Comments on: Black & Decker Power Monitor Review http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Paul T http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-45815 Paul T Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:44:53 +0000 #comment-45815 I have used this device for about a year. I can say it's help me save about $100 / month in costs. It really helped me understand where the waste is coming from. In my case it was the light bulbs driving the waste. I changed the bulbs over to CF starting with the rooms where the kids were and went from there... I was surprised that my PC's, 50" LCD TV, and 36" "tube" tv were not the big culprits. Now that I have a good grasp on my waste, I'm going to lend to my brother. Highly recommended... I have used this device for about a year. I can say it’s help me save about $100 / month in costs. It really helped me understand where the waste is coming from.

In my case it was the light bulbs driving the waste. I changed the bulbs over to CF starting with the rooms where the kids were and went from there… I was surprised that my PC’s, 50″ LCD TV, and 36″ “tube” tv were not the big culprits.

Now that I have a good grasp on my waste, I’m going to lend to my brother.

Highly recommended…

]]> By: Larry Roach http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-38232 Larry Roach Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:55:48 +0000 #comment-38232 The power utility where I live, (SaskPower in Saskatchewan Canada), not only encourages the use of this devise, but also subsidizes the purchase price. The power utility in the Garden State should perhaps stop and smell the roses! The power utility where I live, (SaskPower in Saskatchewan Canada), not only encourages the use of this devise, but also subsidizes the purchase price. The power utility in the Garden State should perhaps stop and smell the roses!

]]> By: Brian http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-32371 Brian Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:21:47 +0000 #comment-32371 If you want to monitor your usage and not be concerned with the electric company having issue with items like the black and decker I would suggest getting a TED device, it works like this product but you hook it up to your electrical box inside the house, where the electric company never bothers you. Be careful you have to do some minor wiring in the box and unfortunately the monitor is not wireless but it uses no batteries so less stuff in a land fill. You can also get software where it will log your usage. Google "the energy detective" to find it. It's about 50 bucks more then the B&D product but I think it may be better, but I couldn't help looking for alternatives to it and I found this article. If you want to monitor your usage and not be concerned with the electric company having issue with items like the black and decker I would suggest getting a TED device, it works like this product but you hook it up to your electrical box inside the house, where the electric company never bothers you. Be careful you have to do some minor wiring in the box and unfortunately the monitor is not wireless but it uses no batteries so less stuff in a land fill. You can also get software where it will log your usage. Google “the energy detective” to find it. It’s about 50 bucks more then the B&D product but I think it may be better, but I couldn’t help looking for alternatives to it and I found this article.

]]> By: New Toy « Red Herrings http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-30928 New Toy « Red Herrings Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:05:29 +0000 #comment-30928 [...] the gadgeteer (One horror story comment: here) [...] [...] the gadgeteer (One horror story comment: here) [...]

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-29651 Julie Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:45:08 +0000 #comment-29651 @didierx: Unfortunately, it is not that sophisticated... @didierx: Unfortunately, it is not that sophisticated…

]]> By: didierx http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-29649 didierx Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:36:22 +0000 #comment-29649 "is it possible to program the unit , to calculate by day the first 30kwh at one price, and the rest of kwh used at an other price(usually higher), and have the unit remake the calculation for each day?" “is it possible to program the unit , to calculate by day the first 30kwh at one price, and the rest of kwh used at an other price(usually higher), and have the unit remake the calculation for each day?”

]]> By: Bob http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-29015 Bob Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:08:47 +0000 #comment-29015 From an electric companies perspective, you should call your provider to see if you can attach these to the meter. For someone who doesn't know what this unit is, it could be viewed as something to alter the readings on the meter to try to steal electricity/ or lower your actual bill. From an electric companies perspective, you should call your provider to see if you can attach these to the meter. For someone who doesn’t know what this unit is, it could be viewed as something to alter the readings on the meter to try to steal electricity/ or lower your actual bill.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25434 Julie Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:00:48 +0000 #comment-25434 <p>MyRealGenius:</p> <p>Yikes! Since the customer service rep admitted to destroying your property, I would think you would be within your rights to request that they pay you for the damage to the monitor...</p> <p>BTW: I'm glad I don't live in NJ ;o)</p> MyRealGenius:

Yikes! Since the customer service rep admitted to destroying your property, I would think you would be within your rights to request that they pay you for the damage to the monitor…

BTW: I’m glad I don’t live in NJ ;o)

