I got them for convenience - as a lot of my lighting is on timers and plugged in in really inaccessible places - so my initial thought was just to save me hassle when the clocks change or as the evenings change length.

But they are so much more than just a timer switch.  I've already had my moneys worth in amusement factor alone.  It's like having a remote control for all my lighting on my phone - I can put lights on before I go into a room at night.  I can switch them off if I go out or won't be in a room for a while, or after I've got into bed.  Yet they all still run on timed schedules too - but you can easily change or override it.

I went away recently and set up a revised schedule, but it amused me that I could sit in a holiday cottage 100 miles away and switch lights on and off at home - which I did periodically, just in case anyone noticed the usual regularity.   It's like some sort of witchcraft.  Maybe I just need to get out more. 

Better than doing it with strings and a record player like in Home Alone.

BooJewels

Ha! @[Deleted User] - I did actually think about that as I was setting it up.  I have an LED TV emulator that I used in my parents' house when it was empty and put that on upstairs, set up to reflect off a wall - and kept going outside to see how it looked when I put it on and off.  I did think that I could do with something that rotates and casts a shadow like someone moving about.

Noble1001

MWT said:

Noble1001 said:

I noete that the average use of electricity in the early hours of the morning e.g. 2am is averaging @ 0.22 - 0.25 kw per 30 mins

Just to get this bit clear, are you saying that your average kWh consumption per 30 min period is 0.22-0.25kWh, or that you are using 0.22-0.25kW steadily...

The first translates to 12kWh a day in background load, the second is 6kWh a day...

If you are taking this from your smart meter half-hour data then it is the first one.

Thanks, See below re a days usage by 30 min increments (as per my BG online Account)

Noble1001

Thanks for the information thus far in your overwhelming response....it is very much appreciated:   

My Actions
1) Get several TAPO Smart Plugs and conduct monitoring of a host of appliances and devices (F/Freezer, mini fridge, 
    Pond Pump etc etc). I have already put an old (non smart) one on the F/Freezer so will at least know a 24hr kw usage.
2) Use the Alexa Plugs that I have on more devices to be able to turn off at switch with ease
3) Close down IMAC every night
4) Close down / turn off as many devices as possible that are not being used (via Ealex plugs or manually)
5) Clean behind the F/freezer (now completed)
6) Check Pond Filter is not blocked
7) Make enquiries into Solar Power (now got an online appointment with a provider on Friday)

Other notes / responses to all your posts:
- Octopus are not taking new customers (as is the case with most providers)
- We do not have an electric shower

Thanks again for everyone’s contribution (quite awesome) it was all very insightful and has inspired me to get into action. I'll respond / update in due course as to how I get on.... 

Noble1001

phillw said:

Your son could be bitcoin/etherium mining.

An energy monitor/smart meter will give you the total usage, you can then go round turning everything off. If you still can't find what is using the energy, you can start flicking the circuits off on your consumer unit.

I have checked and feel pretty confident that its not the case...but thanks

Noble1001

QrizB said:

Noble1001 said:

Appliances 
...
Electric Range Cooker & Hood

Can I ask about your electric range? What's the make and model?

Is it simply a bigger-than-usual electric oven or is it eg.or similar which is as much a room heater as a cooker?

Rangemaster Cooker Hood/Extractor
Cuisine (Leisure Range) Electric range Oven C590C530

Noble1001

QrizB said:

Noble1001 said:

Appliances 
...
Electric Range Cooker & Hood

Can I ask about your electric range? What's the make and model?

Is it simply a bigger-than-usual electric oven or is it eg.or similar which is as much a room heater as a cooker?

Rangemaster Cooker Hood/Extractor
Cuisine (Leisure Range) Electric range Oven C590C530

BooJewels

Good luck with it @Noble1001 - please do keep us updated and ask further questions if you need. 

As I mentioned earlier, once the Tapos have done their measuring for you, they'll still give very good service as smart plugs - and you'll hopefully find that they discipline you into switching stuff off more readily, as it's so easy to do.  Which has been a bonus for me. 

Check your pond pump regularly and another saving I've made recently is in defrosting the freezer. It was badly frosted and had started tripping my electric circuit and since I did it at the weekend, I appear to have dropped at least 1kWh/day off my usage.  I need to check it over a bit longer to be sure it's that - but it looks like it.

Also check your range cooker - that sounds like it might be a higher user too.

Kiwirider

Noble1001 said:

........
7) Make enquiries into Solar Power (now got an online appointment with a provider on Friday)

Other notes / responses to all your posts:
- Octopus are not taking new customers (as is the case with most providers)
.........

As someone else posted earlier, changing to Octopus Go won't reduce your consumption but it could lower your costs substantially. Are you sure they are not taking new customers? I'd give them a call and say you have an EV and would like to go on the Octopus Go tariff. Also, when you are enquiring about Solar power, be sure to also look at battery storage at the same time. It makes a massive difference especially with Octopus Go as you can use the cheap tariff between 12:30am and 4:30am (currently 7.5p kWh) to charge the house battery (s).

We have a PHEV and also Octopus Go and solar/batteries. During the cheap hours, we charge the car, house batteries, run the dishwasher and washing machine. We then hardly draw anything from the grid between 4:30am and 12:30 the next day.

Hope this gives you some idea's?