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

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=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~~.

{| width="100%"

|style="vertical-align:top" |

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

</div>

|style="vertical-align:top" |

[[Image:Simple Plugin Electricity Meter.jpg|Simple E.U. Plugin Electricity Meter]]

|}

=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.

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.

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| Toaster || 1 minute || 600 W (low), 1200W (high) || 3-6 kW/h || No standby load due to no electronic control

|-

| Electric Kettle || 1 minute || 1800 W (powered on) || 10-18 kW/h || No standby load, no power control

| Electric Kettle || 1 minute || 1800-3100 W (powered on) || 10-25 kW/h || No standby load, no power 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

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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.

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.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 =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.
+{| width="100%"
+|style="vertical-align:top" |
+<div style="margin: 0; margin-right:10px; border: 1px solid #dfdfdf; padding: 0em 1em 1em 1em; background-color:#F8F8FF; align:right;">
+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
+</div>
+|style="vertical-align:top" |
+[[Image:Simple Plugin Electricity Meter.jpg|Simple E.U. Plugin Electricity Meter]]
+|}
 =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.
+<youtube width="500" height="281">Eqc1Noz4p4s</youtube>
 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.
@@ Line 39: / Line 57: @@
 | Toaster || 1 minute || 600 W (low), 1200W (high) || 3-6 kW/h || No standby load due to no electronic control
 |-
-| Electric Kettle || 1 minute || 1800 W (powered on) || 10-18 kW/h || No standby load, no power control
+| Electric Kettle || 1 minute || 1800-3100 W (powered on) || 10-25 kW/h || No standby load, no power 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
@@ Line 60: / Line 78: @@
 |-
 |}
+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.
 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.