P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor
by P3 INTERNATIONAL
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List Price: Our Price: $22.41 You Save: $37.54 (63%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $18.00 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor
Customer Review: P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor
Summary: 4 Stars
It does what it says it does.
You definitely need an 3 prong extension cord to work with it because it is very difficult to read when it is plugged into an outlet. It is actually next to useless without using an extension cord between the outlet and the Kill-A-Watt.
The first two weeks I had it I used it a lot, but after I determined out how much electricity was being used by each appliance, the Kill-A-Watt then collects a lot of dust. I pull it out when I get a new appliance, or when I lend it to someone. I just wish I knew someone who had one, and I could have borrowed theirs. :-)
I was amazed at the amount of power my entertainment center used when it was OFF! I have subsequently unplugged components that are rarely used. Powered sub-woofers are a real surprise.
I've had it a couple years, and I would purchase it again. I believe it has paid for itself.
Customer Review: Does the job
Summary: 4 Stars
I was a bit disappointed after I received the item. Don't get me wrong it works as expected but I was thinking I could really find out ways to save some money by identifying electrical vampires. All of the electronics I tested used so little electricity when not on it seems kind of silly to be concerned. For example a 27" HDTV with a DVD player on the same circuit uses $4.53 a year when not being used. For some reason I thought it would cost more than it does.
But it is interesting to find out how much appliances cost to use if you ran them 24/7 for 365 days. The TV and DVD player runs around $98 a year.
My Wish list: I wish it had a back light; I'm 50 and can't see so well. I also wish it had a tilted screen; it's a pain to work with it while it's in the wall socket and catching the right angle to see.
Overall, it's a fine product.
Customer Review: Kill A Watt Power Usage Monitor Tells All!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm using the 4460 to learn how much power each of my household appliances is using. I'm hoping the results will tell me whether or not I need to replace any appliances or devices. So far the results are great. All I had to do was enter our KWH rate from ComEd and plug the device in. It tracks how long it has been monitoring an appliance and measures the power usage. After a number of days of monitoring - the longer the better - it projects the cost per day, per week, per month, and per year.
The only problem I had is that when it was connected to a microwave oven the 4460 would beep for a while whenever the oven began to operate. The operating manual doesn't describe this condition, but I think it may be related to a low voltage condition, based on the voltage display at the time. I need to place a call to the company to see if they have an answer.
Customer Review: Useful, but not perfect
Summary: 4 Stars
Very useful for determining the amount of energy used by major appliances. I like the fact that it keeps track of total energy consumption and uses the actual energy cost to forecast the cost of operation. This information is very useful when targeting appliances to reduce energy consumption. It is also useful for evaluating how successful I am at reducing energy consumption.
I don't like the fact that the LCD does not have a backlight, and that the display can only be read while the unit is plugged in. I have to get on the floor to read it. The unit also blocks both outlets.
I recommend getting a couple of extension cords and using this device "in line". Use one cord from the kill-a-watt to the wall, so that it's easier to read, then another cord from the kill-a-watt to your appliance (not needed if your appliance has a long enough cord).
Customer Review: Memory & backlight would be better, but does its job
Summary: 4 Stars
This product is great. I was wondering how much power my Pentium 3 computer takes. According to the kill-a-watt, it is $40 per year. That alone is worth the purchase price of this device.
It'd be nicer if the Kill-a-Watt would have some memory to it (possibly running on a battery) so you could see what a device used after you unplug it. If the outlet is hidden, it's sometimes hard to see the LCD on the kill-a-watt while it's still plugged in. Unforunately, when you unplug the kill-a-watt, it loses its record of energy consumption, so you have to take readings while the kill-a-watt is still plugged in. This would likely require a battery, so it would come with some downside.
Also, a backlit LCD would make it a little easier to use.
That said, neither of these missing features would stop me for recommending the kill-a-watt.