On 18 Feb, 20:29, geoff wrote:
In message
,
andyv writes



On 17 Feb, 17:01, geoff wrote:
In message
,
andyv writes

Thanks folks. I've been measuring individual circuits with the power
monitor and also the whole supply with a data logger attached to the
incoming meter. I've run this in lots of different ways with different
circuits on or off in an attempt to get an idea of electricity use.
Gradually I've found items of waste which I've been able to
eliminate.

There's still 0.5 kwh going astray midnight to 6.00am and maybe all
day too, after I've accounted for everything I know about - fridge,
security lights, clocks, central heating and various other things like
garage door on standby. I wondered if there might be a clue in the VA
reading.

So what's the stated accuracy of your new little toy then?

Are you losing watts or measurement errors ?

--
geoff

I have thought of that but the declared accuracy seems quite good *-
seehttp://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ITAG=SPEC&ModuleNo=38343&doy=18m2...

Most of my readings come from the data logger though. This is separate
to the power monitor. I have a device which counts the red flashing
light pulses on the main meter. Each flash is 1 watt hour so I can
build up a picture of what passes through the meter over different
time periods. I'm particularly interested in what happens when
everything is idling in the middle of the night.

One potential item which I'm investigating is the frost thermostat on
the boiler.

I would expect something like that to be responsible for 3/5th of bugger
all (choose your own units)

--
geoff- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


You are probably right that it doesn't amount to much. My central
heating uses about 15 watts of electricity when it's off. I think
however that recent cold weather has been causing the frost thermostat
to trip and so run the full central heating in the middle of the
night. This then steps up to about 125 watts for the control gear and
pumps, and of course it uses gas and heats the whole house. The thing
is that the thermostat seems to be faulty and must be tripping in at
somewhat above the required 5º. I don't yet know if this is happening
regularly and is the only issue.

When you add up several small items like this it comes to a fair bit
of waste. Not massive but worth preventing, if you care about such
things.