Monitoring Electricity Use...

[velvetfoot]

Admittedly only read the last four posts, but we have a coffee maker with a thermal caraffe.

 

[Where2]

Heat Pump and wind.

Or Edmund Scientific large fresnel lens in the sunshine...

We have a Tassimo and a collection of different models of Keurigs. They all belong to my wife. I frequently have to come along and put the Keurig to sleep. Although not as significant as the energy used by my electric dryer, I despise the waste.

 

[Grisu]

Agreed Keurig is not great coffee and it's an environmental disaster. (Each pound of coffee sends 50 K-Cups to the landfill.) We have a Capresso coffee maker that has an insulated carafe for when we are in a hurry and want the coffee ready when we wake up. But usually we heat the water on the stove, then the coffee made in a Bodum press pot, then poured into a thermal carafe. The grounds go into the compost or on the strawberry bed.

http://www.carbondiet.ca/green_advice/food/k-cup_coffee_maker_garbage_an_environmental_issue.html

Not just an environmental disaster but also a total waste of money. 1 lb coffee costs ~$50. Plus, you are tied to what is available in those cups if I am not mistaken.

I have a similar setup: An electric express water heater (also equally often used for making tea) and a single cup filter when I just make one for myself. (like this one here:
(broken link removed to http://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/frieling-coffee-for-one?gdftrk=gdfV25576_a_7c1994_a_7c7459_a_7cCSC591A0020&gclid=CMCni5an9b0CFeMSOgodZRoAUA) )
For a larger group I have a Melitta pour-over filter with a thermal carafe underneath; keeps the coffee hot for several hours.

 

[johnny1720]

Kureg coffee maker, .75 KwH for 24 hours

You must drink a lot of coffee.

Not really it turns in at 5:30 AM we drink two cups. We drink two more and take them to work, it shuts off at 7:15. We only use the k-cup basket and put in our own dunkin donut.

Update the darn UV light system used .90 KWH in 23 hours.

This thread is a great thread,

 

[Where2]

Update the darn UV light system used .90 KWH in 23 hours.

My water heater has used 99kWh in the last month. (my incoming water is 77°F, thermostat is set at 126°F, 2 adult house occupants)

Next up: measure the electric dryer for a month.

 

[WiscWoody]

I have the following setups

-well pump
-electric dryer - energy star
-electric range
-geothermal - energy star
-mostly leds or cfl bulbs
-energy star upright freezer
-energy star double door fridge
-energy dishwasher
-small dorm fridge (for beer)

I unplug all VCRs, game consoles, phone chargers, kids toys. During the summer with out the geothermal running my base use is 30 KwH per day. I have never been able to get lower than this. I have had an electrician out and we can't find any issues. Does that seem excessive to anyone?

Whats a VCR? I use 8 KWh of power a day in a 3100 sg ft house.

 

[WiscWoody]

If you want to reduce your coffee maker power consumption, get one that has an insulate carafe instead of a burner to keep it warm. Cooks the coffee less too which some consider to help hold the flavor better. Less standby power loss... not sure I'd do it just for power reduction though, have to like the coffee and drink it before it gets too cold too

Id never trade my Keurig for some other maker! it only takes a moment in the morning to warm it up so its ready to go. Shut it off when done or usw the 2 hour off option.

 

[maple1]

Not really it turns in at 5:30 AM we drink two cups. We drink two more and take them to work, it shuts off at 7:15. We only use the k-cup basket and put in our own dunkin donut.

Update the darn UV light system used .90 KWH in 23 hours.

This thread is a great thread,

I just finished my morning cup. I watched my monitor & watch while my Tassimo did its thing - also was trying to clean up some dishes at the same time, so my data is a little bit fuzzy. But it took 2 minutes from start to finish, and my monitor showed it used 3000 watts for about 45 seconds, the rest of the time it didn't register anything - guess the pump itself doesn't use much juice. So .75kwh would make me 20 cups of coffee.

Also discovered I'm almost out of pods - I'm really wanting to try a Keurig & the reusable basket, but my wife would likely kick me if I gave away her Christmas present to me.

 

[Ashful]

Id never trade my Keurig for some other maker! it only takes a moment in the morning to warm it up so its ready to go. Shut it off when done or usw the 2 hour off option.

