Where can I find how much electricity appliances are using?

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Finch

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#240955 4-Oct-2018 00:24

Hi there. Currently living at home, paying around $330-$350 give or take per month on electricity. We are home most of the time so I'm assuming that's why it is so high, but I'm also wondering if there could be something we could do to save power. I'm hoping there is a website out there (In NZD, so NZ based) which gives a long list of how much everything cost to use. Laptop, Modem, PS4, TV, Hot water, boiling the jug, microwave per minute etc etc.

I know prices vary, but just a ball park figure.

Thanks

Aredwood

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#2101198 4-Oct-2018 01:45

Out of the things that you have listed, Hot water is by far the biggest power user. Hot water is typically 1/3 to 1/2 the average households power bil. And electric hot water cylinders can also develope faults that cause them to use heaps more power than they should otherwise use.

For plug in appliances, get a plug in power meter. Here is 1 option https://www.bunnings.co.nz/arlec-energy-cost-electrical-meter_p04410270
You can program it with your cost per unit (KW/Hr) of power. And it will display in $$$ how much whatever you have plugged in is costing you to run. Look on your power bill to find your per unit price for power.

Heating is also a very big power user. Does the monthly cost you quoted relate to a winter bill? Clothes dryers are another big power user.

Very simple rule of thumb, does the appliance produce a lot of heat or get very hot when you use it? If so, then it uses a lot of power. Also consider how long each day the appliance is switched on for. The kettle makes water get very hot very quickly, but it is only switched on for a minute or 2. While plug in heaters are often left switched on for hours at a time.

Hammerer

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#2101199 4-Oct-2018 03:28

There are many websites like this one that will give you indicative wattages but with several caveats including this one: tariffs for electricity vary by up to 100% or more so any website listing prices would have a very big ball park. That's why you're far more likely to get electricity usage statistics.

Closer to home EnergyWise has a running costs calculator for major appliances and their site has other useful info.

andrewNZ

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#2101221 4-Oct-2018 07:19

Lighting can be a huge user too. It wasn't uncommon to have close to a kW of lighting in living rooms with downlights.

Power use of non energy saver downlights and big fluro fittings adds up fast.

andrewNZ

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#2101225 4-Oct-2018 07:28

The easiest way is to look for the rating label on the appliance (they all have one). It should say how many (W) watts they use. 1000 watts for one hour is one unit of power.

10x 100w light bulbs 1 unit per hour.
Microwave is probably 1 unit every 1.5-2 hours running.
Jug 2.4 units per hour
Heaters on full 2.4 units per hour

jaymz

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#2101446 4-Oct-2018 11:50

Years ago i purchased a Cent-A-Meter (not sure if you can still get them or not) and it has been great to keep our household's power usage down.

It has a sender unit that you attach to the main power line coming into the house and a receiver unit that we have in the lounge that displays current power usage in either kwh or $ along with temp and humidty.

Very handy as we often look at it (cause it is next to the tv) and it is normally around 8-12c per hour, but if it jumps up to 30-40c per hour i will go find what is suddenly using lots of power (often finding that someone has started using a hair straightner etc)