RSS/ATOMWatts up Pro – A Watt Meter with nice Features
By sblackb • Jan 18th, 2008 • Category: Energy Savings, Power Gadgets
One of the more feature rich “Plug Load” meters, the Watts Up Pro is hailed as their best selling model according to manufacturer Electronic Educational Devices who is based in Denver Colorado. These units have been in the marketplace since 1992 and have undergone many improvements over the years. What makes the Watts Up PRO so unique is the data logging feature that can be downloaded to a computer via the usb or serial cable and their custom software. How deep you dig into the data is up to you, but it’s nice to have the level of detail and the ability to save the results over the long term. It records all the data as fast as once per second so you can see the load profile as it changes over the course of a day, week , or any time frame desired. The software automatically graphs all the data and includes an integrated analysis tool, called the Payback Calculator, which automatically calculates the time required for a new energy efficient appliance to pay for itself. Monthly savings are calculated, and they are compared to the purchase price of the new appliance.
The Watts Up PRO model retails for $130 – 145 depending on your source and comes with needed software and a USB cable (same type as for digital cameras) to download the data directly to a PC. They also sell a basic model without the PC connectivity, but with a retail of $95.95, I don’t think the savings is enough not to step up to the Pro. If you like the Cadillac version, there is one that also connects to the Internet to allow for remote monitoring and power switching. At $235.95, it’s not for everyone, but could be a great addition to a second home.
Why not Buy a kill-a-watt for $35 Instead of Watts up Pro?
That’s are really good question and may be difficult to answer. In my book, the PC connectivity is important and I have a lot of testing to do. With a Kill-A-Watt, the device plugs directly into the wall and the load plugs into it. This makes it difficult to read in tight spots like behind the entertainment center. The Watts Up PRO has a 6 foot cord that plugs into the wall and it sits flat on a table or the floor. You then plug the loads straight down onto the Plug Meter. This is especially beneficial if you have an old house like mine where some of the outlets are loose. With the Kill-A-Watt, heavy wall transformers for routers and cordless phones try to pull the kill-a-watt from the wall.
The other thing I like about the Watts Up PRO is the fact that data stays in the on-board memory until you clear it. Kill-a-watt lack this feature which requires you to write down all your information before unplugging the device. This would never work behind my entertainment center.
Honestly, both are good products and have applications. If you are going to occasionally check the load on your power hungry devices, and you don’t need to crawl behind furniture to do so, pickup a kill-a-watt and give it a try. At $35, it’s hard to go wrong and you will certainly get the value out of it. If you have a lot of testing to do or really like to analyze data, I would strongly encourage you check out the Watts up? PRO.
Here is a link to the Watts UP? PRO Manual
If you decide to buy a “Watts Up Pro” or a Kill-A-Watt, why not use one of Watthackers online sponsors and help support the site.
Specifications
120 v, 60 Hz, 15 amps Memory storage depends on how many parameters are stored, and in what mode the memory is in. 32,000 records is possible in stop/overwrite mode, and when only logging watts. In automatic mode with all parameters recorded the storage is approximately 1000 records.
- Higher ratings of 100-250v, 50/60Hz, and 15 amps require the universal outlet (UO) version. The electronics in the meter are capable of 20 amps but the cord and receptacle have different ratings. Verify the rating on the cord-set you are purchasing.
- +/- 1.5%, + 3 counts of the displayed value
- Below 60 watts, amps and power factor lose accuracy
- USB interface
- Mains supply voltage fluctuations not to exceed +/- 10% of the nominal voltage
- Rate can be entered from $0.001 to $85.00 per kilowatt hour, in tenths of a penny
- Input is via 6′ electric cord (USA style only), output is via outlet on top of meter
- Indoor use only
- Dimensions: 7″ x 4″ x 2″ (18cm x 10cm x 5cm)
- Weight: 1.5 lbs (0.7 kg)
- UL listed to standard UL 610010-1, and CAN CAS/C22.2 61010-1
- UO version also CE marked
- UL certification requires the following statement:
- Altitude up to 2000 meters
- Temperature 5 C to 40 C
- Maximum relative humidity 80% for temperatures up to 31 C decreasing linearly to 50% relative humidity at 40 C
- Installation Category II
- 13 More Energy Monitoring Devices to Save on ElectricityLast year I put together a list of 10 Power Monitoring Devices to put Your House on a Diet and Save Power to share with everyone the great options that were available for monitoring and reducing home (or business) power use. At the time, I struggled to round the list...
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sblackb is Scott and Liz share a passion for the outdoors and want to help protect the natural beauty of our planet. Scott feels like one of the best ways to accomplish this is to take on responsible power use, generation and learning new methods for better living with less resources.
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Indeed an extension cord makes the Kill-a-watt a more usable tool. In fact, mine has one attached nearly all the time which makes me wonder why that was not part of the solution to begin with. I own both and each serve a purpose. This article was simply trying to point out the differences between the two; mainly data connectivity and how they plug in. Either one is better than none.
For rather less than seventy dollars a crafty soul could hunt up what is referred to as an “extension cord” (they come in many lengths) and eliminate the severe disadvantage you have identified in using the lower-priced spread.