Power Measurements

chas · Post by **chas** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:18 pm

I broke down and purchased one of those Kill-a-Watt devices. I was most interested to check my Christmas tree to see why the Lamp Module X10 device I used with it last year was running so hot and the X10 Appliance Module I am using this year is running nice and cool. It turns out that the Lamp Module is rated for 300W, the Appliance Module is rated at 500W, and the 1200+ lights on my tree are running at 450W. It's no wonder I didn't burn the house down last year.

With that mystery solved, I am on to taking measurements of the VII. Here's what I see on my 20A model:

Idle - .01A
Pump Motor - 1.77A
Group Boiler - 7.14A
Steam Boiler -11.24A
All on - 20.16A

I plan to leave it connected for a few days so that I can get an average kilowatts and figure out how much I am paying for electricity per month. After that I guess I need to check out the roaster(s)!

Post by **Niko** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:26 pm

Which Kill a watt model did you get?
I have a regular one that I can't plug the VII into...been using it for roasting with the variac.
I was not aware of any 20A models.
Please do tell :P
and a link would help

chas · Post by **chas** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:54 pm

I spent almost as much as the Kill-a-Watt costs at Home Depot for a 20A receptacle (NEMA 5-20R) and made a short extension cord with a regular 15A plug on the other end.

The 15A Kill-a-Watt works fine even at 20A but when everything is on and it's running above 18A it beeps at you.

Post by **Niko** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:12 pm

I knew you were up to no good!
I heard those beeps all the way out here.

I guess a trip to Lowe's will do the same thing in Niko's Cafe

chas · Post by **chas** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:21 pm

Here's photo of the adapter I made. Fortunately, I had an extension cord that was missing the normal 15A receptacle, so I wasn't forced to sacrifice a perfectly good extension cord.

Post by **Niko** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:59 pm

Nice, you just gave me another bright idea!
Last year, I brought the Anita to a New Year party.
That cord of yours would allow me to plug in the S1 anywhere

chas · Post by **chas** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:40 am

That NEMA 5-20R receptacle was $16.75 before tax. I kept looking around for a cheaper version but this was it, the only one I could find. I admit I didn't drive another 5 miles to Lowes to see if I could save a buck there!

Post by **TruthBrew** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 3:08 pm

Here's one I've found, but it often becomes out of stock. It's not cheaper, but certainly less DIY looking.

Furman ADP1520 Adapter Cord 20A Socket to 15A Plug
http://www.zzounds.com/item--FURADP1520\

(NOTE: I believe the pictures shown are reversed, as the flat plug is on the other side. I've seen it pictured both ways for this same product)

Post by **Niko** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 3:12 pm

Thanks for the link!

How did you know I was lazy??

I might just order one of those so I don't have to lift a finger...

chas · Post by **chas** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:59 pm

That's almost as professional looking as mine!

I would have never thought to look on a music site.

chas · Post by **chas** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:36 pm

Looks like I average 2.75Kw-Hr per day on my VII. That's about 4 doubles per day with warm up shots and forward flushes after shots. The unit is on 14 hours per day. Until the next price increase by the electric company (coming soon), my average cost is $0.075/Kw-Hr.

That works out to $6.18 per month to run my VII. Not bad.

Post by **Niko** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:15 pm

chas wrote: That works out to $6.18 per month to run my VII. Not bad.

Not bad? That's great!

I'm afraid to even think what my usage is...