Yeah, but there is better coffee to be had, and for much less. I just received in the mail yesterday, 5 kg of primo German coffee for $110. Nothing this good is available in K-cups, and even the mid-grade stuff that can be had in K-cups averages $25/kg (almost as much as primo stuff in 500g bags). Yes, you can use a reusable basket in a Keurig, but then the convenience advantage is eliminated, and you're left with just a substandard coffee maker, which doesn't brew hot enough. The Keurig is great for convenience in an occasional single-cup maker, but there are much better options for your daily use / making multiple cups. Check Bunn commercial duty, or Technivorm.

Whats a VCR? I use 8 KWh of power a day in a 3100 sg ft house.

That's very impressive. I think we average 50 - 55 kWh/day, when the AC is not running, and over 80 kWh / day in July.

 

[Grisu]

I just finished my morning cup. I watched my monitor & watch while my Tassimo did its thing - also was trying to clean up some dishes at the same time, so my data is a little bit fuzzy. But it took 2 minutes from start to finish, and my monitor showed it used 3000 watts for about 45 seconds, the rest of the time it didn't register anything - guess the pump itself doesn't use much juice. So .75kwh would make me 20 cups of coffee.

That's a lot of juice. Do you have it on a 30 A circuit? My express water heater uses 1500 W and boils up to 7 cups of water in about 5 to 6 min. In the morning, I turn it on, take a bathroom break and when I come back it is usually done already.

I just received in the mail yesterday, 5 kg of primo German coffee for $110.

Someone likes his coffee strong. May I ask what brand?

 

[maple1]

That's a lot of juice. Do you have it on a 30 A circuit? My express water heater uses 1500 W and boils up to 7 cups of water in about 5 to 6 min. In the morning, I turn it on, take a bathroom break and when I come back it is usually done already.

Yes it is - and no I don't. I don't think I got an accurate reading from my monitor. I samples every 10 seconds, and when I originally set it up I had to tell it the voltage of the mains. I just entered 240 but have been suspicious of that whole thing since it seems to read higher over long periods than what my power bill says I'm using. I think I have come to the conclusion that this monitor is not highly precise, it seems to jump around a bit, but is more of a general tool to guide with relative energy use. I should try my kil-a-watt device on it & see what it says - the tag on the back of the unit specs 1300w.

We might need a coffee thread in the Inglenook, this is getting a bit sideways...

 

[Ashful]

We might need a coffee thread in the Inglenook, this is getting a bit sideways...

yep. here it is:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/coffee.127495/

 

[AK13]

That's very impressive. I think we average 50 - 55 kWh/day, when the AC is not running, and over 80 kWh / day in July.

Holy moly. That's a lot of power. Must be electric hot water heating. You use half of my annual electricity usage in July alone. But I'm still heating my water with propane and my house with oil and wood.

 

[AK13]

Is this the meter that everyone likes?

http://www.amazon.com/Efergy-E2-Wireless-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B003XOZG0Y

 

[Ashful]

Holy moly. That's a lot of power. Must be electric hot water heating. You use half of my annual electricity usage in July alone. But I'm still heating my water with propane and my house with oil and wood.

No. All heat and hot water is via oil, roughly 1 gal/day for hot water in summer, more in winter.

Our annual electric usage is over 20 MWh, and we have no electric heating, excepting some bathroom space heaters we never really use. My wife tends to leave a lot of lights and TV's on. My usage was similar to yours, when I lived alone in a 2500 sq.ft. house WITH electric heat on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

 

[CaptSpiff]

Is this the meter that everyone likes?

http://www.amazon.com/Efergy-E2-Wireless-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B003XOZG0Y

This device clips to the two hot legs entering your electrical panel with donut type CTs. Perfectly safe, but remember that your main breaker probably does not deenergize these wires (above the main breaker) so they will remain HOT even while the Main Bkr is open.

Question: If the only connections are the amp clips, how does the device know the actual voltage? Does it just ask the operator to input the nominal voltage?

I ask because my provider routinely delivers at 125 to 128 volts per leg. I think they do it knowingly and enjoy the extra revenue.

 

[maple1]

This device clips to the two hot legs entering your electrical panel with donut type CTs. Perfectly safe, but remember that your main breaker probably does not deenergize these wires (above the main breaker) so they will remain HOT even while the Main Bkr is open.

Question: If the only connections are the amp clips, how does the device know the actual voltage? Does it just ask the operator to input the nominal voltage?

