Kill-a-Watt?

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sleemanj

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#15605 30-Aug-2007 21:58

Has anybody seen a NZ version of the Kill-a-Watt device (ie 240volt, correct plug pattern a bonus) - one of these doohickeys: http://tinyurl.com/36bd94

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James Sleeman
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raytaylor

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#84975 2-Sep-2007 23:43

I too am interested to know.

In the past if i have had to monitor anything, I just use a UPS connected to a computer that will tell me the power usage over time.

Ray Taylor

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Bung

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#85006 3-Sep-2007 08:50

This unit from Jaycar is the only similar one sold locally. Cyril7 favours another unit. see this thread.

raytaylor

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#85171 3-Sep-2007 21:29

Thanks, i will be getting the Jaycar one.

Ray Taylor

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paradoxsm

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#85180 3-Sep-2007 21:44

I saw a Cent a meter only yesterday in action. Cute and cool with a great large display but it seemed quirky.

I might be interested in that jaycar unit, not too badly priced either.

sleemanj

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#85208 4-Sep-2007 00:36

Bung: This unit from Jaycar

That looks like just what is required. I shall see if the local Jaycar has one in stock tomorrow.

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James Sleeman
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redkea

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#88491 28-Sep-2007 12:00

I've just bought two from Jaycar in Dunedin. Only 1 left. 20 more arriving soon. Presumably this means they are all over New Zealand. Supposedly there was a delay getting some type of certification or approval. Haven't tried it. But a very reasonable price point.

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richms

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#91812 21-Oct-2007 00:28

Just got one myself to try on things.

It seems horribly inaccurate on electronic goods - the readings were spot on with the amps I measured on a DMM (within 2% or so) when checking the heater, the kettle, the dryer, the toaster, but with energysaving lamps, computers, tv, car battery charger, halogen lamp and other stuff with an electronic power supply, the jaycar meter severly underreports.

I have seen forums where people have said their pcs are only getting 100 watts when running farcry, and thats about what I get on the jaycar meter on my 6 hdd inefficient as anything cheap PSU desktop here, yet it alarms a 300va UPS.

TV is reporting 80, not the 210 it should be, and energy saving lamps are weird. Run one 20 watt on it, and it reports 20 watts, run 2, it says 22 watts, run 3, and then it says 25 watts. I ran out of lamps to test more, and the dimmer on a 300 watt halogen means has the meter showing 250 watts, with no change in brightness from another with no dimmer, dim it down till you can just see a change, and the jaycar meter shows 170 watts.

I took it back and they gave me another saying that noone had complained about inaccuracys, and the replacement seems to be reading the voltage a little low, so its power figures are lower then they should be.

I suspect the meter cant cope with the surgey nature that electronic powersupplys pull their current, and are assuming its a resistive or inductive load, since it does report power factor.

Richard rich.ms