Energy Flips

Plug-in Electricity or Power Consumption Meters: Difference between revisions

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Old page, much too complex
=What is a plug-in electricity meter?=


What is a plug-in electricity meter?
Electricity meters come in many shapes and forms. The best known device is the electricity meter installed on the premise by the electricity provider or distributor. This equipment stands in a fixed position and monitors the entire consumption. Although it offers the most accurate information about energy use it is not able to show quick information about the current power load or estimate consumption based on the present situation.
Electricity meters come in many shapes and forms. The best known device is the electricity meter installed on the premise by the electricity provider or distributor. This equipment stands in a fixed position and monitors the entire consumption. Although it offers the most accurate information about energy use it is not able to show quick information about the current power load or estimate consumption based on the present situation.


A plug-in electricity meter is a compact device than can be inserted into a circuit, like an extension cord, to monitor the consumption of any particular electric or electronic device or equipment. The device typically has an LCD that shows instant values for voltage, current and power load, as well as the total energy consumed since the meter was turned on in a specific place.
A plug-in electricity meter is a compact device than can be inserted into a circuit, like an extension cord, to monitor the consumption of any particular electric or electronic device or equipment. The device typically has an LCD that shows instant values for voltage, current and power load, as well as the total energy consumed since the meter was turned on in a specific place.


Features
=Features=


There are many varieties of plug-in meters. Some offer basic functionality while others include additional features such as cost estimations. The most advanced ones can provide values also to a smartphone, making data logging entirely possible. However, as with features, the cost steeply rises and not all of them are worth the expense.
There are many varieties of plug-in meters. Some offer basic functionality while others include additional features such as cost estimations. The most advanced ones can also transmit readings to a smartphone, making data logging entirely possible. However, along with features, the cost steeply rises and not all of them are worth the expense.


The most important information provided by a meter is instant power load, total electricity consumption and line voltage. The instant power load is essential as it shows as plainly as possible what amount of energy is required by a device, no matter how large or small, depending on how it is operated. As this value is clearly shown on the LCD of the meter, any doubt about the impact of device is cleared.
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While there are many brands and models, a good product should have the following capability:
* quickly display instant power load in watts, line voltage, total kWh consumption
* maximum and minimum wattage history shows device behaviour and power line impact
* does not require battery to operate even if running with it keeps last values (simple maintenance)
* able to withstand maximum socket current load (16 Amps for E.U. states)
* reflective LCD display (greyish-green when off) for good readout in low light
* the main unit has clock or timer display, to simplify consumption tracking
* power factor display shows poor device design that loads the power line more than necessary
* energy cost calculation may be useful but it is not mandatory
* graph showing electricity consumption variation over a day may be useful
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[[Image:Simple Plugin Electricity Meter.jpg|Simple E.U. Plugin Electricity Meter]]
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Utility
=Utility=


Few devices provide any information about partial load or consumption in various states, in the manual or labels. A device's label may show the maximum power load of it, but this is likely to be only a momentary situation and may even not be ever reached in normal operation. Some devices may get to the maximum consumption only briefly in operation, such as the case of a washing machine or air conditioning device, while others draw some energy even when powered off or in standby.
Few devices provide any information about partial load or consumption in various states, in the manual or labels. A device's label may show the maximum power load of it, but this is likely to be only a momentary situation and may even not be ever reached in normal operation. Some devices may get to the maximum consumption only briefly in operation, such as the case of a washing machine or air conditioning device, while others draw some energy even when powered off or in standby.
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All of the above means that determining the actual cost impact of using an electrical tool or appliance is very difficult. The energy meter installed on the premise will only show the total energy being consumed and you would have to turn off all devices but your equipment, and operate for possibly a few hours in that state, to collect reliable information. This is not practical.
All of the above means that determining the actual cost impact of using an electrical tool or appliance is very difficult. The energy meter installed on the premise will only show the total energy being consumed and you would have to turn off all devices but your equipment, and operate for possibly a few hours in that state, to collect reliable information. This is not practical.


