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Monitoring house current draw? peter 04-24-2008
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Posted by terry on April 26, 2008, 3:42 pm
>
>
> > I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house.
>
> Just step outside and observe your electric meter. =A0 If's the old style
> electro-mechanical type you just take your watch and measure how many
> revolutions the "wheel" makes in, say, 15 second. =A0 Write that down. =A0=
If
> you look carefully, you might find a number on the meter that converts
> revolution to energy.
>
> If you have a 100% electronic meter it should cycle around with one displa=
y
> showing instant energy consumption.
>
> Otherwise you have to use a current transformer (a clamp on ampmeter
> includes a CT) and an AC ampmeter.
>
> ** Posted fromhttp://www.teranews.com**

If in North America one normally has two 115 volt 'legs' that must be
measured to determine the current draw.
For example one may at any one time have lights and apparatus switched
on that are on leg A. Then at perhaps other times circuits that are on
leg B. So both have to be measured/recorded.
Heavier 230 volt appliances, such as clothes dryers, cooking stoves
and electric heat use leg A and leg B. So the current could be
measured twice!
The electrcity meter does this on behalf of the power utility.
Trying to measure current without using the proper (and code
compliant) apparatus sounds like a rather useless exercise?
maybe the simplest is read the meter and/or invest in one of those
devices (battery powered AIUI) that clamp onto the meter and transmit
information to a battery powered unit inside the house.
Congratulate the OP on cultivating an awareness of which appliances
use most power and when they are on; but some so called 'economies'
are meaningless.
For example many homes here use electric heating; so that the more
'efficient' appliances or CFL lamps that today do not 'waste' as much
electricity as heat do not contribute to home heating. As a
consequence electric heating has to operate a little more in order to
warm the house so the same amount of kilowatt hours are used, whether
indirectly through 'inefficient' appliances/lights or directly through
electric heating.

Posted by Paul on April 26, 2008, 7:05 pm
Google - "cent a meter"

I use these in my student rental units so tenants can see how much each
appliance, light, etc. is using and adjust there usage for best economy.


>
>
> > I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house.
>
> Just step outside and observe your electric meter. If's the old style
> electro-mechanical type you just take your watch and measure how many
> revolutions the "wheel" makes in, say, 15 second. Write that down. If
> you look carefully, you might find a number on the meter that converts
> revolution to energy.
>
> If you have a 100% electronic meter it should cycle around with one
> display
> showing instant energy consumption.
>
> Otherwise you have to use a current transformer (a clamp on ampmeter
> includes a CT) and an AC ampmeter.
>
> ** Posted fromhttp://www.teranews.com**

If in North America one normally has two 115 volt 'legs' that must be
measured to determine the current draw.
For example one may at any one time have lights and apparatus switched
on that are on leg A. Then at perhaps other times circuits that are on
leg B. So both have to be measured/recorded.
Heavier 230 volt appliances, such as clothes dryers, cooking stoves
and electric heat use leg A and leg B. So the current could be
measured twice!
The electrcity meter does this on behalf of the power utility.
Trying to measure current without using the proper (and code
compliant) apparatus sounds like a rather useless exercise?
maybe the simplest is read the meter and/or invest in one of those
devices (battery powered AIUI) that clamp onto the meter and transmit
information to a battery powered unit inside the house.
Congratulate the OP on cultivating an awareness of which appliances
use most power and when they are on; but some so called 'economies'
are meaningless.
For example many homes here use electric heating; so that the more
'efficient' appliances or CFL lamps that today do not 'waste' as much
electricity as heat do not contribute to home heating. As a
consequence electric heating has to operate a little more in order to
warm the house so the same amount of kilowatt hours are used, whether
indirectly through 'inefficient' appliances/lights or directly through
electric heating.



