electric – measuring the kwh for my workshop

[here againParticipant @hereagain]

I need a simple way of measuring the kwh for my workshop..I have bought a ‘Gadget’ plug in electicity cost meter..Unfortunately it has proved impossible to set up..An A4 sheet with a few hundred unfathomable alternatives is not simple..!Does any know of a SIMPLE and cheap way of measuring kwh please between plug socket and machine please.Jonathon

[here againParticipant @hereagain]

meter

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Why is it as soon as you want it the pesky thing disappears?

My monitor is easy to set up because it doesn't attempt to calculate cost or do anything clever. You just push a button to select what you want to measure. I can't find it to confirm the model but from memory it's like this one from Maplin's.

Cheers,

Dave

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

That's the one I was trying to find too! Does the job fine.

[here againParticipant @hereagain]

Maplins tmrw..Thank you very much

[Dave DanielsParticipant @davedaniels93256]

Or this one:

**LINK**

Dave

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Proper electricity meters like the one on your incoming supply can be got fairly cheaply. Quick look at E-Bay shows re-furbished Sangamo ones with proper digits, not semi-legible LCD displays, at £12 each. Get an electrician to wire one in where the cable comes into the workshop and read it every so often. Bound to be much more rleaible than the clever "energy saving" ones.

Clive

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The plug in ones won't give you the electrical use of things like lighting or any large machines, only what you have on the end of the 3 pin plug that is in the gadget.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Are you trying to assess the cost of running your workshop or what supply to lay on to your shed?

For the former the over-riding cost will be heating if electric and how long you are in there and how bad the insulation is.

For the latter just look at the biggest machine motor plate. You are not running everything at once, LED lighting is now an insignificant load, and you can turn the heater off when the lathe is keeping you warm but it would be better to 'plan' for 6KW to allow a bigger machine one day Put the money you have saved by not buying another gizmo into thicker wire.

Edited By Bazyle on 25/04/2016 18:45:25

[NJHParticipant @njh]

"I need a simple way of measuring the kwh for my workshop."

Yes I have one of these and it works fine however it will not measure the consumption for your workshop only the items fed by that socket ( unless, of course, all your workshop is fed from one socket outlet!)

Norman

[here againParticipant @hereagain]

Thats the best sounding idea Clive..I had no idea you could buy them..Having had a look at Maplins ones they look rather similar to what I have..Utterly baffling!

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

I use a metering device called Owl, provides all the info you need, they were sold on special offer terms a few years ago but the link below gives a starting point for full info.

**LINK**

Emgee

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Another option would be a meter that uses a current transformer such as provided with this fine piece of kit.You'd need to thread the incoming live through the toroid.

If you want something a bit snazzier, how about one of these – also using a current transformer but this one is split so you don't need to disturb the connections, just snap it over either the live or neutral wire. The current transformer has a wireless transmitter, so it's flexible where you place the display and there are no live connections trailing about the shop. It picks up the voltage from where you plug the display in, ideally on the same branch.

Murray

[here againParticipant @hereagain]

One socket at a time is really all I need..Only using one machine at a time! A Sangamo will measure more than I need..I should imagine its easy enough to put a supply cable into ..There is an electrician at work who can advise..

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

A modern electronic meter, the exact same specification as now fitted to your main supply point are freely on sale (used) for about £11 plus £4 postage on ebay. No moving parts to wear out unlike mechanical meters that will be approaching end of life and are often more expensive.

Something like this

**LINK**

They will last decades longer than any plug in or clamp on connect to your computer and save the planet eco rubbish sold at a premium price to trendy consumers. The user interface is truly idiot proof, something that could never be said about the plug in or clamp on meters.

[here againParticipant @hereagain]

Yikes..The more I look into this the more worried I get..
we are trying to make the house heating come on as recquired ready for an 85 year old to return from hospital..No go! Its’smart’ metered..We are trying to find someone to fit an old type thermostat we can actually use and buy a multi fuel stove..I think these smart things are useful for power suppliers as they send the readings direct so the bills can be deducted direct ,how we are supposed to use them remains unknown..I think my little plug in ‘meter’can go for recycling ,far too smart for me!

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Posted by Martin 100 on 25/04/2016 19:53:46:

A modern electronic meter, ……….

They will last decades…………..

It has an LCD display and contains capacitors – I give it ten years tops.

[here againParticipant @hereagain]

Act in haste…..I ve ordered a mechanical one!

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Bit off topic but you mentioned '85 yr old' and 'multi fuel stove' . If by stove you mean a living room wood coal burner please give thought to the fact that the body gets to about 150C. Now imagine an old person kneeling down to tend the fire and then getting up – instinct is to put their hand out to steady themselves on the object in front of them …first degree burns.

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

Posted by Bazyle on 25/04/2016 20:51:46:

Posted by Martin 100 on 25/04/2016 19:53:46:

A modern electronic meter, ……….

They will last decades…………..

It has an LCD display and contains capacitors – I give it ten years tops.

The electronic meters for domestic installations are OFGEM certified for a life of 20 years. That is some 8 years longer than the recommended service life for an electromechanical meter before they should be returned for overhaul and recalibration (now they just get scrapped) My electronic meter has (touch wood) been in service for iirc 13 years now without issue, and there are thousands more similar ones in service with larger commercial / industrial consumers for a few years longer than that.

The build quality for such a cheap device is IMHO a different league to the consumer grade big display show the customer how much their electricity is costing in realtme gadgets. Add complexity, use components from uncertified sources, build it in a sweatshop, with zero QA and things will fail, years or decades ahead of the stuff that has been installed in the tens if not hundreds of millions across the world.

[here againParticipant @hereagain]

It s ok Bazyle…I lived on my narrowboat for 13 years and the 85 year used to look after the stove they had in their old bungalow..We made him!! Probably wont make him do it now though!

[here againParticipant @hereagain]

The old meter coming via ebay Martin said refurbished..Hope so!.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Indeed, cars are nowadays designed for 15 year life, photovoltaic microinverters have 15-25 year warranty.There is a very robust science behind reliability and lifetime, based on many decades of research and real world experience.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by here again on 25/04/2016 20:10:56:
Yikes..The more I look into this the more worried I get..
we are trying to make the house heating come on as recquired ready for an 85 year old to return from hospital..No go! Its'smart' metered..We are trying to find someone to fit an old type thermostat we can actually use and buy a multi fuel stove..I think these smart things are useful for power suppliers as they send the readings direct so the bills can be deducted direct ,how we are supposed to use them remains unknown..I think my little plug in 'meter'can go for recycling ,far too smart for me!

Smart meters don't switch things on and off… yet.

Are you sure it isn't storage heaters? If they are Economy seven they will only come on at night. If so, you need to switch them on, set the left hand 'output' dial all the way to the left (keeps the heat in longest, you can turn it right to let heat out) and try the right hand dial (input) somewhere left of midway for starters.

Neil

[Bodger BrianParticipant @bodgerbrian]

I must confess I'm a bit confused – easily done! The OP starts by asking about measuring the amount of electricity but seems to change to wanting to control on/off times. Which is it – or is it both?

Brian

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