Typical scenario
=Typical testing scenario=


A plug-in meter can be quickly moved from one device to another, no matter how large or small, if it is provided with the typical wall plug. While this may be an issue with three-phased powered equipment, most consumer and small business devices are single-phase ones that plug using the typical end connector. Inserting the plug-in meter between the device and the wall plug is very simple.
A plug-in meter can be quickly moved from one device to another, no matter how large or small, if it is provided with the typical wall plug. While this may be an issue with three-phased powered equipment, most consumer and small business devices are single-phase ones that plug using the typical end connector. Inserting the plug-in meter between the device and the wall plug is very simple.
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! Device !! Minimum required testing time || Power load !! Estimated daily consumption !! Comments  
! Device !! Minimum required testing time || Power load !! Estimated monthly consumption !! Comments  
|-
| 12000 BTU Air conditioning unit (on cooling) || 5 minutes || 5 W (standby), 60 W (high fan), 1060W (powered on) || 100-300 kWh || Full power load reached in 5 minutes
|-
| 300l Refrigerator (Freezer set at -18 Degrees Celsius) || 5 minutes || <1 W (standby), 100-300 W (powered on) || 36-72 kWh || Temperature must be lowered from normal to trigger start compressor
|-
|-
| Air conditioning unit (on cooling) || 5 minutes || 5 W (standby), 60 W (high fan), 1060W (powered on) || 5-10 kWh || Full power load reached in 5 minutes
| Cooking machine || 5 minutes || <1 W (standby), 40 W (high fan), 2000 W (oven), 1500 W (grill), 1000 W (large/fast burner), 800 W (medium burner), 600 W (small burner) || 10-70 kW/h || No comment
|-
|-
| Refrigerator (Freezer set at -18 Degrees Celsius) || 5 minutes || 5 W (standby), 60 W (high fan), 1060W (powered on) || 5-10 kWh || Temperature lowered from normal to trigger start compressor
| Classic small oven || 1 minute || 0 W (standby), 1500 W (powered on) || 8-16 kW/h || No standby load due to no electronic control
|-
|-
| Cooking machine || 5 minutes || 1 W (standby), 40 W (high fan), 2000W (oven), 1500W (grill), 1000W (large/fast burner), 800W (medium burner), 600W (small burner) || 5-10 kWh || No comment
| Microwave oven || 1 minute || 1 W (standby), 1000 W (on), 1200 W (grill) || 8-16 kW/h || No comment
|-
|-
| Classic small oven || 1 minute || 0 W (standby), 1500W (powered on) || 5-10 kWh || No comment
| Grill || 1 minute || 2000 W (powered on) || 10-27 kW/h || No standby load, rarely any power control
|-
|-
| Microwave oven || 1 minute || 1 W (standby), 1000W (on), 1200W (grill) || 5-10 kWh || No comment
| Toaster || 1 minute || 600 W (low), 1200W (high) || 3-6 kW/h || No standby load due to no electronic control
|-
|-
| Grill || >70 || 1 minute || 2000W (powered on) || 5-10 kWh || No standby load since no electronic control
| Electric Kettle || 1 minute || 1800-3100 W (powered on) || 10-25 kW/h || No standby load, no power control
|-
|-
| Toaster || >70 || 1 minute || 600W (low), 1200W (high) || 5-10 kWh || No standby load since no electronic control
| Desktop computer || 3 minutes || 8 W (standby), 40 W (idle), 100-400 W (full load) || 10-24 kW/h || Display power load should be measured separately
|-
|-
| Electric Kettle || 1 minute || 1800W (powered on) || 5-10 kWh || No standby load since no electronic control
| 50 inch TV || 3 minutes || 1 W (standby), 40 W (half brightness), 90 W (high brightness) || 9-19 kW/h || Note that older TVs have no backlight control
|-
|-
| Desktop computer || 3 minutes || 8W (standby), 40W (idle), 100W (full load) || 5-10 kWh || Display measured separately
| Laptop || 3 minutes || <5 W (standby), 40 W (idle), 100 W (full load) || 5-7 kW/h || Power load slightly higher if battery recharges
|-
|-
| 32 inch TV || 3 minutes || 4W (standby), 40W (low brightness), 60W (high brightness) || 5-10 kWh || Older TVs do not control LCD backlight
| Washing machine || 1 hour || 2-4 W (standby), 50-155 W (washing), 250 W (800rpm centrifugation), 1500 W (washing with heating) || 11-18 kW/h || No comment
|-
|-
| Laptop || 3 minutes || 8W (standby), 40W (idle), 100W (full load) || 5-10 kWh || Display measured separately
| Compact (travel) hairdryer || less than 1 minute || 560 W (half), 1100 W (full)|| 5-8 kW/h || No standby load
|-
|-
| Washing machine || 1 hour || 8W (standby), 40W (idle), 100W (full load) || 5-10 kWh ||
| Older Vacuum cleaner || less than 1 minute || 220 W (lowest), 1300 W (highest) || 5-9 kW/h || Appliance has power control
|-
|-
| Compact hairdrier || less than 1 minute || serious issues for health and goods
| Newer Vacuum cleaner || less than 1 minute || 100 W (lowest), 600 W (highest) || 2-4 kW/h || Appliance has power control
|-
|-
| Vacuum cleaner || less than 1 minute || serious issues for health and goods
| Iron || less than 1 minute || 1600-2100 W (depending on product) ||  5-6 kW/h || No power control
|-
|-
| LED desk lamp || less than 1 minute || serious issues for health and goods
| LED desk lamp || less than 1 minute || 2-10 W (typical) || 1-2 kW/h || Some lamps have brightness control
|-
|-
|}
|}


The time consideration centers around the utility of first checking quickly consumption of various common devices and then chose which more frequently used one to monitor for an hour or a day.
All power load estimations are given according to European typical product ranges. Products for the American, Japanese or other markets may have highly different specifications.
 
