measuring an appliances electricity usage....

[homedeeth]

don't know if this is the right place to this question......

british gas rang me up and said they've noticed a higher usage of elecky in my flat. i've said there is no way that could be true because nothing has changed for many many recent bills.

we argued the toss for ages....

i think the extra usage must be laptop....is there anyway i can measure how much elecky it's using without turning EVERYTHING else off?

[ChuckFickens]

I'd doubt it would be a laptop.

Most modern laptops PSUs draw way less than 1amp at 240v absolute maximum, I have a sony with a 17inch screen here and that's rated at 0.6amp max so I'll take that as an example.

0.6a x 230Volts = 138watts (so just a bit more than a 100watt light bulb)

So working out the cost to run my laptop for 8hours a day every day for a month and assuming a cost of 14pence per KW/h it would be...

138 / 1000 = 0.138KW
0.138KW x 8hrs = 1.104KW/h
1.104KW/h x 14pence = 15.456pence

so for 8 hours use a day for a full month would cost about 15.5p, hardly enough to make the electricity board phone you over increased use.

[ChuckFickens]

oh and just to point out, my figures above are based on the absolute maximum power the laptop is ever going to draw assuming the hard drive and CPU were running flat out and the screen was at full brightness for the full 8 hours (and even then It would still be a over estimate)

in real life running conditions you can probably drop the totals by about half!

[rov1200]

Might be a scam to get access to your flat. I assume you have checked their telephone number which called you?

[bazwillrun]

Very odd...why would they call you...surely they just charge your bill accordingly

sounds like some sort of scam, call BG and ask them if its normal practice, your A/c must have a record of the call

[RATTER15]

Sounds a bit dodgey to me!!!

[LCDMAN]

Are you already with BG? Sounds like a typical - "oh we've spotted you usage has increased......and we can safe you money if you change to BG" bulsh!t to me.

[LCDMAN]

Whoa there - what happened to the spelling? What I meant was;

Are you already with BG? Sounds like a typical - "oh we've spotted your usage has increased {lie}......and we can save you money if you change to BG" bullsh!t to me.

[mrs_nordling]

Have you received your most recent bill from BG and if so, is there a marked increase from the same quarter last year? If there is then demand your supplier performs a standard load test on your meter. This will prove that your meter is recording within statutory time limits laid down by the Department of Energy. You mention you live in a flat, are the meters for all the flats in one single position, known as a group service? If they are, make sure no-one has tapped into your supply's sub-main as this will record on your meter. If you have got a group service position, you should find a main switch marked up for your flat. First, turn all your appliances off in your flat and go and see if your meter's still recording, that is if the disc completes at least one full revolution or the red pulse light is still flashing away. If it looks like electricity is still being consumed, switch the main switch off and, if you can leave it off for a while, you might find that another flat occupier complains they've got something not working. Mr._ N works in the electricity industry and in all his 34 years he's never known a supplier ring a customer to say they're using too much in fact, it's normally the other way around, you get a visit from your supplier if your consumption suddenly drops because they think your fiddling their meter

[AlBags]

They suspect you of running hydroponics and growing cannabis.
If you are .. get 'em all out quick.

[mrs_nordling]

Oops! Just spotted a grammatical error 'your' fiddling should have been 'you're'