Kill A Watt
The Kill A Watt is an electricity usage monitor marketed by P3 International. It features a large LCD display and it enables cost forecasting.[1] It measures the energy used by individual appliances plugged into the meter, as opposed to in-home energy use displays, which display the energy used by an entire household. The name is a play on the word kilowatt.
Having a NEMA 5-15 plug and receptacle, and rated for 120 VAC, the Kill A Watt is sold for the North American market. The manufacturer is the Taiwanese company Prodigit,[2] which also makes models suited for 240 V with European Schuko, U.K. BS 1363 and Australian AS 3112 receptacles as well as a model compatible with 100 VAC for the Japanese market (2022-04,[3] marketed there as the Watt Checker [ワットチェッカー] Plus by other companies).
The device can give an indication of the standby power used by appliances.[4]
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[edit] Models
There are several different models of Kill A Watt meters:
[edit] P4400
This is the original, most basic version, based on the Prodigit 2000M.[5] From the time it is plugged in, it measures:
- Voltage (Volts)
- Current (Amperes)
- Power (Watts)
- Energy Used (Kilowatt-hours)
- Frequency (Hertz)
- Apparent power (Volt-amperes)
- Power factor
- Elapsed time
The power and kilowatt-hour settings are the most widely used, to measure how much power devices use, and how much total energy they use over time. When electricity is disconnected, the P4400's measurements and meters are reset.[6]
[edit] P4460 Kill A Watt EZ
This is an enhanced version, based on the Prodigit 2022,[7] which includes a backup battery to preserve measurements when disconnected from electricity. It has the same capabilities as the P4400, and can be programmed with electricity cost information, which enables it to display the cost of the electricity consumed to date. From this, it can calculate cost per hour, day, week, month, or year.[8]
[edit] P4320 Kill A Watt PS
This model, based on the Prodigit 2024,[9] is integrated into an eight-outlet surge protector. Unlike the other models, it does not display frequency or apparent power. It protects against surges and EMI, has a configurable overcurrent shutdown limit, and also measures earth leakage current; one version acts as an earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB).[10] It switches power on or off at an AC zero crossing, minimizing current surges and interference.[11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Edwin Kee (2008-05-26). "Cost-saving and handy devices". New Straits Times.
- ^ http://board.homeseer.com/showthread.php?p=829761#post829761
- ^ Model 2022-04 Manufacturer's web site.
- ^ "Gadgets that help save energy". Bloomberg News. 2008-05-04. pp. F02.
- ^ "Prodigit 2000M 8-in-1 Plug-in Power Monitor". http://www.prodigit.com/index.php?lang=en&op=product&pro_num=1051. Retrieved 2009-07-16
- ^ P4400 Kill A Watt Manufacturer's web site.
- ^ "Prodigit 2022 Energy Cost Monitor". http://www.prodigit.com/index.php?lang=en&op=product&pro_num=1052. Retrieved 2009-07-16
- ^ P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Manufacturer's web site.
- ^ "Prodigit 2024 8 Port Power Safer". http://www.prodigit.com/index.php?lang=en&op=product&pro_num=1053. Retrieved 2009-07-16
- ^ P4320 Kill A Watt PS Manufacturer's web site.
- ^ Power Safer — New Safety Revolution For Power Strip Fairly thick chinglish, but informative technical description of the features provided.
[edit] External links
- P4400 Kill A Watt - official product website
- Kill A Watt models
- Sparkfun: Cracking open a Kill A Watt
- Tweet-a-watt Wireless communications added to Kill A Watt.
- Saving energy: is it better to start with utility bills or a Kill A Watt?
- Kill A Watt EZ electricity usage monitor review
- Conner, Steve (2005-08-30). "Kill-A-Watt vs. analog wattmeter". Tesla Coil mailing list. http://www.pupman.com/listarchives/2005/Aug/msg00936.html. Retrieved 2009-07-16. "The low power factor means that the DRSSTC was drawing awful peak currents, but the two meters still agreed well. I conclude that the Prodigit wattmeter sold by Maplin works fine for Tesla coiling. It also seems to be fairly resistant to RFI, although I didn't let the coil arc to ground heavily.
- The Latest Public Library Loan? Electricity Meters"
