Meter lets user measure electricity used by any appliance
Jim Jamieson
Province
Saving the environment has become the cause du jour in the new century, but it isn’t just about international treaties and government incentive programs.
Individuals must also buy in on the personal level, and that’s the concept behind the Watts Up meter.
This handy little device allows users to gauge the power usage of the electrical appliances around their home and then calculate how much it’ll cost to power something over a short or long span of time.
In other words, it will allow you to do a survey of what kind of power drain is being generated by your various electrical and electronic devices and then make the call as to which ones need to see reduced usage.
Simply plug any standard 120-volt AC electric device into the Watts Up, and the meter will display the wattage and the electrical usage cost of the appliance.
The device is capable of displaying 16 electrical measurements and values.
Some of its other features:
– It helps identify problems, measure line voltage and diagnose voltage drops.
– Included PC software allows memory (in the Pro model) to be downloaded into charts and tables.
– Cost rate from $0.001 to $2.00 per kilowatt-hour can be entered.
The Watts Up meter, which comes in three different classes of units, is available online at Cable Organizer (cableorganizer.com).
What is it? Watts Up electrical watt meter
Price: $99.99; Pro model, $130.99
Why you need it: You want to go green, one household appliance at a time.
Why you don’t: You drive an SUV and don’t consider how much power your blender uses to be a big issue.
Our rating: 3 out of 5
Phone: 604-605-2296
© The Vancouver Province 2008
