Is there a device that can be plugged into the wall socket, then the electrical item is plugged into this device to read how many kilowatts are used from the start of one day to the next day?

We are trying to find out which appliance is using more electricity than the others.

Thank you. Bill

-- Bill Scott (billscotthobbyshop@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002

Answers

yes

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 15, 2002.

Since Stan says yes, please tell me more?

-- Bill Scott (billscotthobbyshop@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.

I'd like to know too! We've tried everything to cut down on our electrical costs but the bill still keeps going up.

On a side note, does anyone have instructions on how to set up a windmill to power a few buildings (barn, chicken coop and machine shed/workshop)? My hubby's got it in his head to see if he can buy an old windmill, an inverter and use a couple huge batteries he's junkpicked to see if he can get power to those buildings.

-- Lisa in WI (llehman16@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

Ive seen them at REAL GOODS,, or check other pv site. Maybe even Radio Shack,, but yea, they do make them

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 15, 2002.

There is a poor boy way to measure use. Make a short extension cord with an electric clock wired in "series" with one leg of the extension cord. Plug this into the wall and the item into the other end and set the clock to a known time (12:00). Then whenever the item draws current the clock will run, and through math and knowing the whattage of the item and how long it ran you can get a pretty good idea of its use of power.

-- Willy Allen (willyallen2@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.

As to the windmill, the old water pumpers are built to move slow & strong. To make elecricity, you want fast & fast. Most electric windmills have 3 thin blades, like an airplaine prop. Water pumpers have a very full set of blades. So buy carefully! :)

Back in the late 70s & early 80s there was a whole slew of wind generating books, very good, from fancy $200,000 systems to rewiring an old car generator & how to raise your own tower. Don't remember the names of any, but I'm sure Homepower magazine and old issues of Monther Earlth News will have info.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

love that info about the clock!, i've been trying to reduce our electric bill for 6 months. does this actually work?

-- bill van fossan (van37725@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.

"My hubby's got it in his head to see if he can buy an old windmill, aninverter and use a couple huge batteries he's junkpicked to see if he can get power to those buildings"

Well this is great but most "old windmills" are not power generating windmills, they are pumping windmills. There are some older power generating windmills. Winchargers by Zenith are one of the more common. THe problem is they are old, not very practical for producing power for modern needs. They only produced a couple hundred watts of power and that can quickly be used by any moden device.

The issues when trying to use renewable is knowing how much power you need and how much power you can generate. If you already have electric to a site and need more than a "trickel" of power, running cables to the new site is often cheaper than renewable power is.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), February 15, 2002.

Some electric coops let you use (borrow for a month)a regular meter to check the power consumption of a given item. It plugs into the wall on one end and you plug your appliance into the other end. It is easier and safer than the clock method, but I must admit that that is a very clever idea..

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

Your hot water heater and your well pump are probably two of the highest power consuming appliances you have, unless you heat with electricity. Figuring out a way to pre-heat your water before it gets to the water heater may reduce your energy costs. Something as simple as a holding tank indoors, where water can slowly adjust to room temp before going to your water heater, could help. There are also fancy things you can do, such as recapturing the heat from waste hot water in your shower to pre-heat the new water coming in. this is done through a heat exchanger device that is purchased and installed in place of your old shower drain pipe. Haven't tried it, but it supposedly works wonders.

If you have really hard water your water heater element may be encrusted and having to work extra hard to heat your water. Check that.

-- chuck in md (woah@mission4me.com), February 15, 2002.

I am sorry Willy but that idea just plain won't work.

If you put a clock in series with the appliance all the current for the appliance must flow through the clock but when the clock is in the circuit alone it only draws a few milliamps so there is no way any appliance will operate in series with an electric clock.

You could usefully use an electric clock by putting the clock in parallel with the appliance load, so for a water heater this means across the heater element terminals, it must be arranged so that the thermostat contacts control the current to the clock as well as to the element. This principle would work with other appliances but in many cases it would involve opening the appliance. Either way this is for the knowledgable only.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), February 16, 2002.

umm,

unplug everything, go outside & read the meter,w/one appl. plugged in at a time?

even things that are 'off' often draw ghost loads [the tv is at the top of the list i belive], so unplug not just shut off. good luck on your conservation efforts!

-- bj pepper in C. MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), February 16, 2002.

I am looking at the latest Home Power mag. and they are called a digital power meter and start at 149.00 The web site is www.brandelectronics.com Some where in one of my old home power mags. I think they have instructions on how to build a simple one but can't find it right now. If you go to www.homepower.com they should be able to help you there.

-- Mike in WNY (jake@2ki.net), February 17, 2002.

http://www.brandelectronics.com has a meter that would do what I am interested in but the cost is $149 for each meter.

-- Bill Scott (billscotthobbyshop@yahoo.com), February 19, 2002.