The fast way to choose the most suitable energy monitor for you

Keep an eye on your energy usage at home

We all want to be in total control of our home power consumption all year round. Fortunately, modern technology offers us many smart devices to help us become more energy conscious. So if you’re thinking about purchasing an energy monitor but you don’t know which one is the best for your home, this article will present some common types of energy monitors found on the Australian market today.

What is an energy monitor?

Technically, an energy monitor provides useful insights and identifies opportunities to reduce heating, cooling or other electricity-related costs. While you can make yourself an idea of how much your air conditioner really uses, sometimes further data is needed.

This is where energy monitors prove to be very useful as they provide both real-time and historical electricity usage information. Therefore, you will be able to know which appliance, in particular, is putting a strain on your energy bill.

Types of energy monitors for homes

1) Wireless energy monitors

These tablet-looking-like devices display real-time energy usage data, such as kWh usage, costs and even CO2 emissions. A wireless energy monitor is easy to set up and use, usually having a battery life of 6 to 18 months.

However, there are just some of them that show historical usage information with a limited-time access. So, if you want to track down the energy consumption over time, you should go for the online energy monitors.

Also, wireless energy monitors are available in both traditional and smart meters. Regardless of the meter type, you will require a licensed electrician to attach the wireless sensors to your meter.

2) Online energy monitors

Nowadays, the Internet makes energy data easily accessible, anytime, anywhere, from a desktop or through tablet and mobile apps. As previously mentioned, an online energy monitor is typically more accurate than a wireless monitor, providing deeper insights into your electricity usage. For example, you can find valuable information about the voltage or the power factor for any registered period. Additionally, you can learn how your energy usage compares to other households in your region for that time of year.

If you have a traditional meter, you can access online energy monitoring by adding an attachment to your internet router. Remember that hiring a qualified electrician to attach the sensor to your meter is the safest way of installation. Most Australians with smart meters will automatically be able to access online monitoring through their electricity retailer.

3) 3-Phase power monitors

When looking for an energy monitor, you may have seen the term ‘3-phase’ here and there. But what does it actually stand for? To clarify, you should know that, in most homes, electricity is fed through a single wire or, in other words, ‘single-phase’. However, if you own a larger home with powerful appliances, such as ducted air conditioning then you require more electricity at certain times, fed through 3 wires (‘3-phase’).

While the monitoring process is quite similar in both situations, installing a specific hardware for 3-phase models is mandatory. As a consequence, you should expect a more complex and costly installation compared with single-phase monitors’

Is an energy monitor suitable for your home?

You may want to ask yourself another question first: ‘Will you use an energy monitor enough to justify the expense?” In some cases, an energy monitor can bring you up to 30% energy savings. But, eventually, you are the only one capable to take action and make all these things possible.

Contact Jaric Electrical for electrical work at your home

The expert team at Jaric Electrical can offer you the advice you need to keep your home and family safe. To find out more, call Jaric Electrical on 1300 452 742 or contact us online.