Finding out Total Power Usage
zx_toth
Posts: 417
Hopefully those reading are of the philosphy "No question is a stupid question" because here goes ...
Is there a way to figure out how much power your electronics setup uses? Lets assume everything is powered on, could it (probably not) be as simple as adding the power ratings of all your components? For example if my Monster Power Center is rated at 200 watts, and reciever is rated at 1000 watts ... etc. ... would this give an idea of how much power would be consumed during a certain time interval?
I know that the answer is probably much more complex than I imagine it ... or simple "Use a Power-o-meter to measure it".
Reason why I ask this is because I had a friend over and he asked me "So how much power does you system use?". He looked at me as if I should know the answer to thsi question rather easily ... I looked at him not knowing how I would know this. Knowing he has some electrical experience, I didnt want to look like a knob and answered "Ive never measured it, so Im not quite sure". He seemed ok with my answer.
Any insight?
Thanks ahead of time.
Zsolt
Is there a way to figure out how much power your electronics setup uses? Lets assume everything is powered on, could it (probably not) be as simple as adding the power ratings of all your components? For example if my Monster Power Center is rated at 200 watts, and reciever is rated at 1000 watts ... etc. ... would this give an idea of how much power would be consumed during a certain time interval?
I know that the answer is probably much more complex than I imagine it ... or simple "Use a Power-o-meter to measure it".
Reason why I ask this is because I had a friend over and he asked me "So how much power does you system use?". He looked at me as if I should know the answer to thsi question rather easily ... I looked at him not knowing how I would know this. Knowing he has some electrical experience, I didnt want to look like a knob and answered "Ive never measured it, so Im not quite sure". He seemed ok with my answer.
Any insight?
Thanks ahead of time.
Zsolt
Post edited by zx_toth on
Comments
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change your phone number and buy a wig....;)
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change your phone number and buy a wig....;)
That was Plan B if no one answered my question ... Im browsing for wigs online as we speak
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You can add all the power ratings from the specs to get the maximum power consumption. Most equipment draws the most when powered up, so it will be close to accurate for a second or two.:D I know my lights dim for just a second when I power my amps on, and it's on a dedicated circuit.
In use you probably draw less than half the rated power most of the time. -
You could do it the scientific way.
Buy a watt meter for $17 and plug it in.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882715001
If you really want to save money. Turn off every breaker in the house.
Go outside, look at your electric meter. Figure out how much it moves in ten minutes. Turn on breaker your system is connected to. Turn everything on, crank up some music, go back outside. Figure out how much it moves in ten minutes.
Subtract everything off usage from system on usage, and then figure it out with some simple math.
