Cool gadgets:

Watts Up Pro (http://www.powermeterstore.com/p1206/watts_up_pro.php?p_tab=main)

Cent-a-meter (http://www.powermeterstore.com/p4154/cent-a-meter.php)


I'm thinking of getting one of these - Anyone tried either of them?

(I may buy one and ask for the other for Christmas :))

:)
ken

Err Ken..
if your looking to cut your electricity - I wouldn't buy something that works off eletricity (lol).

tips on reducing electricity

Microwaves with times in them - don't buy - switch them off - your microwave is probably only less than 1 % of the time and yet its left plug in and turn on (digital clock) - unplug it - OK its small tip enough of us do it .


then look a what else we have plugged in with a digital timer on it - can we unplug it
TV- video - Ok so we need those - radio alarm - ok we need this
electric Shower - do you use it all the time ?? (or do you have more baths - ok turn that off )

I ramble

A tip I saw on tv was to put a power surge strip in between the tv/dvd/vcr/etc and the wall and flip the power strip off when not watching tv.

I just bought the Watts Up gizmo. Stay tuned for a review...

:)
ken

Edit: What is an 'electric Shower'?

its a small boiler unit - which speed heats the cold water supply - the boiler vessel is about the size of a bible book and heats up very hot - very fast then you mix with cold water supply in the normal way -

it a bit like a kettle - no that doesn't help - eermm..
its a thing that makes water hot uses electric instead of gas..
its a enclosed unit - i know power shower ??

Can you google me a link to one?

remember i am in the Uk

http://www.taps4less.com/Electric-Shower.html?ad=GoogleEShower

cos i was wondering why you asked - i had a shop around USA sites and found out this from a help site

for you info UK works of 240 volts however some UK application have a switch to drop to European levels - 220 however not all of europe works on this -- however i can answer somme of the questuions asked below
pluming - metric - if you got imperial not a problem - adeptors cheap 2 inch down to 40 mil or down to 25 mil etc however as to electic connectiosn UK we have a 3 wire system live, earth neutral - not too sure how this works stateside . and also not sure about this in witihn the boiler unit - anyway
thesework pretty well the high the kw the better


Nov 21, 2005, 04:19 PM
Hi Tom,I only found this site yesterday. can the british showers work in the usa. what about the voltage difference. or can I find something similar in the usa. thanks olivia

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labmanNov 21, 2005, 06:13 PM
Electric shower? Is this like a point of use tankless water heater? Most European electricity runs on 220 volts. Some multifamily and commercial building have 208 volt available in America, but most single family homes only have 120 or 240. Wire it up to 120, and you may not get hot enough water. Wire it up to 240, and you may burn it out if you turn it up too high. Chances are, if you don't run it at the max much, you would get away with using the 240 volts for a long time.

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caibuaddayNov 21, 2005, 07:33 PM
Hi Tom,I only found this site yesterday. can the british showers work in the usa. what about the voltage difference. or can I find something similar in the usa. thanks olivia
I think the european electric is 220v... (1 hot ... as america it is 2 hot 210v).... what about the plumbing is it in metric as america it in inch (british's system :eek: )....... just wonder how well would it work

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speedball1Nov 24, 2005, 10:35 AM
Hi Olivia,

caibuadday's correct. You must have 220 volts to operate a electric shower.
They work on the same principle as a instant hot water heater. Regards, Tom

Cool - !

So do you plug this thing into the wall? Seems like that would be an electrical/water hazard?

:)
ken

its a small boiler unit - which speed heats the cold water supply - the boiler vessel is about the size of a bible book and heats up very hot - very fast then you mix with cold water supply in the normal way -

it a bit like a kettle - no that doesn't help - eermm..
its a thing that makes water hot uses electric instead of gas..
its a enclosed unit - i know power shower ??

Basically they're crap, you'd get a better shower from a watering can;)

Cool - !

So do you plug this thing into the wall? Seems like that would be an electrical/water hazard?