Posted by ransley on April 26, 2008, 7:18 pm
> Google - "cent a meter"
>
> I use these in my student rental units so tenants can see how much each
> appliance, light, etc. is using and adjust there usage for best economy.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > > I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house.
>
> > Just step outside and observe your electric meter. If's the old style
> > electro-mechanical type you just take your watch and measure how many
> > revolutions the "wheel" makes in, say, 15 second. Write that down. If
> > you look carefully, you might find a number on the meter that converts
> > revolution to energy.
>
> > If you have a 100% electronic meter it should cycle around with one
> > display
> > showing instant energy consumption.
>
> > Otherwise you have to use a current transformer (a clamp on ampmeter
> > includes a CT) and an AC ampmeter.
>
> > ** Posted fromhttp://www.teranews.com**
>
> If in North America one normally has two 115 volt 'legs' that must be
> measured to determine =A0the current draw.
> For example one may at any one time have lights and apparatus switched
> on that are on leg A. Then at perhaps other times circuits that are on
> leg B. So both have to be measured/recorded.
> Heavier 230 volt appliances, such as clothes dryers, cooking stoves
> and electric heat use leg A and leg B. So the current could be
> measured twice!
> The electrcity meter does this on behalf of the power utility.
> Trying to measure current without using the proper (and code
> compliant) apparatus sounds like a rather useless exercise?
> maybe the simplest is read the meter and/or invest in one of those
> devices (battery powered AIUI) that clamp onto the meter and transmit
> information to a battery powered unit inside the house.
> Congratulate the OP on cultivating an awareness of which appliances
> use most power and when they are on; but some so called 'economies'
> are meaningless.
> For example many homes here use electric heating; so that the more
> 'efficient' =A0appliances or CFL lamps that today do not 'waste' as much
> electricity as heat do not contribute to home heating. As a
> consequence electric heating has to operate a little more in order to
> warm the house so the same amount of kilowatt hours are used, whether
> indirectly through 'inefficient' appliances/lights or directly through
> electric heating.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Paul I couldnt get a link

Posted by Paul on April 27, 2008, 6:48 pm
my Google comes up with www.centameter.au click home at bottom of page.

> Google - "cent a meter"
>
> I use these in my student rental units so tenants can see how much each
> appliance, light, etc. is using and adjust there usage for best economy.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > > I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house.
>
> > Just step outside and observe your electric meter. If's the old style
> > electro-mechanical type you just take your watch and measure how many
> > revolutions the "wheel" makes in, say, 15 second. Write that down. If
> > you look carefully, you might find a number on the meter that converts
> > revolution to energy.
>
> > If you have a 100% electronic meter it should cycle around with one
> > display
> > showing instant energy consumption.
>
> > Otherwise you have to use a current transformer (a clamp on ampmeter
> > includes a CT) and an AC ampmeter.
>
> > ** Posted fromhttp://www.teranews.com**
>
> If in North America one normally has two 115 volt 'legs' that must be
> measured to determine the current draw.
> For example one may at any one time have lights and apparatus switched
> on that are on leg A. Then at perhaps other times circuits that are on
> leg B. So both have to be measured/recorded.
> Heavier 230 volt appliances, such as clothes dryers, cooking stoves
> and electric heat use leg A and leg B. So the current could be
> measured twice!
> The electrcity meter does this on behalf of the power utility.
> Trying to measure current without using the proper (and code
> compliant) apparatus sounds like a rather useless exercise?
> maybe the simplest is read the meter and/or invest in one of those
> devices (battery powered AIUI) that clamp onto the meter and transmit
> information to a battery powered unit inside the house.
> Congratulate the OP on cultivating an awareness of which appliances
> use most power and when they are on; but some so called 'economies'
> are meaningless.
> For example many homes here use electric heating; so that the more
> 'efficient' appliances or CFL lamps that today do not 'waste' as much
> electricity as heat do not contribute to home heating. As a
> consequence electric heating has to operate a little more in order to
> warm the house so the same amount of kilowatt hours are used, whether
> indirectly through 'inefficient' appliances/lights or directly through
> electric heating.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Paul I couldnt get a link



Posted by peter on April 29, 2008, 11:45 am
>maybe the simplest is read the meter and/or invest in one of those
>devices (battery powered AIUI) that clamp onto the meter and transmit
>information to a battery powered unit inside the house.

It just occurs to me, my power company uses radio AMR to read my meter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_meter_reading

Are there receives I can buy to receive the same signal?



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