Random question for sparkys
I've been investigating how much power my house uses and where it goes. So one night I went around and turned everything off, fridge, lights, tv stuff. EVERYTHING. I noticed my solar system uses a fair bit at night so I isolated that as well, our hot water is a solar hart gas boosted aparently. For some reason I cant get our digital meter to read less than 1.5 amps. Am I correct in calculating this to be 350 watts going somewhere?
My suspicions are something to do with those 12 volt downlights that you get. We have a set of 5, 35 watters in the kitchen. So theoretically when I turn these on it should be using 175 watt and showing a rise of 0.7 amps on the meter. I dont see a rise at all. Is it possible that the transformer running these lights is just sitting in the roof getting hot and wasting THAT much power even when the lights are not on?
We also have those downlights in the bathroom, possibly indicating we may have two of those transformers, could they be using the 350 watts I see on my meter? Dont know if I'm way off track here...
dansyy
Posts: 72
Date Joined: 09/08/10
Are you turning these lights
Are you turning these lights off at the wall and then testing for amps? or are you turning them off in the switchboard?
If you are turning them off at the wall, turn the lighting circuits off in your switchboard and then taking a reading, turn them back on and do a reading again. This should prove that the transformers are drawing power.
Also do you live in a newish house or an old? PM me if you want.
Id rather be fishing
www.twitter.com/dannymacdj
mr_meks
Posts: 189
Date Joined: 11/02/11
Nah im just looking at the
Nah im just looking at the meter, walking in and turning them on at the wall then walking back to check the meter again.
House built in 80's but has since had multiple extensive renos.
dansyy
Posts: 72
Date Joined: 09/08/10
Yep, try turning your
Yep, try turning your lighting circuits off and doing the same thing. that way you'll know for sure its the downlights, which i doubt.
Id rather be fishing
www.twitter.com/dannymacdj
Shark1
Posts: 1084
Date Joined: 21/05/12
Solar panels using energy at
Solar panels using energy at night?
cruzy111
Posts: 274
Date Joined: 08/10/13
Turn off the main switch in
Turn off the main switch in the switchboard and see what the meter reads. Then turn on each circuit 1 at a time and see where the power is going. I don't know how accurate new meters are but at very low amps may not read accurately. Old downlight transformers are very inneficient compared to new electronic ones. So they draw more than the globe rating. You will probably find its something on a power cct or something plugged in in the roof.
cruzy111
Posts: 274
Date Joined: 08/10/13
Turn off the main switch in
Turn off the main switch in the switchboard and see what the meter reads. Then turn on each circuit 1 at a time and see where the power is going. I don't know how accurate new meters are but at very low amps may not read accurately. Old downlight transformers are very inneficient compared to new electronic ones. So they draw more than the globe rating. You will probably find its something on a power cct or something plugged in in the roof.
crano
Posts: 695
Date Joined: 04/11/09
With downlights there is no
With downlights there is no power going to the transformer when the lights are switched off at the wall. EC3690
ledge64
Posts: 986
Date Joined: 24/11/09
Interesting what area are
Interesting what area are you in ?
just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
Investigate
Carry on with your elimnination work , as the other have said once the switch is turned off there should be no power draw , how did you work out the load was 300 watts ? Isolate the circuits from power and lights to work out exactly which one is using power , don't forget every outlet in the house . TVs , dishwasher alarm panel or pool pump all draw power when in standby mode