:)
ken

They're directly connected to the main circuits

hell no the electrics are seperate

I'll outline the set up

bathroom(cloakroom) whatever you want to call the room with the shower in it ...
the plumping usually come ups up (not always) from the ground and plumed in nothing fancy either s a solder connection or a snap fit now a wire (the power supply ) (conforming to local regualtions and or manufactors recommendations) connects to this and this wire runs up (remember up - water fall s down ) and over the ceiling and you wire this into either a sepearte spur or convert a plug socket to hold this coneection (it does not have a plug on the end -so a "hard wire" connection is use with an isolation switch .

generally the unit is in a cupboard that backs onto the shower room --

so all you see is the plastic covering on the front the thermosat is a dial so you can have cold to blinkin hot - the first 5 seconds of water are cold as the heater hasn't had a chance to heat it up but after this - hot water ..
I' ll see if i can find a descent diagram .. that outlines the set up but inth e end its like a lightswitrch plate you see the plate but behind it is the boiler

Basically they're crap, you'd get a better shower from a watering can;)

I love mine - Never had any problems with it use it almost every day
but i must admit you need as higher KW setting as possible anything below 10.5 and Rich's comments are right

Actually the UK voltage was brought into line with Europe and is now 230v nom.

I'm guessing 120V (USA) would not have enough power to make one work...

I love mine - Never had any problems with it use it almost every day
but i must admit you need as higher KW setting as possible anything below 10.5 and Rich's comments are right

Have a shower from a 24-30KW boiler and see the difference, mind you it does make a mockery of the crap that showering saves water;):cool:

I'm guessing 120V (USA) would not have enough power to make one work...

It's AC anyway not DC

no the voltage has to be a bit more Butch ...

when i have the inlaws over - (from Philie)
they love it


below is a link that goes into more detail

http://davidkearns.co.uk/showers.asp

Have a shower from a 24-30KW boiler and see the difference, mind you it does make a mockery of the crap that showering saves water;):cool:

-- i want a wash not a jet scrub...(yeah i had showers with these - great - but you don't get those in domistic houses (well not often)

It's AC anyway not DC

We're AC.

ken

Have a shower from a 24-30KW boiler and see the difference, mind you it does make a mockery of the crap that showering saves water;):cool:

I think that you will find that 20 minutes under a power shower uses considerable less water than a bath, and lets face it 10 minutes is long enough, plus the water in a shower is considerable cooler than that in a bath thus saving power.
If you don't believe me, and you can, try filling the bath using your shower on its normal setting.

Brian

-- - but you don't get those in domistic houses (well not often)

Anyone who has a combi or gas power instantaneous water heater can have one, without the cost off an additional electric circuit

-- i want a wash not a jet scrub...(yeah i had showers with these - great - but you don't get those in domistic houses (well not often)

I think Rich is talking about the supply coming direct from a combi boiler.

Brian

D*** Rich replied whilst I was typing

I think that you will find that 20 minutes under a power shower uses considerable less water than a bath, and lets face it 10 minutes is long enough, plus the water in a shower is considerable cooler than that in a bath thus saving power.
If you don't believe me, and you can, try filling the bath using your shower on its normal setting.

Brian

I put the plug into the bath the other day and after a normal shower the bath was half full:eek: When my daughter asked if she could shower the tribe I told her to half fill the bath and share it between the three of them:D

It's not a "power shower" by the way but mains fed;)

We're AC.

ken

No good either way;) get yourself a sensible voltage

I know I'll regret asking this but what is a 'power shower'? All we have are cold and hot water lines going through a mixing/on-off valves then out the shower head.

???
ken

Hmm , I can no longer try as I don't have a bath, but a few years ago I when I did it I was not much more than ankle deep in tepid water.:(
It was an old shower, but I hadn't expected that much difference but can't argue.

Brian

No good either way;) get yourself a sensible voltage

I wonder if this is why your power bills are twice as much as ours - :p:p

I know I'll regret asking this but what is a 'power shower'? All we have are cold and hot water lines going through a mixing/on-off valves then out the shower head.

???
ken

The water is pumped to give a greater flow, and avoid pressure variation problems.

Brian

I know I'll regret asking this but what is a 'power shower'? All we have are cold and hot water lines going through a mixing/on-off valves then out the shower head.

