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Thread ID: 95474 2008-12-07 23:04:00 kill a watt power usage meters in NZ utopian201 (6245) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
726489 2008-12-07 23:04:00 Hi
Is anyone aware of any 'kill a watt' devices for the NZ market? They are basically a small watt meter that plugs into the mains power, and then you plug your device into the device. And LCD readout tells you how much power it is pulling from the socket.

I'd like to get one so I can find out how much power my PC, monitor and other appliances are really drawing.
utopian201 (6245)
726490 2008-12-07 23:46:00 www.jaycar.co.nz pctek (84)
726491 2008-12-08 00:04:00 There's a bunch of others on Trademe that does basically the same stuff. qazwsxokmijn (102)
726492 2008-12-08 00:46:00 I've got an EMA-1 that looks like the Jaycar one but cost half the price from the local hardware shop. It gives unbelievably low wattage readings on the PC and monitor, which I suspect is due to their switch mode power supplies distorting the values somehow
On stuff like heaters it's OK.
Also, it won't register anything under 5 watts, so can't be used to check standby usage for many modern appliances.
seltsam (13470)
726493 2008-12-08 04:47:00 I've got an EMA-1 that looks like the Jaycar one but cost half the price from the local hardware shop. It gives unbelievably low wattage readings on the PC and monitor, which I suspect is due to their switch mode power supplies distorting the values somehow
On stuff like heaters it's OK.
Also, it won't register anything under 5 watts, so can't be used to check standby usage for many modern appliances.

A decent wattmeter would have to do True RMS readings to give an accurate reading on a SM power supply. Do any of these cheapies specify they are True RMS?
rumpty (2863)
726494 2008-12-08 05:05:00 A decent wattmeter would have to do True RMS readings to give an accurate reading on a SM power supply. Do any of these cheapies specify they are True RMS?
Lol I just made a search on tm and this was the first compatible result:

www.trademe.co.nz

Screw that! :D
qazwsxokmijn (102)
726495 2008-12-08 07:01:00 I have one of these (www.dse.co.nz) from DSE. $25. Works OK. Strommer (42)
726496 2008-12-08 07:34:00 I have one of these (www.dse.co.nz) from DSE. $25. Works OK.
Identical to mine.
seltsam (13470)
726497 2008-12-08 07:56:00 Identical to mine.
I'll drop by DSE tomorrow and pick one up then.
qazwsxokmijn (102)
726498 2008-12-08 20:44:00 Are the $25 DSE ones the same as the Jaycar ones? They look externally similar, but I'm wondering is the accuracy the same? utopian201 (6245)
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