]]> By: MyRealGenius http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25433 MyRealGenius Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:55:26 +0000 #comment-25433 <p><strong>Warning Will Robinson - Warning!!!</strong></p> <p>I Have, I should say HAD one of these installed for a few days. Then one morning I saw that it stopped working at the receiver. I get dressed and go out into the cold, and BAM!!! It was Gone! Nope, It didn't Slip Off. It was flat out removed from the meter. Who would do something like this? Did someone see me putting this up and a jealous neighbor decided to take it from me? Not that I could figure out at all from asking around. I went and Called the Police, they came out to my house the next day to file a report, because I guess the next day is the best you can get for 18K a year in this area for your property taxes!</p> <p>Sorry I got side tracked with the Corrupt New Jersey Tax system. Well I filling out my report with them in the cold, and my very nice mailman asks if everything is OK? I went and told him what I had purchased, and how some creep went and removed it. <em>NOW HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS</em> ...His reply was that he saw the PSE&G Guy taking a readings yesterday in the area, which is almost always close to the end of the month. I ran right to the phone and called the local utility company, and they got in touch with the service people that was taking the readings the day before. In just about 30 minutes I got a call from a Service Supervisor and they confirmed that their Tech "Did Remove this from my Meter, and was discarded." YES HE SAID DISCARDED!!! He went on to tell me that I "RENT" the Meter, I do not own it. For this reason it was removed from my meter, and Thrown in <strong>GET THIS, MY OWN TRASH CAN!!!</strong> I was rather upset over all this and started to yell, and he started to yell back that if I want to mount anything on the meter I can just buy the meter from them and do anything I @#$%ing Want! <strong>YEP, I got the F-BOMB Dropped on ME!</strong></p> <p>Well a Long Story Short at this point, I did recover the Device and mounting band which was cut off. The unit was damaged on purpose as it looks like the Meter Reader Jumped up and down on it crushing the outer case, and the extension arm was cleanly cut off with some kind of cutters. That Tag on mine meant nothing at all to them, except Remove Me and be a JERK! </p> <p>Insult to Injury now, I get a Bill from them for the removal and disposal of the "Foreign Device" from my meter for $196.88. Followed with a Bill to replace the Glass Dome as it was damaged when it was removed from the meter by force, and this said force caused the meter to come separated from the wall causing damage to the integrity of the meter housing. Now I have a Bill for over $2000.00 for all this upset, and what will I do? Well the fees were added to my Utility Bill, ya know what happens when you refuse to pay you Utility Bill? </p> <p>You get your plug pulled...BEEP BEEP BEEP, got to go! My Battery is going dead on this laptop while I'm using my flash light...BEEP BEEP BEEP. . . . . . . BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP - SPUTTER - POP - FIZZ . . . </p> <p><em>(To Be Continued...)</em></p> <p><em>[Edited at November 30, 2008 21:58:10 PM.]</em></p> Warning Will Robinson – Warning!!!

I Have, I should say HAD one of these installed for a few days. Then one morning I saw that it stopped working at the receiver. I get dressed and go out into the cold, and BAM!!! It was Gone! Nope, It didn’t Slip Off. It was flat out removed from the meter. Who would do something like this? Did someone see me putting this up and a jealous neighbor decided to take it from me? Not that I could figure out at all from asking around. I went and Called the Police, they came out to my house the next day to file a report, because I guess the next day is the best you can get for 18K a year in this area for your property taxes!

Sorry I got side tracked with the Corrupt New Jersey Tax system. Well I filling out my report with them in the cold, and my very nice mailman asks if everything is OK? I went and told him what I had purchased, and how some creep went and removed it. NOW HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS …His reply was that he saw the PSE&G Guy taking a readings yesterday in the area, which is almost always close to the end of the month. I ran right to the phone and called the local utility company, and they got in touch with the service people that was taking the readings the day before. In just about 30 minutes I got a call from a Service Supervisor and they confirmed that their Tech “Did Remove this from my Meter, and was discarded.” YES HE SAID DISCARDED!!! He went on to tell me that I “RENT” the Meter, I do not own it. For this reason it was removed from my meter, and Thrown in GET THIS, MY OWN TRASH CAN!!! I was rather upset over all this and started to yell, and he started to yell back that if I want to mount anything on the meter I can just buy the meter from them and do anything I @#$%ing Want! YEP, I got the F-BOMB Dropped on ME!

Well a Long Story Short at this point, I did recover the Device and mounting band which was cut off. The unit was damaged on purpose as it looks like the Meter Reader Jumped up and down on it crushing the outer case, and the extension arm was cleanly cut off with some kind of cutters. That Tag on mine meant nothing at all to them, except Remove Me and be a JERK!

Insult to Injury now, I get a Bill from them for the removal and disposal of the “Foreign Device” from my meter for $196.88. Followed with a Bill to replace the Glass Dome as it was damaged when it was removed from the meter by force, and this said force caused the meter to come separated from the wall causing damage to the integrity of the meter housing. Now I have a Bill for over $2000.00 for all this upset, and what will I do? Well the fees were added to my Utility Bill, ya know what happens when you refuse to pay you Utility Bill?

You get your plug pulled…BEEP BEEP BEEP, got to go! My Battery is going dead on this laptop while I’m using my flash light…BEEP BEEP BEEP. . . . . . . BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP – SPUTTER – POP – FIZZ . . .

