BellaOnline Forums Money Frugal Living What watts are you using right now?

I am very excited! I've been dissatisfied with my 10 cup coffee maker. I don't drink ten cups a day. And it uses 975 watts each time, no matter how many cups i ask it to make. A lot of cofee pots even use more - like 1200 watts. Turn over your appliances and see.

So i was looking at stores and online for a 4 cup pot. I don't have the money to buy at new one at $15, but then I took a look at my Goodwill. There was a gorgeous unused four cup GE coffeemaker in black, for only $4.99. It even came with a reusable filter! And it uses only 650 watts.

That is a savings of 325 watts for each use. It adds up very fast if you are trying to save money. Last month I used only 1.25 kWh and generated only $5 in electricity. I am going into more detail on this in a different thread, but it's very exciting. And this is all before using the solar panel and battery.

Phyllis, that is great about your electricity conserving measures. Your monthly bill is probably pretty small. Except for those late nights using up your brain watts!

Burt, i am so with you on taking over the world. I believe you and I and many of us here can change some world paradigms.

And I also think had I not had a mental illness I would have ruled the planet by now. BWAHAHAHA. It hurts to be smart sometimes, don't it?

I'm glad you are my buddy, too.

So, okay, it's good to know i have a better meter than the new digital ones. I guess i will be keeping it; it's not like my town has extra funds for new toys.

I put the links you provided on my Amazon Wish List so i can keep an eye on them. I will have to go watch the video.

I do love looking at my spinning dial. it definitely slowed down just now as i unplugged my new 650 watt coffee pot.

I have running: tiny black fan, white fan and larger white fan. A few surge protectors, my modem, netbook and an external large monitor. So: 348 watts right now. And another 144 watts when the dorm fridge sometimes kicks on.

Here is what I could do:
I could even adjust that much better to fall within the limits of my 300 watt inverter and get off the grid entirely. I do not need to be using my external monitor. I could use my netbook on battery and recharge it with my solar charger. Change out the fans to the 66 watt one is off, and add the 2.5 watt one.

At this point I would be feeling just as comfortable and content with using...okay... only 76.5 watts! And again the 144 more when the fridge kicks in.

I am going to move the fans around right now.

I just took most of the electrical load off my house and onto my marine battery. It arrived fully charged, so i am testing to see how long it lasts with a certain load on it.

I am tracking the details here in this forum thread: my marine deep cycle battery data.

And yes, this battery was a birthday gift from my parents. I ask for the oddest presents!

hehe I guess it was natures way of stopping us...

Sometimes the brain hurts.
http
://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/mZ1XL2IZS7O1U/ref=ent_fb_link

Too true, Burt!

Right now I have one 13 watt light bulb over my desk and three fans running, my netbook and external monitor. Plus the obligatory modem and surge protectors and fridge when it kicks on. My usual evening of around 340 watts, plus the fridge at 144 watts occasionally.

When I go to bed it will be just one fan - the one in the window by the bed. The surge protectors will be off, the fridge will be quiescent, and i will turn off the modem.

So 66 watts while sleeping, and I imagine no more until i get up to make coffee and turn the netbook back on to start my day.

This is really so little, but I know I can do better. I have my eye on the desk light. There are some very nice solar LED lanterns that can be used for task lighting and ambient lighting. I am going to do some testing and see if I can totally replace my desk and room lighting with these. They can charge during the day, as I only use the lights after the sun goes down anyway, in order to keep things cool in here (and to use less watts).

My modem seems to use 18 watts, which i think is a lot. Internet sources say they usually use only 7. I don't know why this one is so high. I'll be looking into it, since I do keep it running most of the time.

As for the external monitor, that really is an indulgence at 180 watts. My entire netbook is only 28.5 watts in comparison. Plus half a watt for the mouse, but that's pretty negligible. I never used to use an external monitor, but then Dan gave me one and I really do like it. If I switch the studio totally to solar, i will probably have to give that habit up.

My point: I could get my post dinner evenings down to pretty much just about 123 watts if I

- got a more efficient modem,
- solar charged my netbook during the day and used it on battery at night (i have the charger for it),
- stopped with the large monitor luxury,
- used solar task/ambient lanterns and
- kept the fans as is (the setup keeps me from needing the AC unit at this time).

Still working on the day appliances like the coffeepot, crockpot, microwave oven, fridge and dehydrator. Also various electronic chargers. Totally tons of ways to get those numbers down.

Later. Sleepy now.

Your turn: is there anything you have running while you are sleeping that doesn't have to be on?

Okay, this is pretty cool. I have everything set up right now off the grid! Here is what I have going:

- netbook computer running on my deep cell battery that is fully charged from my solar panel. 28 watts.
- a one LED bulb task light for the netbook running on USB from the netbook itself. Maybe a watt.
- an ambient Solar LED lantern hanging from a hook over my head. No watts.
- small fan, running also from the battery, on low setting - 7 watts.
- my iphone is being charged from my Solar Restore unit. No watts.

So i have a grand total of 35 watts drawing from my battery and am sitting comfortably not in the dark, feeling nice and cool.

I do have the modem running off the actual electric company and that is 18 watts. I could put that on my battery too but i feel too lazy to move those cords around right now. In essence, I'm off the grid tonite! And with only drawing 35 watts from my battery, I could get many hours from that. I need to do some calculations on exactly how long i would have.

Note: i unplugged the fridge til morning. It doesn't need to kick on since i haven't opened it in hours and won't need to.

God Love You Jilly !!!

You Go Girl !! !!!

My situation is a little different...

I inherited the family home so my strategy is hot water first for solar then reflective roof then installed system by certified contractor... obviously that runs into beauko denero.

However, even with this amount of square footage to deal with, I'm ultra conservative...

I mean ultra...

Good thing I don't have kids.

I only open the frig twice a day.

Every single light is off unless absolutely necessary.

Some electronics have to run continuously.. 'cause of security for a business property.

But, windows, shading, you name it.. doors closed and heat / air shut off in unused rooms.. cats outside..

County water + septic... water bill $17.30 / month.

Also Florida Power & Light <FPL> is incredibly cost effective !!

With 1 3-ton A/C unit running, I consume $.50 / hour !!

My little Black & Decker unit keeps track...

When I have everything shut down for the night... I can get away with $.09 / hour !

Rock 'n Roll !!!

Watts right now 4.83 kw / hour = $12 / day according to my British Whole House meter... hmmm... A/C just cut off... it takes a min to update....

The Black & Decker was $0.46 / hour with A/C... then down to $0.15 'cause I had the coffee maker on... turned that off... now down to $0.10 /hr

B&D is for immediate feedback... British whole home is for birds-eye overview... down to 667 W / hr now !!

Web-site for British Whole Home Monitor:

http
://currentcost.com/