How Do You Measure Wattage Usage?

char[] rager · Dec 19, 2010, 03:34 PM

I would like to know how much electricity my PC is using. Is this what you guys use? Or should I get something else? I am looking for something that will display in real time.

Fourstaff · Dec 19, 2010, 03:35 PM

Yeah, Kill a watt is good, but you might want to find cheaper alternatives.

95Viper · Dec 19, 2010, 03:36 PM

Yep, that is one way; and, the safest for a normal consumer.

char[] rager · Dec 19, 2010, 03:43 PM

Will it be able to handle the current and wattage going to the power supply?

95Viper · Dec 19, 2010, 03:48 PM

That one goes to 15 amps and 120AC. As long as you don't exceed the specs of that, sure.

If you are on a circuit of greater current and/or voltage, you might need a different one or use a different testing method.

char[] rager · Dec 19, 2010, 03:52 PM

Well I was reading the AC input on my PSU and it says "100-240 V, 15-9 A, 60-50 Hz."

newtekie1 · Dec 19, 2010, 03:52 PM

If your computer is pulling 1800w blowing a kill-a-watt is the least of your concerns.

EastCoasthandle · Dec 19, 2010, 04:00 PM

Try local Cooling

95Viper · Dec 19, 2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by char[] rager

Well I was reading the AC input on my PSU and it says "100-240 V, 15-9 A, 60-50 Hz."

That 100-240VAC is, because it can adjust(sometimes on it's own or manually, with a switch) to the variations in voltage; and geographical use of different delivery systems. Some places don't use 110\120 that we in the States use.

The Current 9A to 15A is, just, stating the thresholds for usage. Probably, under 9A it won't start\regulate and over 15A, it will blow a fuse or trip the circuit off.

PSU needs a lot of leeway for all the differences they encounter.

1freedude · Dec 24, 2010, 02:05 AM

Actually, @ 100 volts, it will pull 15 amps, and 240 volts will pull 9 amps (max safe load for the psu). I use a device from northern tool. Called a watt meter, or amp meter. Not too fancy, doesn't do any logging, but its cheap and accurate. It will measure the load of cellphone chargers.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...1255_200321255

AsRock · Dec 24, 2010, 04:32 AM

Kill a watt like others said and some APCs like Cyberpower do some and some fan controllers that have like the Zalma ZM-MFC2.

Dec 19, 2010, 03:34 PM	#1
char[] rager Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Computer Science Student Posts: 270 (0.25/day) Thanks: 133 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts System Specs	How Do You Measure Wattage Usage? I would like to know how much electricity my PC is using. Is this what you guys use? Or should I get something else? I am looking for something that will display in real time. __________________ Code: unsigned whatYouAreThinking = getch(); cout << "Did I Help You?" << endl; if(whatYouAreThinking == 'y') cout << "Press Thanks" << endl; else if(whatYouAreThinking == 'n') cout << "Thanks For Reading My Post" << endl; else cout << "Think Again ;)" << endl;

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Dec 19, 2010, 03:43 PM	#4
char[] rager Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Computer Science Student Posts: 270 (0.25/day) Thanks: 133 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts System Specs	Will it be able to handle the current and wattage going to the power supply? __________________ Code: unsigned whatYouAreThinking = getch(); cout << "Did I Help You?" << endl; if(whatYouAreThinking == 'y') cout << "Press Thanks" << endl; else if(whatYouAreThinking == 'n') cout << "Thanks For Reading My Post" << endl; else cout << "Think Again ;)" << endl;

Dec 19, 2010, 03:35 PM	#2
Fourstaff TPU Janitor Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Science Museum, Londinium Posts: 5,964 (4.70/day) Thanks: 261 Thanked 1,460 Times in 1,210 Posts System Specs	Yeah, Kill a watt is good, but you might want to find cheaper alternatives.

Dec 19, 2010, 03:36 PM	#3
95Viper Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: στο άλφα έως ωμέγα Posts: 3,839 (2.28/day) Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 1,416 Times in 1,115 Posts System Specs	Yep, that is one way; and, the safest for a normal consumer.

Dec 19, 2010, 03:48 PM	#5
95Viper Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: στο άλφα έως ωμέγα Posts: 3,839 (2.28/day) Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 1,416 Times in 1,115 Posts System Specs	That one goes to 15 amps and 120AC. As long as you don't exceed the specs of that, sure. If you are on a circuit of greater current and/or voltage, you might need a different one or use a different testing method.

Dec 19, 2010, 03:52 PM	#6
char[] rager Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Computer Science Student Posts: 270 (0.25/day) Thanks: 133 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts System Specs	Well I was reading the AC input on my PSU and it says "100-240 V, 15-9 A, 60-50 Hz." __________________ Code: unsigned whatYouAreThinking = getch(); cout << "Did I Help You?" << endl; if(whatYouAreThinking == 'y') cout << "Press Thanks" << endl; else if(whatYouAreThinking == 'n') cout << "Thanks For Reading My Post" << endl; else cout << "Think Again ;)" << endl;

Dec 19, 2010, 03:52 PM	#7
newtekie1 Semi-Retired Folder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 17,748 (6.48/day) Thanks: 780 Thanked 5,115 Times in 3,706 Posts System Specs	If your computer is pulling 1800w blowing a kill-a-watt is the least of your concerns. __________________ Rig1: System Specs. Rig2: A8-5600K@4.4GHz / AsRock FM2A75 Pro4 / 8GB Corsair DDR3-1600 9-9-9-24 / HD7560D / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB WD Green + 3x3TB WD RED in RAID5 Rig3: Athlon X2 4200+ / M4A79 Deluxe / 4GB G.Skill Pi DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / GT430 / Sony DVD-Burner / 500GB WD Rig4: Phenom II x6 1605T @ 3.6GHz / Asus M5A99X Evo / 8GB PNY DDR3-1600 9-9-9 / GTX470 & GTX470 / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB Seagate

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Dec 19, 2010, 04:00 PM	#8
EastCoasthandle Eligible for custom title Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 6,244 (2.11/day) Thanks: 382 Thanked 1,526 Times in 865 Posts System Specs	Try local Cooling __________________ Windows 7 Club!, Online Gaming Lag and You GPU/CPU Water Cooling Club, Q9650 OC'd vs 2600K Stock PC Air Cooling Club, Game Performance Tips

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Dec 24, 2010, 02:05 AM	#10
1freedude Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 452 (0.22/day) Thanks: 207 Thanked 120 Times in 90 Posts System Specs	Actually, @ 100 volts, it will pull 15 amps, and 240 volts will pull 9 amps (max safe load for the psu). I use a device from northern tool. Called a watt meter, or amp meter. Not too fancy, doesn't do any logging, but its cheap and accurate. It will measure the load of cellphone chargers. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...1255_200321255 Last edited by 1freedude; Dec 24, 2010 at 02:21 AM.

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Dec 24, 2010, 04:32 AM	#11
AsRock TPU addict Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US\ Uk Born Posts: 8,794 (4.07/day) Thanks: 1,675 Thanked 1,348 Times in 1,170 Posts System Specs	Kill a watt like others said and some APCs like Cyberpower do some and some fan controllers that have like the Zalma ZM-MFC2.

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