Real-Time Power Monitoring Options? 172
tedpearson writes "I've wanted for quite a while to be able to look at my electricity usage in graphed form, both real-time and historical data. There seem to be a number of options for power monitoring in existence: some that hook into Google PowerMeter, others to Microsoft Hohm, and some that are standalone units. I've also seen DIY projects using Arduinos for reading the data and sending it to a computer. But I haven't found anything that is quite what I'm looking for, and I am hoping the Slashdot community can give me some advice. What I'm looking for currently: Some sort of device(s) that a) accurately measures power usage, b) allows me to access the data for storage in a database for my own graphing/analysis purposes, c) will work with MacOS (doesn't require Windows), and d) doesn't cost more than $150 or so. DIY is fine, though I don't understand circuit design, which is keeping me from designing something myself."
Watt's Up Pro (Score:3, Insightful)
I use the Watt's Up Pro, but it's for monitoring a single outlet.
Do you intend to monitor your entire house, or just some devices?
Re:Watt's Up Pro (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:"Dad monitor" (Score:4, Insightful)
He's just getting you back for all the times you played kitchen-implement drums while he was trying to nap.
Hug him for it.
Re:Go round the side of your house (Score:3, Insightful)
Go round the side of your house...And check how fast the dial in the electric meter is spinning.
Which works brilliantly, as long as he's only interested in knowing his electrical consumption while he's outside the house -- and not when he's busy cooking, watching television, ironing, using power tools, or having a hot electrically-heated shower. And as long as he doesn't care about electrical usage while he's asleep at night or when he's at work during the day. And as long as he doesn't mind getting funny numbers because the baseboard heaters in the front hall cycle on for a few minutes every time he opens the front door to go out to read the meter...
Re:Go round the side of your house (Score:4, Insightful)
Are you saying you're un-lazy enough to walk a few feet outside and read your meter? And write down the reading? Every five minutes? For a month?
Yes, it's very easy to track your average monthly power usage, it's right there on your bill. It's also easy to check your instantaneous usage by looking at the meter. What the OP wanted to know wasn't just a point measurement, but a running graph to see how it varied from hour to hour throughout the day.
Re:Pick two (Score:3, Insightful)
No he doesn't.
He only needs two: Cheap and good. His requirement doesn't have time. Based on you post it will be perfect, cost him nothing and be done in infinity years... he might was to adjust a little.
Re:The electric meter will sap and impurify you. (Score:5, Insightful)
Of course PG&E really wants the capablity to charge us double on the hottest days
Wait, you mean they want the capacity to raise price when demand spikes, so as to help the market forces discourage use when reduced use causes the most benefit to the market, and thus allow them to stretch out their infrastructure allotment and help save the planet?
Shocking, SHOCKING I say! :)