Is there an electrician in the house? Kill-A-Watt uses?

[Guest]

So I got my Kill-A-Watt today and I started measuring my watt useage around the house to see where I can make changes. Pretty surprising numbers ina few places. Anyways....other than just measuring straight watt useage...is there some other things that I should be concerned about. Like Volts. I don't understand electricity much, except I know it costs a fortune.

Info on the unit can be found here: http://www.donrowe.com/kill_a_watt/kill_a_watt.html

So should I be using it to measure volts and or frequency?

Cheers,
SH

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

watts r the product of voltage times the current/amperage

 

[Guest]

I use mine to measure watts, volts and frequency are the same 99% of the time so there is no need to monitor them, the only thing id keep an eye on are the watts and kilowatt's used (which is what the kill-a-watt is made for)

 

[Guest]

thanks folks....I just thought maybe there was more info for me to read into. I didn't want to miss using it to it's full potential for a layman like myself.

After I made this post...I found this link which was pretty useful: http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/kill_a_watt_electric_usage_monitor_review

I can't believe how many watts my dehumidifier uses. It's not very old either. If I could disconnect that thing...I could hook up a 600W light without the elec bill going up.

Cheers,
SH

 

[Guest]

id replace that dehumidifier with a nice vortex fan, dehumidifiers use lots of power compared to a 6" vortex and will work just as good if used right

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the tip..but the dehumidifier is not in my grow room. I have it in another area of the basement to help control moisture as I have alot of audio equipment stored in my basement, and I don't want them to get ruined. I may have to look at some other options though, as I had no idea those things drained that much electricity.

When you say vortex fan...do you mean to draw the air out, or just have it moving air all the time? This is not an enclosed area where the dehumidifier is.

I do like using the water for the grow though. Very low ppm's.

Cheers,
SH

 

[Guest]

im not to sure what to do when it comes to keeping the humidity down in a basement because iv never even seen one before due to the fact that my city is not too far above sea level.

 

[newbie-grower]

That looks an intresting device, I wish there was something here in the UK similar.
How ever there is a few tips,
If you are using it don't just plug it in to get a spot reading then go to the next, many devices like your refigirator, freezer, air-con will cycle between modes pumps kicking in fans etc so a representitive reading may only be gained over a couple of hours.

Other big users of power are modern halogen lighting systems in your kicten or bath room, Plasma TV's outside security lights (espeshaly if they are set up wrong).

To keep costs down try not to leave devices on stand-by instead of killing the power to them, leaving your computer on all the time etc. Small amounts of power on for long periods are one of the biggest costs, simple things such as switching lights off as you leave a room and switching to low energy bulbs in your living spaces help.

As you have already descovered the eletrical devices you have are the devices you need/want, so its a question of using them more efficently

Regards the 'kill-a-watt' checker, the controls for moitering volts and frequency are mainly superfolos espeshaly the frequency there is not a lot you can do about it and it is not going to wander from 60hz to any degree. The volts function may be intresesting to moitor at difrent times of the day peak demand would normal be about 5 to 6 PM or when the street lights go on. If you see a dip then for a sustained time say 5 or 7% of the voltage for more than 10 mins it may be worth you contacting your utility co and asking them to investigate your supply espechaly if you are in a older house or housing estate.

Cheers

 

[newbie-grower]

Had another thought about the de-humidifier, why dont you put it on a timer like your grow room lights, maybe have it on for 3 by 4 hour periods a day.

Check the humidity in your basment with a cheap humidity/temp read out.
If it does not go up apresiably try having it on less each week, untill you see a rise in overall humidity then put it on a little more to bring it back down. That way you are getting the best efficency of cost to result.

 

[Guest]

Thanks NG....I already use cfl's where I can. I haven't measured the plasma yet....and maybe I don't want to. Could be scary.

I am trying my best to be electric efficient...but I also have 3 kids....and they don't give a shit no matter how much you harp on em.

The dehumidifier has a dial from one to 10, so I have knocked it back to 5, and I'm gonna start measuring and monitoring the humidity just to be sure thats eneough. I may have to go back to adding tap water for the grow...but water is cheaper than electricity.

Thanks again.

Cheers,
SH

 

[bounty29]

The Kill-a-watt is an actual device, I think the poster knows the basics of electricity, he's just trying to conserve where possible and get tips on the device.

suburbanhomeboy - I'm curious to see what your plasma draws. I assume it's a bigscreen tv you're talking about? What size?

I'd be curious to see how many kw my whole computer uses, speakers, monitor, tower, etc.

 

[R00KIE]

Thats a neat little tool....
I could really use that, to get family members off my back about how much power i am actually usin....
Was wonderin if they made sumtin like that....
Thx for the post...

 

[bounty29]

Yeah it's basic, but it's also a bit of a hassle to keep track of every time a device is turned on or off over the period of however long you want to test for. This device just makes it easier to tell what you're using. Some things don't have a set wattage that they draw, such as my computer. I have a 530w power supply, but it sure as hell isn't drawing 530w whenever it's on.

 

[bounty29]

Nobody was flaming you mastermagic. While you're making accusations, is there a reason you have four of the last five posts? Two of which have only two words? There is an edit button for a reason.

Edit: In case people get confused, mastermagic deleted his posts in this thread.

 

[Guest]

Yeah it's basic, but it's also a bit of a hassle to keep track of every time a device is turned on or off over the period of however long you want to test for. This device just makes it easier to tell what you're using. Some things don't have a set wattage that they draw, such as my computer. I have a 530w power supply, but it sure as hell isn't drawing 530w whenever it's on.

I think if you leave a appliance, like a computer plugged into it for a period of time...like a couple of days...it calculates how much energy you use it that period. Click here for a better understanding: http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/kill_a_watt_electric_usage_monitor_review

I haven't measured the plasma yet..it's a 42" plasma.

I measured my computer plug for about 15 mins....and it only drew 146 watts. That includes a router,. onitor, dsl modem, coedless phone and speakers with subwoffer.

I will get back with the plasma numbers soon. It's just a real pain pulling the entertain area apart.

Cheers,
SC

 

[Guest]

well...my 42" plasma uses 356 watts while running. Thats like 3- 4 crt type tv's.

So that and the dehumidifier that were hooked up around the same time must be the reason my bill went up $100. Little bit of airconditioning mixed in there also.

Nice little unit this Kill-A-Watt.

Cheers,
SH