Hi,
How accurate are domestic electricity meters? I am trying to determine whether using the immersion heater in the summer is cheaper than using the oil-fired boiler for hot water, and I've taken readings of our rate 1/rate 2 digital meter displays each day at approx the same time for a few months.
On some days the amount used varies by more than I would expect, for no apparent reason. The overnight readings, from 1 am to 7 am I think, should be the most stable, when all we have running is fridges, freezer, and umpteen devices on standby. We don't use any additional electricity overnight, no washing, no nothing, as we are on a standard rate for day and night use. The overnight use varies by up to two units. Ok, that could be that the immersion heater or the freezer decides to power up in the overnight period. But we have had two occasions, one last night, when the overnight use has dropped from an average of around 6 units to just 0.1 units (there was no power failure, all clocks say so). Although it's more difficult to measure, the daytime readings also vary just a little more than I would expect (but never go down to 0.1). It's not the result of a false reading either, as that would push the previous/following day out.
So what idiot uses 6 units overnight? Me, unfortunately. We have a pump for the swimming pool which is on continuously. I think that uses about 12 units in 24 hrs. On the pump label it says:
Volt 220-240
A 2,3-2
P1 Kw 0,45
P2 Kw 0,25
Min-1 2880
and a few other bits (I've even included the continental commas instead of decimal points). Can some kind person tell me how much power (in kw hrs, which I think is one unit) it will use in an hour? It's connected to the domestic single phase supply of course. This should be a constant, so I could subtract that from the reading to give the 'domestic' use.
Rgds.
PS If I had my way I would fill the pool in, but there are others more powerful than me out there, and if the house catches fire....
PPS The fire brigade will not use water from a swimming pool to douse a house fire, in case thay are sued for damage to the collapsing pool liner, so they let the house burn......
How accurate are domestic electricity meters? I am trying to determine whether using the immersion heater in the summer is cheaper than using the oil-fired boiler for hot water, and I've taken readings of our rate 1/rate 2 digital meter displays each day at approx the same time for a few months.
On some days the amount used varies by more than I would expect, for no apparent reason. The overnight readings, from 1 am to 7 am I think, should be the most stable, when all we have running is fridges, freezer, and umpteen devices on standby. We don't use any additional electricity overnight, no washing, no nothing, as we are on a standard rate for day and night use. The overnight use varies by up to two units. Ok, that could be that the immersion heater or the freezer decides to power up in the overnight period. But we have had two occasions, one last night, when the overnight use has dropped from an average of around 6 units to just 0.1 units (there was no power failure, all clocks say so). Although it's more difficult to measure, the daytime readings also vary just a little more than I would expect (but never go down to 0.1). It's not the result of a false reading either, as that would push the previous/following day out.
So what idiot uses 6 units overnight? Me, unfortunately. We have a pump for the swimming pool which is on continuously. I think that uses about 12 units in 24 hrs. On the pump label it says:
Volt 220-240
A 2,3-2
P1 Kw 0,45
P2 Kw 0,25
Min-1 2880
and a few other bits (I've even included the continental commas instead of decimal points). Can some kind person tell me how much power (in kw hrs, which I think is one unit) it will use in an hour? It's connected to the domestic single phase supply of course. This should be a constant, so I could subtract that from the reading to give the 'domestic' use.
Rgds.
PS If I had my way I would fill the pool in, but there are others more powerful than me out there, and if the house catches fire....
PPS The fire brigade will not use water from a swimming pool to douse a house fire, in case thay are sued for damage to the collapsing pool liner, so they let the house burn......
are you sure you read the meter correctly, and read the right tarrif?
