Mr Whippy
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:29 AM |
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Saving electricity
Totally off topic, but I just fitted one of these last night after getting a very steep bill through the post as it turn out the meter reading guy has
infact just been estimating how much we’ve been using rather than bothering to open the meter box.
Setting up is simply clipping a white clamp over the red or brown cable that feeds to the fuse box and pressing a button. Range for the display unit
is huge and basically anywhere in the house.
It will display KW’s, Co2 and most importantly £’s based on programmable tariffs
Bit of an eye opener especially for missy who has been running the tumble dryer and washing machine endlessly, 4 full washes a week for 2 people?!
Already the heating has been turned down and lights are being switched off as has the water heater temperature been reduced.
I bought mine from Tesco for £37 a price which I thought 6 months ago was a bit much, ha there’s a laugh  should have got it years ago
Great if you have kids/teenagers or women who don’t appreciate how much a KW is
review linky
[Edited on 3/12/09 by Mr Whippy]
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dinosaurjuice
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:32 AM |
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how much does it cost to run? 
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:35 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by dinosaurjuice
how much does it cost to run?
runs on just 6 Energiser AA batteries (supplied with it)
[Edited on 3/12/09 by Mr Whippy]
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02GF74
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:45 AM |
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errr, forgive me is I am getting confused but 37 quid to tell you the bleedin' obvious??? 
whatever next, a water meter to tell you when your taps are running? 
read it here
that is £ 50 you owe me for my consultance fees
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big-vee-twin
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:49 AM |
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You get them free from British gas, also there has been an agreement made now with the enrgy companies to free issue one to every household.
I've not fitted mine yet though.
Duratec Engine is fitted, MS2 Extra V3 is assembled and tested, engine running, car now built. IVA passed 26/02/2016
http://www.triangleltd.com
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tegwin
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:49 AM |
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Its quite simple really... buy an old house with crap electrics so the lighting system doesnt
work..See Here.. and hey presto.. instant energy saving... (however the cost of
driving to hospital with all sorts of darkness related incidents are not good)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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Staple balls
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:51 AM |
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I got one of
thes
e a few months ago, cost about 8 quid.
Very handy for seeing what draws how much electrickery.
Also, a saving of about £30, which is what? 200kwh?
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02GF74
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:51 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by big-vee-twin
You get them free from British gas,
Mr Whippy 
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nick205
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:53 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
errr, forgive me is I am getting confused but 37 quid to tell you the bleedin' obvious???
whatever next, a water meter to tell you when your taps are running?
read it here
that is £ 50 you owe me for my consultance fees
I have to agree with Whippy here £37 is a nominal cost for the visibility it gives you. I've made much effort to reduce our energy use - loft
insulation, new windows, draught exclusion, low energy lighting, A rated appliances and on and on and on, but that's only half the job! The
other half is convincing SWMBO to minimise the use of everything.
With 5 of us in the house the washing machine and tumble dryer are run pretty much daily and please don't get me onto switching the bloody
lights off - Im wearing holes in my socks trailing round the house turning them off after everyone.
I think I'll be getting one of these so SWMBO can get a grip on the £££ involved.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 09:59 AM |
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I'm not with British gas
I'm also now having to sell my motor bike to pay for this bill, its that high
Yeah I have a good idea how much things cost to run but other people tend to not think about this and it takes a display with a pound sign on it to
make them change their habbits
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Toprivetguns
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 10:00 AM |
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Upon your recommendation I just purchased one myself. Managed to get the USB dongle aswell for an extra £2 through the OWL website. Looks like a great
piece of kit.
Only drive as fast as your angel can fly... !
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Humbug
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 10:43 AM |
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OK for leccy, but my heating and hot water are gas...
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hughpinder
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 11:03 AM |
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A couple of years ago I got fed up chasing everyone to turn all the lights off - Since most are on all the time, I changed them all to low energy
bulbs, then changed back the most inconvenient ones after a couple of weeks(the low energy bulbs take a couple of seconds to get going, so we have a
normal bulb in the hall by the front door etc). The result was a 20% drop in annual electricity use(About £200 for us) for about £70 spent on bulbs.
The family all moaned at first because they didn't get instant light, but got used to them after a few weeks. By the way, dont't fall for
the 'as bright as a normal bulb of 5 or 6 times the power use' - I recon if you use 4 times it works out about right (so change 100w bulbs
for 27w, 60w for 15w etc).
Changed the condensor tumble drier for a vented one and got almost the same saving again!
British gas always estimate my readings - it seems they estimate based on the highest equivalent quarters electricity use in the last 10 years,
because they are always 40% more than the actual reading!
Regards
Hugh
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mad4x4
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 12:15 PM |
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A Low energy Bulb is ok but it is basically a prettry strip light. Very inefficient for a couple of minutes untill it wams up.
