Comments on: P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor

By: V S

V S — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:27:45 +0000

You can pick up an intermediate book on POWER FACTOR CORRECTION and install a simple capacitor or inductor yourself and make these inefficient devices EFFICIENT!

All power can be charted on a "triangle" (power factor = cosine angle theta) and the flatter that triangle is, the closer you are to 100% efficiency.

Adding capacitance or inductance to the circuit will change that "triangle" making it more efficient. Simple calculations can be made using power factor correction.

You will find out that correcting your 85% efficient 1-hp motor in your refridgerator that costs you $50 a month to run will save about 20 cents or less per month to run at 20 cents per kilowatt hour. 20 cents!

This device will make you spend money on something new and trash something you already own. How is THAT saving you money?

Get something instead you can actually use, a clamp-on ammeter attached at the circuit breaker. Just turn off some lights and use your electric oven less. You need to use a certain amount anyways to exit the stone age. Rating: 3 / 5

By: James Adcock

James Adcock — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:05:40 +0000

I played around with this product but to be honest it is quicker and easier just to use your hand instead. Put your hand on the energy consumer. If you burn your hand this item is a MAJOR energy consumer. 50 watts plus. If it feels warm is is a MINOR energy consumer. Say 15 watts. If you feel no warmth at all — DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT! Objects that consume a reasonable amount of energy at least feel warm. For example, a cell phone charger plugged into the wall with no cell phone attached. Put your hand on it. Does it feel warm? Yes? Then Unplug it! No? Then Don’t Worry About It!
Rating: 3 / 5

By: Dave Kos

Dave Kos — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:00:42 +0000

This product does not come ready to use nor does it come with any detailed instructions. Save your money and buy something that comes more user friendly even you have to pay a few dollars more!
Rating: 1 / 5

By: B. Cowan

B. Cowan — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:18:50 +0000

When I put this in my cart yesterday, it was $19.99. I came back to finish the purchase today, and now it’s $24.98. It appears that Amazon software detects items left in your cart and increase the price when you return. If you’ve already made the decision to buy, I guess they try to screw you for a few more dollars. I had read of this behavior before, but never been a victim.
Rating: 1 / 5

By: G. waszcyszak

G. waszcyszak — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:23:00 +0000

DON’T BUY THIS…I read the review and thought this would save me work and some math, I was wrong. This product reads like it will calculate your power usage (hour, day, week, etc.) it doesn’t they don’t even give you the formulas to figure out the information the “large LCD” gives you. SAVE YOUR MONEY, the power usage numbers that come with the product will serve you just as well
Rating: 1 / 5