[98_1LE]

It is a near real time (a second or two of lag) power monitor. The electric company installed it for free for signing up for a 2 year contract, and since I am planning to stay with them anyway.

Here is with the dryer on:
(IMG:http://i44.tinypic.com/20hne36.jpg)

Here is with it off:
(IMG:http://i40.tinypic.com/o53hg1.jpg)

It has a bunch of screens that display different data, including daily/weekly/monthly cost estimates.

And the remaining incandescants in the house have to go!

[trackbird]

I dumped my incandescent bulbs a few years back and my bill dropped $15-20 a month (on a $75 bill). It's been quite a few years, so I don't remember the exact numbers, but it was a nice change. That's a pretty interesting little toy. I'd be afraid to see what it does when I'm tigging aluminum. That might be a bit scary...

Oddly, I walked in today, flipped on my kitchen and garage lights and they went out a few minutes later. I had to go reset the breaker. I have 320 watts worth of flourescent lights in the garage and about 5 (only 4 were on) 60 watt equivalent low wattage bulbs. Nothing that should have blown a breaker. That's the second breaker I've tripped this week (I haven't tripped a breaker in years). I wonder what this might mean...

[CrashTestDummy]

I dumped my incandescent bulbs a few years back and my bill dropped $15-20 a month (on a $75 bill). It's been quite a few years, so I don't remember the exact numbers, but it was a nice change. That's a pretty interesting little toy. I'd be afraid to see what it does when I'm tigging aluminum. That might be a bit scary...

Oddly, I walked in today, flipped on my kitchen and garage lights and they went out a few minutes later. I had to go reset the breaker. I have 320 watts worth of flourescent lights in the garage and about 5 (only 4 were on) 60 watt equivalent low wattage bulbs. Nothing that should have blown a breaker. That's the second breaker I've tripped this week (I haven't tripped a breaker in years). I wonder what this might mean...

Check your ballasts? You may have one going bad.

I'd love to get one of those meters, but Houston Looting and Plunder wants to charge us for it. Google is apparently working on some meter recording appliance that you can check via the intarweb. That would be nice, too, but don't want Google knowing how much power I use.

This post has been edited by CrashTestDummy: Mar 10 2010, 07:31 PM

[trackbird]

Check your ballasts? You may have one going bad.

Boy, I hope not. I just insulated the garage this past fall and they are all new fixtures with electronic ballasts. That doesn't mean one couldn't be going bad, but I'd like to think not. If it does it again, I'll get more serious about finding it. That's a good thought and one I hadn't really considered. Thanks!