P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor

[AJ]

Just ordered myself a P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor from Amazon tonight.

A few months ago there was some talk in our private tech-only forum about using a Watt meter to check a refrigerators defrost system.
http://appliancejunk.com/forums/index.php?topic=14578.msg76618#msg76618

I thought about ordering one back then but never did.

The last few days though I have been shopping around for a small generator and they all seem to be rated in watts.

Living in town we are not without power that often and when we are it's just for a short time, but in the last ten years two or three times we have been without power for hours to a few days. During them few times it would have been a life saver to be able to run my sump pump and refrigerator.

Searching online it seems sump pump watt ratings are all over the place, so I thought about this Watt meter again and decided to give one a try. Other then checking out a few sump pumps and maybe playing around with it on a few refrigerators I'm wondering what other practical things I could maybe use it for.

Being a gadget junkie kind of guy I'm really looking to getting my hands on this. Have not purchased any new gadgets in awhile.

Do you have a watt meter and if so what do you use it for?

 

[olyteddy]

I use mine to monitor KWH to get an idea of the cost to run an appliance. It's also handy to check Power Factor.

[LowSL2]

I saw this at harbor freight the other day. I might go back with my 20% coupon and try it out.

[AJ]

Got my watt meter today. Much nicer then I thought it would be.
Really thought it would feel like a cheap plastic piece of junk, but it has a very nice feel to it.


It sure has a lot of good reviews on Amazon if that means anything...

[mz3own]

 
I use mine all the time like I mentioned. I can plug it in to a fridge and force a defrost on a fridge and check amp draw with out pulling any covers and seeing a frosted over evap to check the defrost circut.
They do sell it at HF

[AJ]

keithvibe, how long have you had yours? Wondering how it will hold up.

[AJ]

I use mine to monitor KWH to get an idea of the cost to run an appliance. It's also handy to check Power Factor.

Power factor?

[AJ]

I use mine to monitor KWH to get an idea of the cost to run an appliance. It's also handy to check Power Factor.

Just seen this one...
It does the math for you.

P3 P4455 Power Monitoring for Dummies

Just ordered one.

[hesterappliance]

I  Have 3 of these they seem to last.On one of them the amps started reading low so I went and bought another one .then after sitting in the toolbox for a month it started reading the proper amperage again.Radio shack has them on sell from time to time for 20 dollars

[AJ]

Been having all kinds of fun with it. My wife is just rolling her eyes, but you guys understand, right? 


Plugged it into a three speed fan and could see the watts change with each change in fan speed.
Have it connected to my printer now. The one that just sits there plugged in all the time. May drive me crazy once I start figuring what it cost to have all my junk plugged in just sitting there 24/7, lol...


Uploaded the manuals to our google drive, only seemed natural.


P4400 Kill A Watt Operation Manual


P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Operation Manual

[schleven]

Been having all kinds of fun with it. My wife is just rolling her eyes, but you guys understand, right? 

Yep, sheesh, now I have to buy one...

[AJ]

 

[olyteddy]

I use mine to monitor KWH to get an idea of the cost to run an appliance. It's also handy to check Power Factor.

Power factor?

Basically efficiency. A purely resistive load has a power factor of 1, which means 100% of the power consumed goes to heat. Inductive loads such as motors can't use 100% of the power coming in and have a lower power factor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_factor

[mz3own]

I have been using mine for about a year now. I have a co-worker using the same one for about 9yrs. He was the one who suggested I pick one up so I can check the older maytag defrost circut that is burried in the freezer floor and fresh food roof.
I use it to show customers the benifits of cleaning coils more than anything. I will plug it in and show the customer the watts and amps it's currently using when dirty. Then clean the coils and show them again. They are usually very shocked at how little dust it takes to effect the fridge.

[niobrara]

Yep, sheesh, now I have to buy one... I know the feeling.Just did. I am going to review my new steamers and my new dryer tester and my new pliers,and then my new tool backback. AJ I understand the gadget obsession. Anyone using a phone booster in there service vehicle, and if so what kind.

[AJ]

Received my other watt meter today. Also fired up my new generator tonight for the first time, what fun!





I should not feel so helpless now the next time the power goes out for a extended period of time, if it ever does.
Would not surprise me if I never even see a power flicker now, lol...

[tch_tech]

AJ, what kind of generator did you buy? I'm thinking about getting one too. What do think about yours?

[AJ]

I went with a Generac GP6500E. I only have 15 minutes of run time on it so far, but it seems well built and was in my price range.

I liked that it had a hour meter to help keep track of maintenance and electric start along with the 6500 Running Watts/ 8125 Max. I looked at some cheaper ones and they just seemed lighter built. Also some of the generators I looked at seem to print the Max watts on the side and running watts was less.

For example, a Honday 2000i is rated for 1600 running watts and 2000 Max watts.
http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu2000i

If money was no object I would have loved to by a Honda, but a 3000 watt Honda was $2,000 and they just went up from there.

I don't plan on running it a lot, just for home emergencies. If I was going to buy one that I was going to use a lot for say camping or what have you I probably would have went with a Honda.

http://appliancejunk.com/forums/index.php?topic=15281.msg80542#msg80542

What do you plan on using a generator for?

[tch_tech]

Nothing fancy. It would be for emergencies and camping. Yep, that 6500 looks real cool. Good choice. And the price isn`t bad either.

Those Honda generators sure are sweet. Way over my price range though.

I have a HF store close by and I'm thinking as much as I would use it (or not use it), that would be the way to go. I`ve had my eye on this one for awhile:

http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators/4000-peak3200-running-watts-65-hp-212cc-generator-epa-69676.html

And the customer reviews are pretty good. At 3200W continuous, that would suit my needs just fine.

[mz3own]

tch_tech
I know several people who used those gennys after Sandy came though the area. No issues at all they all performed very well and no one I know had any issues with them. I know one guy who has 4 of them and uses them quite a bit to run oil furnaces when the power goes out.