There are cheaper options available than the monitor we tested from RS Components. They include all the recommended features we've recommended you look out for and are widely available at the time of writing.

Measuring your power can help you cut down your energy bills and consumption, saving you money in the long term. How much do energy monitors cost? Both monitors require batteries for the sensor/transmitter. The Elite requires a further set for its mobile display. Profile measures current and voltage and records kW, kVAr, supply Volts, total circuit Power Factor and two pulse Inputs against a user set integration period. Measures RMS Voltage, RMS Current, Active, Reactive and Apparent Power, Power Factor as well as Active & Reactive energy.I did the initial set-up in the evening where everything behaved as expected. But in the day, when our solar PV grid-tie system started generating/exporting, things went a little wrong. By their basic design these monitors are not capable of handling export from local microgeneration. Instead they see it as a load, ie consumption. While energy monitors alone will not save you money, they bring you a lot closer to the energy you are using – switch on the tumble drier, for example, and see the kWh reading soar.

Want a closer, more honest relationship with your energy consumption? An energy monitor could be the answer.Amazingly both seem to work well even with the door shut on our metal meter box, with the transmitters inside. Nor do they interfere with one another. Whole home monitors are not as good at working out the power consumption of individual devices, as you have to measure overall consumption with a device turned on, and then measure it again with it switched off, which can be problematic. Monitor historic energy data every day, weekly or monthly information including expenses, Co2 and kWh. Examine your utilisation with regards to your bill at the conclusion of the month using the history functionality. Presents your consumption in Co2 to help you maintain your emissions under control. Using multi variables, you will keep an eye on electric power (w), kWh, Current (A), Voltage (V), Frequency (Hz), Co2 exhausts. View the electric power factor, price, maximum electric power. The device is exceptionally suitable for monitoring of energy levels of electric home appliances. The monitors have a similar resolution. (Elite is 10W, Smartpower is 5W.) They seemed to agree closely with one another most of the time. For example one read 260W, and the other 270W.