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Electricity monitors

  • 19-07-2011 09:29AM
    #1
    giftgrub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,309 ✭✭✭


    Just wondering if anyone has tried those plug in monitors that tell you how much electricity you're using?

    My wife was talking about a device called an OWL, the ones i saw on amazon seem to be calibrated for pounds and pence.

    Are they actually worth it or just a gimmick?


Comments

  • #2
    MacGyver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 573 ✭✭✭MacGyver


    giftgrub wrote: »
    Just wondering if anyone has tried those plug in monitors that tell you how much electricity you're using?

    My wife was talking about a device called an OWL, the ones i saw on amazon seem to be calibrated for pounds and pence.

    Are they actually worth it or just a gimmick?

    The owl is grand but the current cost cc128 is better and you can get historical data onto a computer. Ive used both and kept it in view for a month. My bill had dropped by about 80 euro because your aware of the usage.

    What was interesting is to see a new enough tumble drier isnt that bad to run to air clothes.


  • #3
    Dardania
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,612 ✭✭✭Dardania


    MacGyver wrote: »
    The owl is grand but the current cost cc128 is better and you can get historical data onto a computer. Ive used both and kept it in view for a month. My bill had dropped by about 80 euro because your aware of the usage.

    What was interesting is to see a new enough tumble drier isnt that bad to run to air clothes.

    I'm thinking of getting the EnviR http://www.currentcost.com/product-envir.html

    do you have yours connected to the internet?

    How instantaneous is it i.e. if you switch on a light does it react fast?


  • #4
    LoTwan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 608 ✭✭✭LoTwan


    I have an OWL 160 + USB. It can be calibrated to €/c and obviously you can put in the local rates. It updates every 15 seconds and this cannot be adjusted. All of the information can be downloaded to my laptop.


  • #5
    giftgrub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,309 ✭✭✭giftgrub


    LoTwan wrote: »
    I have an OWL 160 + USB. It can be calibrated to €/c and obviously you can put in the local rates. It updates every 15 seconds and this cannot be adjusted. All of the information can be downloaded to my laptop.

    Where did you get it and how much? have you seen any savings?


  • #6
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    LoTwan wrote: »
    I have an OWL 160 + USB. It can be calibrated to €/c and obviously you can put in the local rates. It updates every 15 seconds and this cannot be adjusted. All of the information can be downloaded to my laptop.

    Are you sure its every 15 seconds? Switch on something that it will pick up. As soon as it registers, switch the item off and see how long it takes from the time it registered the item coming on, till it now registers it going off. The cm119 version is 5 seconds. It would be strange to see the updated version taking 15.


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  • #7
    MacGyver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 573 ✭✭✭MacGyver


    The CC128 updates about every 6 seconds on the usb but the screen is a bit quicker, more like 2 to 3 seconds. I dont have it connected to the internet but i had at one stage and it was really handy but i dont have it set up at the minute.

    its very easy to set up a couple of scripts on linux to parse the data but this can be done under windows too.

    You can also get historical off it to if you dont have it always connected to a computer.


  • #8
    LoTwan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 608 ✭✭✭LoTwan


    I bought it on Amazon (because it qualified for free shipping). What it has made me do is 1. keep an eye on the overall electricity that is being used, 2. realise that I would be better off with a day & night tariff and 3. I really need to hang the washing out to dry whenever I get the chance.

    robbie... I tried that... turned the cooker hood light on, let it register, turned it off and counted to 15 hippopotamus before it registered again. I will wait until the dishwasher is finished and try it again.


  • #9
    LoTwan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 608 ✭✭✭LoTwan


    I checked a few times and the refresh is definitely 15 seconds. I will email them at the start of the week and check if it is possible to change the rate.


  • #10
    Big Nelly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,613 ✭✭✭Big Nelly


    Hi Guys

    Posted a thread on this but not a whole pile of answers. Just wondering who is using this and is it any good? which models are good?


  • #11
    boxty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78 ✭✭boxty


    Does anybody know if there is an energy monitor than can be used in an apartment. The owl seems to require access to the mains meter and in most apartment blocks, the metres are in a locked unit in the basement so I wouldn't be able to fit the sensor. There are no visible units in the consumer unit/fuse box either?


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  • #12
    Effects
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    You can connect it to your consumer fuseboard at the main switch fuse. Be very careful doing it though if you are going to do it yourself.


  • #13
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    Effects wrote: »
    You can connect it to your consumer fuseboard at the main switch fuse. Be very careful doing it though if you are going to do it yourself.

    You can, which is where i have one. But i dont recommend it as a diy job.


  • #14
    Effects
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    Most people won't want to hire an electrician to fit one though surely? Wouldn't it nearly double the cost of the monitor?


  • #15
    Dardania
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,612 ✭✭✭Dardania


    Effects wrote: »
    Most people won't want to hire an electrician to fit one though surely? Wouldn't it nearly double the cost of the monitor?

    You're right they won't, but that is the fact of it. Im an elec engineer, working I'm building services and even I'd be reluctant to go do it in my apartment.... Hence why an electrician would be best for it... Interesting side thought : would this be controlled works?

    Personally I reckon the best system architecture to read you consumption data should come from a website that polls your meter-why should you have to fit a local meter reading device...


  • #16
    Effects
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    You mean like a smart meter?
    I use wireless monitor from efergy myself. I find it handy as I have it on display where I spend a lot of time so I can notice how much things are costing me instataneously as well as downloading the information and seeing graphs of my usage. It's also handy to notice if I've left the immersion on.


  • #17
    Big Nelly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,613 ✭✭✭Big Nelly


    Effects wrote: »
    You mean like a smart meter?
    I use wireless monitor from efergy myself. I find it handy as I have it on display where I spend a lot of time so I can notice how much things are costing me instataneously as well as downloading the information and seeing graphs of my usage. It's also handy to notice if I've left the immersion on.

    You have a link to the one you have? I want to get one and track it. Was looking to move to Airtricity anyway so not sure if the one they give away free is any good?


  • #18
    Effects
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    I use this one, http://shop.bordgaisenergy.ie/Efergy-E2-Wireless-Energy-Monitor-Plus-Free-Philips-SpotOn-Sensor-Light
    Bought it somewhere on ebay I think, or maybe Amazon.


  • #19
    JohnDigital
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭JohnDigital


    Big Nelly wrote: »
    You have a link to the one you have? I want to get one and track it. Was looking to move to Airtricity anyway so not sure if the one they give away free is any good?

    I’ve got one of the Airtricity ones at home. It works perfectly. I was constantly looking at it for the first few weeks but then got over it LOL. It’s still a handy reminder on the kitchen counter when you see the level of consumption being high because of appliances being left on that can be turned off or down but I don’t continue to scrutinise it in the same way I did when I first got it. Still it was a nice freebie.


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