 
 
 
 
[[Standby or powered-off load
 
Most devices use some power even when turned off. This value may be small, reaching just a couple of watts. Newer and more efficient devices may require just 1 Watt while in this state while older or more inefficient ones may be using more energy. The standby power load is important as the device may be plugged on all day or even year round, which means that even small values have an impact. A 1 watt power permanent load year-round ends up to around 9 kWh.
 
Low power load
 
Using a device with only some of its capabilities will require less energy than a normal one. For instance, air conditioning devices, dehumidifiers and other appliances may have a fan that can be operated at variable speed. The fan itself may create a power load of only 60 watts while the whole device may require 1000 watts in operation. This is important as it shows that some situations do not require a lot of energy but have a large impact on end results as increasing fan speeds speeds up a typical result you may want.
 
Another typical low power load situation is with computers, laptops or any data processing unit. Simply powering them and leaving them running will typically result in idling, which requires much less electrical energy than when a data intensive process such as rendering, database operation or another service is required. The same goes for gaming, in the case of home users. With the exceptions of these scenarios, the idle load has a very low impact on energy consumption.
 
Of course, more modern computers, appliances and devices have a reduced amount of power while not running intensive tasks.
 
Typical power load
 
Operating a device as required generates a specific power load. Configuring the device may prove that there are some settings which affect quality or performance, while others do not. This matters particularly when a large number of similar devices are used. Computers, laptops, TVs, displays, can be configured in a very effective way.
 
Large appliances such as refrigerators, cooking machines, ovens, air conditioning, heating and cooling devices are highly sensitive to temperature or time settings. Requiring fast results or large temperature differences compared with the typical interior temperature has a major impact on consumption. Many times, a particular temperature is required for a particular process or storage situations but small optimizations can be done if the process is well monitored for end product or process result.
 
Maximum power load
 
It is highly unlikely that most devices will be used at this power range but knowing how much the consumption can increase from typical power load upto maximum power load can be a very important information. Knowing how consumption can scale means that you can better adapt the way in which you use the device to cater to your needs.
 
An equipment or appliance that is frequently used at typical power loads and quite frequently near the maximum power load may also be less efficient and could have a premature breakdown due to stress so understanding its use is highly valuable. Also, intense usage may also be stressful as it releases more heat or other process byproducts that have to coped with inside the building, which also reduces comfort and the availability to cope with other requirements.
 
Many devices or appliances never reach the stated maximum power load that may be present in documentations or product labels since such an ussage may be dangerous, annoying or simply not possible. This is why determining a likely maximum power load offers a much better assessment of capabilities.


In the end, maximum power load is also important to assess the potential load on a specific circuit or branch of the electrical installation, avoiding potential shortcomings or dangerous situations. This matters a lot for home and small business users as this information can be a very good assessment of an energy audit for the current electrical installation. While it does not replace professional advisory, it can significantly improve it since the end user also has a much better current situation awareness.
The time consideration centers around the utility of first checking quickly consumption of various common devices and then chose which more frequently used one to monitor for an hour or a day. Note that consumption estimates can vary based on use. Some modern vacuum cleaners still may have no power control.


Monitoring time
=Monitoring time=


Most devices can be easily tested for how much power they use, in different situations in less than 2 or 3 minutes. This may be enough for TVs, computers, laptops and various other products that respond instantly to various demands.
Most devices can be easily tested for how much power they use, in different situations in less than 2 or 3 minutes. This may be enough for TVs, computers, laptops and various other products that respond instantly to various demands.
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When it is not possible, monitoring the highest impact device, such as a cooking machine, grill, oven, can show reliable information that can easily guide an improvement process.
When it is not possible, monitoring the highest impact device, such as a cooking machine, grill, oven, can show reliable information that can easily guide an improvement process.


The all important flexibility
=Flexibility=


Monitoring consumption in the same place for more than 1 day is generally not advised, as the monthly impact can be easily determined by analyzing the one of a typical day. Moreover, it is important to be aware that biggest feature of plug-in meters is flexibility, so not using them in as many places as possible and quickly extracting then analyzing such data is a missed opportunity.
Monitoring consumption in the same place for more than 1 day is generally not advised, as the monthly impact can be easily determined by analyzing the one of a typical day. Moreover, it is important to be aware that biggest feature of plug-in meters is flexibility, so not using them in as many places as possible and quickly extracting then analyzing such data is a missed opportunity.
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