Domestic Electricity Metering

[Hysteresis]

Are domestic electricity meters calibrated in watts or VA.
The reason I ask is that I am considering installing HP Sodium security lighting around my property. Looking at the spec of these lights they have a reletively high Power Factor and are rated in VA and not Watts. Therefore if the metering is in watts, the units will not be as expensive to run for obvious reasons.

Anyone have the answer

 

[Spark123]

Domestic meters normally measure in KWh, kilowatt hours.

 

[breezer]

funny that really, considering that is what is printed on the front of them

 

[securespark]

 

[Hysteresis]

funny that really, considering that is what is printed on the front of them

Hi Breezer,
It maybe, just maybe, that the electricity suppliers, quite reasonably, assume a domstic load of Unity Power Factor. and as such Watts and VA are the same thing, and a VA meter is cheaper to produce than a Wattmeter. Also the general public are more familiar with the term watts rather than VA as all domestic appliances are rated in Watts, hence the label on the meter. Believe it or not, we can all read and in some cases understand.
The suggestion and reason for a meter calibrated in VA is hinted in the question. without the need for such synisism.

 

[securespark]

Why don't you ask your supplier?

 

[empip]

I have been having fun with a power meter ... monitoring usage.

My freezer (aged beast) when cooling pulls 165 watts but 300 VA, a power factor of 0.55 -- It currently averages 50 Watt (91 VA) per hour over a week, partially full, in unheated garage... 8.4 kWh (8.4 units at about 10.4p a throw - less than 88p a week)
One of my 20Watt Osram Compact Fluorescent Lamps shows PF of 0.60 running 18 Watts at 30 VA
We are metered for kWh (kiloWatt hours).

I have posed the question hereabouts in the past.

Have a butchers here... a little discussion ... Do they all agree with each other.. mmm?
Click link...

 

[Hysteresis]

Hi empip
But what is the question

I have been having fun with a power meter ... monitoring usage.

My freezer (aged beast) when cooling pulls 165 watts but 300 VA, a power factor of 0.55 -- It currently averages 50 Watt (91 VA) per hour over a week, partially full, in unheated garage... 8.4 kWh (8.4 units at about 10.4p a throw - less than 88p a week)
One of my 20Watt Osram Compact Fluorescent Lamps shows PF of 0.60 running 18 Watts at 30 VA
We are metered for kWh (kiloWatt hours).

I have posed the question hereabouts in the past.

Have a butchers here... a little discussion ... Do they all agree with each other.. mmm?
Click link...

 

[empip]

Hi empip
But what is the question

That really is it !