I ask because my provider routinely delivers at 125 to 128 volts per leg. I think they do it knowingly and enjoy the extra revenue.

Yes, I had to manually key in the voltage. I just used 240. I checked at the contacts on my electric water heater with my multimeter, and it was within a couple volts of 240.

I have an 'E-Matic Elite 3.0' monitor - I think it's just a re-badged Efergy. Found it on ebay.

 

[Highbeam]

Is this the meter that everyone likes?

http://www.amazon.com/Efergy-E2-Wireless-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B003XOZG0Y

That's the one I have. The sample rate is adjustable down to 6 seconds. This is the only shortcoming, I wish it was every second but that's just because I am impatient.

Yes you install it around the hot wires between the meter and the main breaker. It's not unlike holding onto the cord to the toaster when it is plugged in, the wires are insulated so you can touch them. Just don't touch the energized parts of the panel.

You can also clamp the CTs around individual circuit wires if you want to log a device like a water heater, hot tub, or heat pump.

I stare at this meter many times per day. The display unit is wireless and I have it mounted in my living room on the wall beside the weather station.

 

[begreen]

I'm curious about how much you have reduced your energy consumption as a result of having this meter and at what cost? Has the reduction been a result of lifestyle changes or spending on more efficient lighting, appliances, etc.?

(I see this unit on eBay for $39 that can sample every 2 secs.)
(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-Electricity-usage-Monitor-power-energy-monitoring-system-/321347810282?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ad1d273ea)

 

[velvetfoot]

That's a good deal. Wireless to boot.

That's the one I have. The sample rate is adjustable down to 6 seconds. This is the only shortcoming, I wish it was every second but that's just because I am impatient.

Yes you install it around the hot wires between the meter and the main breaker. It's not unlike holding onto the cord to the toaster when it is plugged in, the wires are insulated so you can touch them. Just don't touch the energized parts of the panel.

You can also clamp the CTs around individual circuit wires if you want to log a device like a water heater, hot tub, or heat pump.

I stare at this meter many times per day. The display unit is wireless and I have it mounted in my living room on the wall beside the weather station.

 

[Highbeam]

I'm curious about how much you have reduced your energy consumption as a result of having this meter and at what cost? Has the reduction been a result of lifestyle changes or spending on more efficient lighting, appliances, etc.?

(I see this unit on eBay for $39 that can sample every 2 secs.)
(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-Electricity-usage-Monitor-power-energy-monitoring-system-/321347810282?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ad1d273ea)

Our power is cheap in the PNW so our bills aren't much lower but our usage has fallen significantly due to discipline (I suppose that's a lifestyle change), and more efficient consumption. I investigated and found an "economy" setting on our hot tube that made a significant drop in consumption, I replaced bulbs and fixtures with those that use less power but no major appliance swaps. The educational aspect has been great as well, my young children also watch the monitor and we see how long it takes for the water heater to recharge after mom's shower, a little simple math and we can estimate the cost of heating that water. Those kids can see that wasting hot water has a real cost. They will carry this lesson forever.

I did recently put in a new 1.5 gpm delta shower head that is awesome.

Having a monitor in plain site forces you to think about it. My bills have gone down enough to recoup the cost of the meter easily. Within the first year. My efergy was over 100$.

 

[velvetfoot]

The wireless aspect is awesome. The wire line data transmission for my Energy Detective is a weak point. 100 bucks would be great.

 

[semipro]

The educational aspect has been great as well, my young children also watch the monitor and we see how long it takes for the water heater to recharge after mom's shower, a little simple math and we can estimate the cost of heating that water.

We gave our children an extra allowance every month to cover a quarter of our typical electrical bill. The rest of their allowance they earned with chores.
They then were responsible for a quarter of the monthly electric bill.
This gave them an education in real life living expenses and established that cause/effect between electricity waste and dollars spent.
It also gave them a lot of incentive to cut and haul firewood as our heat is electric.

 

[begreen]

I like that you folks are using this as an educational tool as well as a way to find wasted energy. That is cool.

 

[Where2]

I like that you folks are using this as an educational tool as well as a way to find wasted energy. That is cool.

Makes me think I should park my spare TED 1001 at my sisters house for a few months. I'm sure her 4 kids could use some retraining about not leaving so many things turned on...

My TED 1001 senses the line voltage through the display unit.