Did you now the policy of switching off strip lights in offices to save electricity is horse ****. A strip light uses very littel energy to run but a
bucketload to switch on!.. so leave in ON!
[Edited on 3/1212/09 by mad4x4]
Scot's do it better in Kilts.
MK INDY's Don't Self Centre Regardless of MK Setting !
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wilkingj
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 12:38 PM |
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Its all fairly simple really.
Light costs next to nothing, unless you are running 6 x 1000watt Sodium Lamps to keep your pot plants warm!.
Average light bulbs are 60 or 100 watts (Thats 10 or more lightbulbs per Kilowatt) and cost very very little to run.
ANYTHING that involves HEAT, will cost you real money to run.
Average kettle is 2.2kw (2200 watts or 22 x 100w lightbulbs per hour). Now you know why it better to only boil what you need at the time!
Your tumble drier, Washer, Oven, Grill (assuming they are not Gas powered) will cost a LOT to run.
My Oven is 10,200 Watts or 10.2Kw
Thats 102 x 100watt lightbulbs worth per hour!
Now consider the Sunday roast, Err thats 20 mins per pound weight + 20 mins.
So a 5Lb lump of Beef is cooked for 120 Mins, or 2 Hours. (in a 10.2kw Oven)
Ask the wife how lonk the Xmas Turkey is going to take to cook? (Try not to look amazed at the cost)
Thats 20Khw or 20 units of electricity just to cook the roast beef.
Now you see where the real energy costs are coming from. Thats the equivalent of e LOT of lightbulbs!
Check the manufacturers plate on the back of the machines, this will tell you what the consumption is, and you can work out the cost with a piece of
paper and a pen!
Kilowatts x hours x pence per unit.
You will soon see that anything using HEAT will cost a lot of money, and lights cost next to nothing, especially of they are the energy saving ones,
(usally 10-20watts each).
You dont need an expensive device to work this out. A simple calculator will cost less than a fiver, and can still be used for all those calculations
in the garage during the kit build!
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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SteveWalker
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 12:41 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Humbug
OK for leccy, but my heating and hot water are gas...
Take a close look at your gas meter and you may find that the lowest digit has a reflective spot instead of a number or a cut-away section in the
housing, you can use an infra-red sensor to read each rev of that and hence get a remote display. Many meters already have an electronic output on
them, but the gas board may not be happy with you wiring directly to that.
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blakep82
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 12:47 PM |
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estimated bills are very common, so high this time, but when its read properly, it'll be very cheap. don't sell your bike yet
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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Peteff
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 12:52 PM |
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I prefer the element of surprise and the feeling of anticipation after the meter man has been till the bill comes. We have low energy bulbs throughout
but before that the cost of running bulbs was only about 3% of the total bill. When it gets cold we tend to put another jumper on.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 12:58 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
estimated bills are very common, so high this time, but when its read properly, it'll be very cheap. don't sell your bike yet
think 2k and you almost there, no I'm not kidding either. 4 years of made up estimates with it turns out no actual meter readings  hope
they sack him
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hughpinder
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 01:07 PM |
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Mr W, Try pleading poverty and ask if you can split the bil to catch up over (say) 12 months. They can only say no!
Regards
Hugh
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blakep82
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 01:10 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
estimated bills are very common, so high this time, but when its read properly, it'll be very cheap. don't sell your bike yet
think 2k and you almost there, no I'm not kidding either. 4 years of made up estimates with it turns out no actual meter readings hope
they sack him
er, ahem, i'll keep quiet 
hmm, 4 years though, you must have been overpaying by a LOT tell them you want a proper reading done. isn't there a way you can give them the
numbers yourself? scottish power or whatever they're called do it for us i think. if you're not there when the meter maid (thats what i
call him) comes round they put a card through the door you can put your own reading on
[Edited on 3/12/09 by blakep82]
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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SteveWalker
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 01:11 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
estimated bills are very common, so high this time, but when its read properly, it'll be very cheap. don't sell your bike yet
think 2k and you almost there, no I'm not kidding either. 4 years of made up estimates with it turns out no actual meter readings hope
they sack him
Kick up a fuss about it and if necessary contact the regulator, there is a good chance they'll write off a fair bit of it then as it's
their fault. When we got married and my wife left her flat, the final bill was £250 'cos they'd messed up their billing system and not
taken any money for the previous 12 months. She complained and they reduced it to £80. She paid the £80 and then was chased for £72 (someone keyed in
the wrong figure when they recorded the cheque), when she pointed this out they sent her a £30 bunch of flowers!
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Moorron
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 01:15 PM |
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Yep we have just taled about this in the office after i was talking about it being on the news the other morning.
How does supplying, fitting and powering a device that tells you what you should already know help lower CO2?
