Question: How to meter A/C / Heat Pump usage

[Giles Harney]

Hello!

I would like to do the following;

1- Log start / stop and duration time of my A/C / Heat Pump
2- Determine energy usage in $ and kw/h
3- View real-time kw/h utilization

If this is the right group- I am not looking for somebody to hold my hand
every step of the way, however, I would appreciate any pointers, links,
suggestions, etc etc...

Kind regards,
-Giles

[Chris p]

Giles Harney wrote: "Chris p" <chrispo76@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:mjUUa.947$p55.10044594@news-text.cableinet.net...i have a device i picked up for £6 the other day which does 2 and 3(plug in inline, for an A/C you would have to wire it inline maybe?)Maybe mod it by connecting to the on off sensor to the serial port on acomputer (im assuming you could work out the electronics - beacuse icant ;-) then get a logger of voltage presenve on that pin of the serialport. thanks for the reply. what is the device?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2337357958&category=20619
not the same one but looks like it does the same sort of thing. I got
mine at lidle (a cheapo UK supermarket)

[Rob]

The model of LUX thermostat I have logs how long the Heat-A/C
has run that day, the previous day's total and total since
the log was last cleared.
By using a clamp on amp meter and volt meter
you can get a fair approximation of the power used by
the unit. You can get even closer if you know the power
factor of an A/C unit or have access to a true power meter.
It's not real time but you can log the daily consumption
and deterine your usage, cost etc.

Giles Harney wrote: Hello! I would like to do the following; 1- Log start / stop and duration time of my A/C / Heat Pump 2- Determine energy usage in $ and kw/h 3- View real-time kw/h utilization If this is the right group- I am not looking for somebody to hold my hand every step of the way, however, I would appreciate any pointers, links, suggestions, etc etc... Kind regards, -Giles

[Arnold Perez]

There is a nice device that does 1 and 2 for any 120V appliance check it
out:
http://www.ccrane.com/kill_a_watt.asp

Arnold
Giles Harney <gharney@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:H66cnR6fIIwJZ76iXTWJkA@comcast.com... Hello! I would like to do the following; 1- Log start / stop and duration time of my A/C / Heat Pump 2- Determine energy usage in $ and kw/h 3- View real-time kw/h utilization If this is the right group- I am not looking for somebody to hold my hand every step of the way, however, I would appreciate any pointers, links, suggestions, etc etc... Kind regards, -Giles

[mchiper]

"Giles Harney" <gharney@comcast.net> wrote:
Hello!I would like to do the following;1- Log start / stop and duration time of my A/C / Heat Pump2- Determine energy usage in $ and kw/h3- View real-time kw/h utilizationIf this is the right group- I am not looking for somebody to hold my handevery step of the way, however, I would appreciate any pointers, links,suggestions, etc etc...

One thought, and a slew of questions.
The widget on the side of your house is doing that for your total usage.
I believe they are smart too.
They may even be available as surplus..

Does anybody know
1. How they get queried.
2. A possible cost/source.

The Kill a watt is only for 110 v.