Electricity consumption calculator - How to calculate your energy usage from home

Feb. 20, 2013 - PRLog -- Electricity consumption calculator - If you are planning to convert your home power system to a renewable energy system, then you need to know how much power you use before you start to buy components to set-up the system.

There are many online power consumption calculators available online, which you can use to compile your home power usage easily. But, you have to know how to get the power figures for each of your home appliances to plug into the calculator in order to compile the total power consumption needed to be supported by a renewable energy system. Here are the basic steps to get these power figures:

1. List all electrical appliances

First, you will need to list down all the electrical appliances and electrical accessories that you plan to install in your home. The list must also include the tools and accessories that run on electricity but not frequently in-use. This is to ensure you have sufficient power to support them when you plug-in these tools into power socket.

2. Determine the power draw for each appliance

Every electrical item has label on their power consumption, normally in term of voltage and current. You can easily calculate the power consumption for these devices by multiplying the voltage and current. Some devices will provide the wattage information directly. If you can't the information at the devices, then look for it from their manual. Most household appliances run on 115 volt AC power, but others may require 220 VAC instead. Similarity, for DC appliances, the wattage requirements can be determined from the voltage and current labeled on the devices.

3. Estimate the usage time for each appliance

Normally the wattage calculated provides the information on how much the power consumption for a device used in one hour. You have to determine the number of hours an appliance is going to use per day. Appliances such as refrigerator may be used for 24x7, but on average the motor of a refrigerator runs 50% of the time depending on the temperature setting of the refrigerator and the environment temperature. So, the usage time for the refrigerator is 12 hours/day. Similarly, compile a list the time usage for all appliances at your home.

4. Look for extra efficiency

Some large power-draw appliances such as hot water tank heaters and electric ovens may not practical to use alternative energy system as they need large battery storage that involve higher cost. So, when you evaluation the power load at your home, you may want to consider to replace these appliances with gas alternatives. In addition, the energy efficiency for a renewable system can further be reduced by using energy efficient parts such as the compact fluorescent bulbs for home lighting.

5. Determine the size of power inverter

Once you have compiled the total energy load for your home, you have to determine the size of power inverter your system need. Make sure you use the right power inverter that meets the ratings and code requirements. Be aware that the start-up power for many appliances requires three to seven times the operation power, so you have to take into consideration the start-up power factor when determining a right power inverter for a renewable energy system.

Summary

You have to determine and calculate the required power usage for all appliances at your home before you set-up a renewable energy system. There are power-consumption tools online that you can use to ease the calculation. Use the above steps to find the necessary power figures for the total power calculation. learn how to reduce your energy the easy way .http://cheapestclothesonline.org/how-to-save-money-each-m... also read http://www.allbizreviews.com . thank you for reading.