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How To Find Out How Much Energy An Appliance Uses
If you want to know how much electricity a device uses, simply turn everything else in your house off, leave the device in question to run, and, take two meter readings exactly a minute apart. This will tell you how many units of electricity it uses in a minute of operation, which you can then use to calculate its energy usage over longer periods from a day to a year.
This is not an option most people would be willing to go for, as it is a lot of hassle, and it is usually a good idea to leave appliances such as freezers and fridges on all the time.
If you are happy with an approximation, then you might just want to take the easy route and work it out from the figures given on the appliance itself, either printed directly onto the body of the device or on a label near the power inlet. If it is a DC device with an external transformer, then these figures will be both on the unit itself and on the body of the transformer.
Although the label may only tell you how many amps a device uses in normal operation, this figure can be used to work out the power rating simply by multiplying it by the mains voltage.
DC devices with external transformers usually state the DC voltage required by the device along with the current rating on both the appliance and the transformer. When working out the power rating of a DC device it is important to use the DC voltage rather than the mains voltage in your calculations.
Mains voltages can vary based on a number of factors including the standard of wiring in your house and the state of repair of the local sub station. Although the UK mains voltage is supposed to be 240v, this is really a maximum rating rather than an everyday reality. Appliances that are stated as being set up to work with a 240v supply can actually usually work with a range of voltages between 220 and 240 volts.
Even if you suspect that your mains voltage is somewhat less than the maximum of 240v, it is still a good idea to use this figure in any energy calculations that you are doing, as a voltage drop can be a temporary state of affairs.
Devices designed for the international market can often work with a huge range of AC voltages ranging from 100v to 240v, and often have a switch to select between them. When calculating power usage, always use the maximum voltage used in the country you are in(240v in the UK) if you want an accurate result.
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