Measuring Power Usage
2 Apr 2015 10:10:34 UTC
Topic 198033
(moderation:
What is the best way to measure power usage on a cruncher? Would it be the Kill A Watt meter, or some other device?
Any input is appreciated.
Phil
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
Measuring Power Usage
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I use a device (not called a kill a watt - probably a ripoff of the design) very similar in appearance to the true kill a watt meter, shown here on newegg. Seems to work OK.
Cheers,
Gary.
RE: RE: What is the best
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I also use a knockoff one but one thing to remember is to plug it in before the power strip, as anything else plugged into the strip is missed if you plug it in after the strip. I did that and was wondering why it seemed low...DOH!!!
Ok, fair enough, thanks for
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Ok, fair enough, thanks for the info, both of you.
I'll get one on order so it gets here before I leave for school. When I get back first week of June I'll start some measurements for Gary's study.
Phil
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
RE: What is the best way to
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I also use use a device very similar this, this youtube review of a Silvercrest was influential, works ok.
My next cruncher will probably be using one of the Corsair Digital PSUs which provide voltage values input and output, and control fan speeds and rail voltages etc.
I think Toughpower do something similar (but Windows only).
RE: RE: RE: What is the
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It's also possible to get power strips with the power meter built-in - which can be easier to read, if your wall sockets are in an awkward place. This particular one is for UK circuits, but I'm sure versions are available for other country standards too.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/five-way-energy-saving-monitor-n35hn
A Kill-A-Watt meter is
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A Kill-A-Watt meter is cheapest solution but you may already have another solution already in place. My APC Backup that power each computer also gives you a power consumption reading on the front panel display. Currently showing 545 watts as I type. There are also much more elaborate solutions that are mainly used in home solar energy installations that show whole house power flow in/out, production and consumption. The Kill-A-Watt meter is more than adequate though.
Cheers, Keith
I've had at least four models
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I've had at least four models of plug-in power meters. For something as time-varying as the power consumption of a GPU-containing PC running BOINC, you want to integrate over a period of time. You also want adequate resolution. Both of these considerations mean a meter function built into your UPS will be less capable than you might like.
Of the two kill-a-watt models, the one with a reset button has the advantage that you can measure a desired time period in a desired state--not starting from cold iron boot. Sadly the one with the reset button is usually quite a bit more expensive.
My current favorite is an Ensupra meter. It has superior resolution to the Kill-a-watt, which helps especially if a low power measurement (such as an LED light bulb) is interesting to you. It does have a reset button. As to price, mine from eBay two years ago was $19.95 including shipping, though the best offerings today seem to be just over $25. If you are an Amazon Prime member, it is available there for $19.95, but that is an updated model, and I'm not sure how I would like it. I'll get one to see.
@Keith I don't have, and
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@Keith
I don't have, and don't plan on using, battery backups for my crunchers. Good idea though. I haven't paid attention to such things in so long I didn't even know they had APCs with meters on them. I use a Furman battery unit that also is a voltage regulator on my Mac, which is used for studio recording, but the street price for such a unit is around $1300US.
The rest of my computers are working Einstein and they are bare bones units without even monitors. No cases, nothing. I simply set the motherboards and other components on a wooden shelf. They are Linux Mint machines and Einstein is all they do, so if the power goes out, so be it. I do use good quality surge suppressors though, also by Furman.
Next year I plan on installing some solar. I'll have to post some specs and pictures when I do so.
Phil
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
The nice feature of the
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The nice feature of the resettable Kill-A-Watt is that if you are interested in seeing how much your crunching addiction is costing you..... reset and monitor for a 24 hour period. The meter will show you how many kWh your computer consumed and then you can look at your power bill and see how much it costs to crunch per day. The power display on the UPS is just for informational purposes. I can stop crunching and read the display and then start full crunching and then figure the difference and get a rough idea of how much power the systems are using. I can also go outside and read the power meter on the house mains and see how many kWh they knock off my net metering surplus to the grid.
I have 8.3 KW solar installed and love it. Supplies enough power to run the crunchers and offset the power needs for recharging the car. I shoot for net zero cost each year neither owing the power company nor they needing to pay me for excess power production. I run a deficit during the winter and consume power from the grid while crunching 24/7 and also heating the house with the computers and then only run during daytime for spring, summer and autumn to cancel out winter's power consumption and have enough power production to run the crunchers during the day while the A/C is going to run anyway to cool the house. The systems get turned off each day once the solar production drops and doesn't cover their needs and to stop the heat load dump into the house that makes the A/C work harder than it needs to.
Phil, you will not be sorry to get solar installed. This is my system:
https://www.sunnyportal.com/Templates/PublicPageOverview.aspx?plant=9b6eebd7-4b50-417f-8a61-29025df54f6d&splang=
Cheers, Keith
@Keith Nice! I don't plan
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@Keith
Nice! I don't plan on going that large but that array makes my mouth water!
That being said, I may have to go very large. Indiana isn't very nice to solar. They only have to credit you with "avoided cost" and never have to pay you if you overproduce. It really irks me that you can't even get wholesale for back feeding the grid. Basically you are almost giving them free juice. They take your production at cost then resell it at wholesale and retail prices while you eat the maintenance.
That's ok though. I'm on a binge of slashing every conceivable electrical cost. If I have my way I'll end up off, or close to off, of the grid. Heat is easy, it's cooling that will be the problem.
Ok, I'm done whining lol.
Imma go check out Archae's Ensupra suggestion.
Phil
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.