The one with the Watts Up Pro…

In order to monitor and plan the power use requirements for the RV, I bought a Watts Up Pro unit.  It is very much like the much cheaper Kill-A-Watt except it has a USB port, software suite, and API.  I wanted the ability to keep onboard log that can be exported to a standard format.  I thought about the extended memory version (4x the memory), but the cost increase was 50% more, and since I can poll the device with the software, and it uses a “resolution scrolling” system where it keeps halfing the resolution as the memory fills — 1042 samples at 1 second (~17Min), then it averages each pair of measurements and changes resolution to 2 seconds (~34Min); thus doubling the retention at half the resolution and so it continues this process ad-infinium.  I figured that this was fine for my needs, so I went with it.

I have collected my first rough numbers, nothing scientific nor really formal, but it is a start.  SO my unofficial results with very short, non-numerical studies:

1. My HP 8510W uses about ~40W when not charging, ~55 when charging.
2. My CRT SD TV setup (1KVA APC UPS, Hauppage MVP, DVD Player, Wii) uses ~45W at rest and ~135W with TV active
3. My office PC rack (1700VA APC UPS, 19′CRT, 3 PCs, Wireless App, ethernet Switches, Cable Router, and the like uses ~350-400W average (CRT off)
4. The charger for the Sonicare ToothBrush uses 1W continuously, regardless if the handle is charging or not.

More to come as I collect more numbers!

This entry was posted on Tue, Apr 14 2009 at 09:47 and is filed under ExRat Progess, John's Ramblings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.