High Electricity Bill Source

[aquila_ross]

I will try and keep this as brief as possible while giving the relevant details;

My gran is having problems with her electricity bill, she uses Gas for Heating and is using (on average over a month and a half) just under 16 units a day. (Having looked online, I found a ROUGH guide to be about 9 for someone with Gas Heating) Being a concerned Grandson, I thought I would have a look and see if I could find the culprit!

I bought a cheep Induction Ammeter from Maplin, and used that to measure the current into the house. (Outside the meter) middle of the day, normal "Stuff on standby" gave me a current flow of 0.05 amps. So far so good.

Wanting to check my readings, I turned on the Kettle and measured it. Between the Kettle and the Wall, it measured 0.56 Amps (Again, I figured about right give or take), Next I went back to the meter to just double check, and got a reading of 2.7 ish Amps, It was at this point I was confused, as I would have expect it to be around both numbers added together (give or take a bit).

I tried the Microwave, wanting to make sure it was not just the kettle (Mug of water in microwave, on full) was about 0.2 amps, reading at the meter 1.1 (ish)

Now confident it wasn't just the kettle, I used the kettle to check other rooms, all rooms in the house behaved the same.

Not being an Electrician (but having a fairly good understanding of the basics) I cant see anything wrong with my method, but am confused by the numbers I got. Is anyone able to suggest a "Next Step" or is it time to call in the professionals?

 

[Darkwood]

Welcome to the forum, I have approved your post for general forum for a quicker response but Admin' may give you DIY access and relocate the thread when there are on line next, this will not affect any posted replies.

 

[andyb]

High Aquila and welcome to the forum.

How exactly are you using your clamp meter to determine the current of the kettle? What is your method please?

 

[DPG]

You are probably putting the meter sensor around the whole kettle cable, ie. around the live and neutral at the same time. When you try it at the meter you will be clamping around the live only, and this will give the true reading. Daz

 

[aquila_ross]

High Aquila and welcome to the forum.

How exactly are you using your clamp meter to determine the current of the kettle? What is your method please?

It is clamped over the cable "pinching" it.

(given your question and a quick google it looks like i was using it wrong *sigh*, I remember trying it with the cable passing through the loop, but getting only 0 and assuming that was wrong)

 

[Sparky2blues]

Hello aquila_ross.

Your regular everyday kitchen kettle has a power rating of between 2 and 3KW. Unless you're using the new energy saving kettles. Using standard 230-240V mains electricity, this is equivalent to a current of between 8 and 13 Amps respectively.

Watts divided by Voltage equals amperage

A clamp meter should be placed around the current carrying conductor.

Read the instructions that came with your Ammeter

Good luck

 

[drzsta]

Wanting to check my readings, I turned on the Kettle and measured it. Between the Kettle and the Wall, it measured 0.56 Amps (Again, I figured about right give or take)

If you are clamping line and neutral your are only measuring earth leakage current. Current draw for a standard 2.2kw kettle should be higher than 0.56A.

 

[aquila_ross]

Thanks for all the responses guy's! looks like i need to go back to school! Much appreciated, and will defiantly recommend the forum, and be back if i have any more problems.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Is the immersion heater switched on.....elderly people frequently use it to heat the water despite the gas central heating system also able to heat the water. Immersion heaters will run away with the leccy.

 

[Octopus]

16 units per day is more than our house uses with a family of 4 living in it....

 

[Marvo]

Yeah, the consumption does sound high.

It is clamped over the cable "pinching" it........

Sounds like your misusing the clamp meter, have a read of this for some basic instructions. I'dalso suggest an OWL monitor might be more the thing for what you're trying to do. https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Test_Meters_Index/Owl/index.html