EcoRenovator - View Single Post - A 13 watt CFL uses a lot more power than what it claims.

oil pan 4 · 03-28-14, 09:47 PM

I have 2 kill-a-watt meters, one thats probably the original version and a newer one. Both work the same way you have the up and down buttons that scroll through the options.
Plug it in and it should default display voltage, normal reading is 115 to 125.
Hz is Hertz, the power frequency, should always read 60 to 59.9 allover north america unless plugged into a generator or 50Hz inverter if you can find one.
Watts are watts, also known as true power.
Amps are the current.
Then you have the 2 weird ones, VoltAmps and power factor displayed as P.F.
You might notice VoltAmps are usually about the same as watts, but not always depending on whats plugged in.
P.F. is always 1 or less and makes no sense to the vast majority of people.

I am a little more intrested in the power factor they run at, just to get an over all idea of how bad their operational charteristics are. But their watt and voltamp readings after they have warmed up and leveled off are just as good.

03-28-14, 09:47 PM	#13
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	I have 2 kill-a-watt meters, one thats probably the original version and a newer one. Both work the same way you have the up and down buttons that scroll through the options. Plug it in and it should default display voltage, normal reading is 115 to 125. Hz is Hertz, the power frequency, should always read 60 to 59.9 allover north america unless plugged into a generator or 50Hz inverter if you can find one. Watts are watts, also known as true power. Amps are the current. Then you have the 2 weird ones, VoltAmps and power factor displayed as P.F. You might notice VoltAmps are usually about the same as watts, but not always depending on whats plugged in. P.F. is always 1 or less and makes no sense to the vast majority of people. I am a little more intrested in the power factor they run at, just to get an over all idea of how bad their operational charteristics are. But their watt and voltamp readings after they have warmed up and leveled off are just as good.