They were talking about its going to cost the energy suppliers 9 million (or billion i cant remember) to impliment it into every home by 20XX, which
really means you and i are going to pay for it + some profit all so the goverment can say they have helped the world out!
I really dont get it, one thing that made me laugh is they where saying that people think it was a good idea and one couple had saved money from not
leaving both their computers on all night!!!!!! who leaves their computers on all night if they arnt filesharing and TWO in one house.
If youre stupid enough to not know when you are using electricity needlessly then your punishment is paying a higher bill. Dont take it out on all of
us.
grrrr
Sorry about my spelling, im an engineer and only work in numbers.
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graememk
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 01:25 PM |
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i have one of thoses, it sits above the fire place i full view, i've knocked about £10 per month off my bill as you can see in real time what
you are wasting....
and mine came from tesco for £35 ish
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craig1410
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| posted on 3/12/09 at 01:26 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by wilkingj
Its all fairly simple really.
Light costs next to nothing, unless you are running 6 x 1000watt Sodium Lamps to keep your pot plants warm!.
Average light bulbs are 60 or 100 watts (Thats 10 or more lightbulbs per Kilowatt) and cost very very little to run.
ANYTHING that involves HEAT, will cost you real money to run.
Average kettle is 2.2kw (2200 watts or 22 x 100w lightbulbs per hour). Now you know why it better to only boil what you need at the time!
Your tumble drier, Washer, Oven, Grill (assuming they are not Gas powered) will cost a LOT to run.
My Oven is 10,200 Watts or 10.2Kw
Thats 102 x 100watt lightbulbs worth per hour!
Now consider the Sunday roast, Err thats 20 mins per pound weight + 20 mins.
So a 5Lb lump of Beef is cooked for 120 Mins, or 2 Hours. (in a 10.2kw Oven)
Ask the wife how lonk the Xmas Turkey is going to take to cook? (Try not to look amazed at the cost)
Thats 20Khw or 20 units of electricity just to cook the roast beef.
Now you see where the real energy costs are coming from. Thats the equivalent of e LOT of lightbulbs!
Check the manufacturers plate on the back of the machines, this will tell you what the consumption is, and you can work out the cost with a piece of
paper and a pen!
Kilowatts x hours x pence per unit.
You will soon see that anything using HEAT will cost a lot of money, and lights cost next to nothing, especially of they are the energy saving ones,
(usally 10-20watts each).
You dont need an expensive device to work this out. A simple calculator will cost less than a fiver, and can still be used for all those calculations
in the garage during the kit build!
I've got to disagree with some of what you have said.
1. Lighting does not cost "next to nothing" to run. When you consider how many lights are switched on, especially at this time of year,
from 4pm until 12pm (say) it adds up to quite a bit! A mixture of 100w, 60w and 40w filament bulbs throughout the house and including various outside
lights will cost you a lot! The key difference to the kettle you mentioned is the fact the kettle is only on for a few minutes a few times per day not
8 hours per day as with lights. And by the way, try holding on to a filament bulb when it's on and you will find it gets pretty hot! In fact a
light bulb would more correctly be called a heat bulb because it literally produces more heat energy than light energy.
2. Your oven does not consume 10.2kw continuously - it is rated at 10.2kw maximum but provided your oven door is closed it will consume much less than
this to maintain the temperature. I've not measured an oven but I would estimate it will only take 10% of peak output to maintain the
temperature. My oven certainly takes well over an hour to return to room temp after switching off.
3. The only way to accurately gauge the consumption of an appliance is to measure it directly whilst performing it's normal function. This is
easy with plug-in appliances but not so easy with wired in appliances like the cooker. I would suggest that the manufacturer's plate is no help
in working out anything but the worst possible case which will rarely be a correct reflection of reality. For example, measure a fridge's
consumption. The plate will say something like 180w but in reality it will consume much less than that unless the door seals are knackered or you are
in an out of the fridge every 5 minutes. Insulation is what keeps it cool mainly.
4. I have an engineering degree and was top of my class at physics so I can easily calculate energy consumption. However, having an energy meter makes
the whole family aware of consumption without having to get the calculator out and this is where it is valuable. I got my electricity bill down from
£1000 per year to £700 even though the prices had gone up and the majority of these savings were through greater awareness of consumption on a daily
basis and the instant feedback from changes in behaviour that it yields.
Biggest savings for me were:
1. Replacing outside lights (halogen 150w x 2 + 300w x 1, dust/dawn with dimmers) with energy saving dusk/dawn security lights.
2. Getting rid of my computer server (hosted my website) and got a cheap hosting package instead. Computer was on 24x7 running at around 180w).
Replaced with an Apple iMac which consumes 93w (inc display) and can sleep/wake in a couple of seconds consuming just 2w when sleeping.
3. Energy saving lights throughout the house and better awareness of consumption.
Cheers,
Craig.
[Edited on 3/12/2009 by craig1410]
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