Hidden phantom loads - Page 2

Xringer · 06-10-10, 08:50 AM

I found one of these on sale at Ace..

Remote Switch by Thomas & Betts - More Electrical dimmers and switches at doitbest.com

I know it has a little parasitic load, but I use it to take my whole
home entertainment system (and Moto cablebox) off-grid (nightly).

That's got to be saving a bunch of watthours and keeps the den cooler in the summer..

Ryland · 06-11-10, 09:46 AM

I just tested my furnace, it was drawing 24 watts!
I wonder about adding a thermostat or something to the power going in, so it would cut power if the out door temp was above say, 50F out.
As it is I flipped the breaker off.

Daox · 06-11-10, 10:37 AM

How did you test your furnace? Clamp meter?

Xringer · 06-11-10, 12:24 PM

With hardwired stuff, the only sure way that I know of, is use the grid meter.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/conser...-yourself.html

Just turn off every breaker in the panel, Except for the one you want to measure..
It will take a while, but the results are pretty accurate.
(As in, they will coincide exactly with your bill).

Ryland · 06-12-10, 08:44 AM

My furnace has a screw in fuse next to the switch that turns it off so I pulled that fuse and used my Fluke Multi Meter, set to amps, sticking the probes in the light bulb like fuse socket.
I was going to barrow a clamp type amp meter but I had my Fluke meter at home and it's accurate.

Xringer · 06-12-10, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryland

My furnace has a screw in fuse next to the switch that turns it off so I pulled that fuse and used my Fluke Multi Meter, set to amps, sticking the probes in the light bulb like fuse socket.
I was going to barrow a clamp type amp meter but I had my Fluke meter at home and it's accurate.

That's a good idea.. I could just pull the cover off the main off-on switch,
turn it off and use a VOM to measure amps across the switch terminal screws!

At these low power ranges, I'll bet the VOM method is a LOT more
accurate than a Kill-a-Watt.. (At least my Kill-a-Watt)..

Ryland · 06-13-10, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xringer

At these low power ranges, I'll bet the VOM method is a LOT more
accurate than a Kill-a-Watt.. (At least my Kill-a-Watt)..

My kill-a-watt is pretty accurate down to about a watt, under a watt and it flickers from 0-1, I used my Fluke meter a while back to test my cell phone charger because my kill-a-watt was showing -0-, the fluke agreed.

Xringer · 06-14-10, 12:38 AM

Nice thing about a VOM is the ability to read the miliwatts.
I get the feeling that my Kill-a-Watt would have a hard time seeing a 400 mw load..
Of course, I loaned mine out to a buddy and it got abused..

06-10-10, 08:50 AM	#11
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Remotes, More is better! I found one of these on sale at Ace.. Remote Switch by Thomas & Betts - More Electrical dimmers and switches at doitbest.com I know it has a little parasitic load, but I use it to take my whole home entertainment system (and Moto cablebox) off-grid (nightly). That's got to be saving a bunch of watthours and keeps the den cooler in the summer..

06-11-10, 10:37 AM	#13
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	How did you test your furnace? Clamp meter? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-11-10, 09:46 AM	#12
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	I just tested my furnace, it was drawing 24 watts! I wonder about adding a thermostat or something to the power going in, so it would cut power if the out door temp was above say, 50F out. As it is I flipped the breaker off.

06-11-10, 12:24 PM	#14
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	With hardwired stuff, the only sure way that I know of, is use the grid meter. http://ecorenovator.org/forum/conser...-yourself.html Just turn off every breaker in the panel, Except for the one you want to measure.. It will take a while, but the results are pretty accurate. (As in, they will coincide exactly with your bill).

06-12-10, 08:44 AM	#15
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	My furnace has a screw in fuse next to the switch that turns it off so I pulled that fuse and used my Fluke Multi Meter, set to amps, sticking the probes in the light bulb like fuse socket. I was going to barrow a clamp type amp meter but I had my Fluke meter at home and it's accurate.

06-14-10, 12:38 AM	#18
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Nice thing about a VOM is the ability to read the miliwatts. I get the feeling that my Kill-a-Watt would have a hard time seeing a 400 mw load.. Of course, I loaned mine out to a buddy and it got abused..