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On Sun, Jul 25, 2010 at 10:30:30AM +0100, Chris. Aubrey-Smith wrote:
> Well, yes! Of course, there's always the option of 'doing the math'.
>
> I was rather hoping for some input from others who have more experience of
> using these meters, to learn what they do with the numbers and how much
> reliance they place on them. There seems little point in (for example)
> plotting usage if the measurements are unreliable.
It depends on your goals. If you want to predict what your bill
will be to the nearest penny, then you're probably out of
luck. However, the CurrentCost documentation implies that the readings
might be inaccurate, but are precise in their inaccuracy --
i.e. they're always out by the same amount (or by the same fraction).
This means that you can monitor relative effects very easily: when
am I using the most power? What device draws most power?
For these questions, you don't have to know to the last milliwatt-
second exactly what power is being used; merely how much power there
is relative to some baseline. As long as the coupling clamp is left in
the same position, the meter should be reliable in showing differences
of power and the magnitudes of those differences. Plenty of reason to
plot usage.
Hugo.
--
=== Hugo Mills: hugo@... carfax.org.uk | darksatanic.net | lug.org.uk ===
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--- Some days, it's just not worth gnawing through the straps. ---
