bit-tech Shopping: P3 International Kill-a-Watt EZ Electric Usage

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Works as stated in ad's. Easy to set up.

Weaknesses: Small text under main display can be hard to read for people getting "older". Can't use on 220. Can use on only one device at a time which is really the purpose.

Summary: I have used this on my refrigerator and freezer so far. Gave me readings as advertised. I left it on both for at least a week to get the most accurate readings. If you wanted to use on clothes washer, you should probably leave it on for a month. It is mostly a novelty item to me.It is surprising how little or how much an individual appliance can cost you each month.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Good Measurements of current usage.

Weaknesses: Blocks other plug on duel recepticals. Hard to read in confined space area.

Summary: I test several appliances and large electronics(TV, Computer, etc). It worked great on all of them including my Xbox360. Although I have heard that all these pluged in devices use a large amount of usage when off. I did not find that to be true, even with the xbox 360. This product did the job I was looking for.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Months

Strengths: shows the power eaters around the house. I was defiantly surprised by the number of devices that were seemingly turned off but plugged in that still drew electricity. They are now unplugged when not i

Weaknesses: Screen could use a backlight but this is a minor inconvenience.

Summary: This kill a watt product allowed me to determine that the VCR was actually the biggest power draw of the house when all appliances are off. The VCR is now unpluged. I just got my first power bill after receiving this product and it is lower. I plan on using it some more to determine the cost of running and not running my appliances.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Months

Strengths: simple to use; inexpensive; provides direct readouts of Watts being used as well as cost per year, etc to run any connected electronic device/appliance

Weaknesses: none

Summary: The simple, easy-to-use Kill-A-Watt EZ? should allow you to save $100?s in electricity costs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by allowing you to monitor the amount of electrical power being used by each of your appliances or electronic devices. LCD display shows Watts being used and calculates how much it costs you to run each device per year. For example, I formerly kept my Laserprinter turned-on, but in an energy-conserving mode 24/7, until the Kill-A-Watt EZ informed me that the ?energy-conserving mode? wasted 250 kilowatt hours/year (about $38 cost, or about 375 lbs of released carbon dioxide). Our cable tv box uses 350 kilowatt-hours/year even when turned off! Plugging the cable box into a switchable power strip/surge suppressor allows power to be conveniently switched off to the cable box for overnight or for periods of several hours when the TV won?t be in use.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 8

Strengths: Easy to operate. Portable. Works best attached to short extension cord.

Weaknesses: Difficult to read meter in dim light conditions.

Summary: Product received was exactly as advertised. Shipment arrived in time frame promised and in excellent condition. It performed accurately right out of the box and quickly identified areas where electricity savings could be achieved.