(To Be Continued…)

[Edited at November 30, 2008 21:58:10 PM.]

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25432 Julie Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:36:08 +0000 #comment-25432 <p>Robert: Yes, that's what it is :o)</p> Robert:
Yes, that’s what it is :o )

]]> By: Robert L Grenader http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25431 Robert L Grenader Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:32:12 +0000 #comment-25431 <p>I wanted to ask, is that white tag on the meter head a "don't worry, we're not breaking anything" disclaimer for the meter reader?</p> I wanted to ask, is that white tag on the meter head a “don’t worry, we’re not breaking anything” disclaimer for the meter reader?

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25430 Julie Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:05:53 +0000 #comment-25430 <p>Robert:</p> <p>While this product won't give you an absolute accurate reading of what your bill will be for the current month, I think it can be a good tool. Anything that gets people to actually care about the resources that they are using and how to control them is a good thing in my opinion. </p> <p>That said, I think I like the <a href="http://the-gadgeteer.com/review/kill_a_watt_ez_electricity_usage_monitor">Kill-a-watt</a> product better...</p> <p>Hey, if you build me a $10k system, I'll review it ;o)</p> Robert:

While this product won’t give you an absolute accurate reading of what your bill will be for the current month, I think it can be a good tool. Anything that gets people to actually care about the resources that they are using and how to control them is a good thing in my opinion.

That said, I think I like the Kill-a-watt product better…

Hey, if you build me a $10k system, I’ll review it ;o)

]]> By: Robert L Grenader http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25429 Robert L Grenader Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:56:35 +0000 #comment-25429 <p>I do building automation systems for a living, and while commendable, this "Power Monitor" is jsut another attempt to pry $$ out of your pocket for no good reason. The only true way to determine usage is to measure and track killowat hours (KWh) and see the impact of various house systems. </p> <p>So, for $10,000, I could provide a kick ass building automation system that would allow you to measure realtime power consumption, add the values to a database, provide realtime trending of usage, provide automatic import into Excel where you could analysize to your hearts content.</p> <p>You could also turn lights on and off, manage your HVAC systems, take advantage of "free cooling", etc all from your PC. It would also make you the envy of EVERY GEEK IN THE COUNTRY.</p> <p>Woo Hoo.</p> <p><em>[Edited at November 23, 2008 10:57:23 AM.]</em></p> I do building automation systems for a living, and while commendable, this “Power Monitor” is jsut another attempt to pry $$ out of your pocket for no good reason. The only true way to determine usage is to measure and track killowat hours (KWh) and see the impact of various house systems.

So, for $10,000, I could provide a kick ass building automation system that would allow you to measure realtime power consumption, add the values to a database, provide realtime trending of usage, provide automatic import into Excel where you could analysize to your hearts content.

You could also turn lights on and off, manage your HVAC systems, take advantage of “free cooling”, etc all from your PC. It would also make you the envy of EVERY GEEK IN THE COUNTRY.

Woo Hoo.

[Edited at November 23, 2008 10:57:23 AM.]

]]> By: Paul Roberts http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25428 Paul Roberts Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:35:32 +0000 #comment-25428 <p>Thanks for info. Only 60ft that really limts it's use.</p> Thanks for info. Only 60ft that really limts it’s use.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25427 Julie Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:47:11 +0000 #comment-25427 <p>Paul:</p> <p>I just found the specs... The range is up to 60ft.</p> Paul:

I just found the specs… The range is up to 60ft.

]]> By: Paul Roberts http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25426 Paul Roberts Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:31:14 +0000 #comment-25426 <p>Can’t find the manual online. How far does the radio signal transmit. I am in apt Paying $156 a month and I think it is the hot water heater and refrigerator making the bill so high. But with the meter being 80 - 120 feet away I hope it will work.</p> Can’t find the manual online. How far does the radio signal transmit. I am in apt Paying $156 a month and I think it is the hot water heater and refrigerator making the bill so high. But with the meter being 80 – 120 feet away I hope it will work.

]]> By: Tyler Puckett http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/11/21/black_decker_power_monitor_review/comment-page-1/#comment-25425 Tyler Puckett Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:35:05 +0000 #comment-25425 <p>I think a device like this with a little more intelligence (ability to look up rate information on-the-fly via WiFi, or have a computer app to write information to it rather than programming via buttons, reset itself automatically, etc.) would be much more useful.</p> <p>Although, it's not terribly difficult to read your own meter and figure your usage and bill minus fees from there.</p> I think a device like this with a little more intelligence (ability to look up rate information on-the-fly via WiFi, or have a computer app to write information to it rather than programming via buttons, reset itself automatically, etc.) would be much more useful.

Although, it’s not terribly difficult to read your own meter and figure your usage and bill minus fees from there.

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