???
ken

Power shower - depends on your set up
but basically involves a pump and forcing the water at you a higher pressure than normal (jet wash)

:-Any shower that is in some way pumped is often referred to as a power shower. This type of shower will require tank fed cold and hot water supplies. These supplies should feed only the pumped shower and particular care needs to be given to the configuration of the hot supply pipe work to insure there is no ingress of air into the pump. Different manufactures have different ideas as to how this should be done so to avoid warranty problems follow their installation instructions carefully.

so in essense this states you need a hot and cold water tank and the pump - pumps it with more forvce the force depends on how pink you wwant your skin to be - a little too much and you end up in the room next door - too much and your neighbours get a good look-

I wonder if this is why your power bills are twice as much as ours - :p:p

Actually, double the voltage gives appr. half the power requirement, so that argument doesn't hold water:p

Power shower - depends on your set up
but basically involves a pump and forcing the water at you a higher pressure than normal (jet wash)

:-Any shower that is in some way pumped is often referred to as a power shower. This type of shower will require tank fed cold and hot water supplies. These supplies should feed only the pumped shower and particular care needs to be given to the configuration of the hot supply pipe work to insure there is no ingress of air into the pump. Different manufactures have different ideas as to how this should be done so to avoid warranty problems follow their installation instructions carefully.

Ah... I kinda figured this. So I assume the quality of the shower experience is better (and costs more) and thus considered an upgrade to a water system?

so in essense this states you need a hot and cold water tank and the pump - pumps it with more forvce the force depends on how pink you wwant your skin to be - a little too much and you end up in the room next door - too much and your neighbours get a good look-

Considering most of them are rated at OneBar that's highly unlikely;):D

Hmm , I can no longer try as I don't have a bath, but a few years ago I when I did it I was not much more than ankle deep in tepid water.:(
It was an old shower, but I hadn't expected that much difference but can't argue.

Brian


its cos your smelly ... (lol)

the more forcefully shower s douse up a bit more water - i did what Rich suggested and yes there was more water than i imagined - not quite half a bath but enough for me to think hold on - i could of share a bath with my partner (always good fun that - as long as i don't get the tap end) and it would of use less water..

Ah... I kinda figured this. So I assume the quality of the shower experience is better (and costs more) and thus considered an upgrade to a water system?

How do you get your hot water now? The tanks being talked about here are now becoming obsolete and are being ripped out on a daily basis:eek:

Considering most of them are rated at OneBar that's highly unlikely;):D

Beef em up a bit .... my waters supply is on at 4.5 bar then regualted down - but hell a little tweak - (lol)

partner (always good fun that - as long as i don't get the tap end) and it would of use less water..

Taps on the side of the bath cure that problem, it's just the plug you have to worry about:D

Beef em up a bit .... my waters supply is on at 4.5 bar then regualted down - but hell a little tweak - (lol)

You can't alter a Power shower pump;) in any case they're not connected to the main supply

Rich is right the move now is to combi boilers that heat water as you require it - A larger version of the electric shower - however on a gas basis ( these combi boiler are meant to be super efficent who knows ?) anyway the current thought is why heat water and not use it (storage) heat it as you need it ...

You can't alter a Power shower pump;) in any case they're not connected to the main supply

give me time , a screw driver and an old drill I'll get the sucker going ...might need strong pipes though ,reenforced taps.. ..lol

Rich is right the move now is to combi boilers that heat water as you require it - ...

Oddly although I scratch a living out of repairing and fitting them I wouldn't have one as a gift:eek:;)

Oddly although I scratch a living out of repairing and fitting them I wouldn't have one as a gift:eek:;)

7 years so far with one and apart from a few problems (me i went a drilled into a pipe- _ I had to re-pressurise it 4 times )...
mind you my old boiler - was almost victorian but worked- noisey old beast - i didn't mind the noise - but then i was up when it was clonking

Oddly although I scratch a living out of repairing and fitting them I wouldn't have one as a gift:eek:;)

Interesting, I refused to have one when our bathroom was redone a couple of years ago as I knew 3 people with them who all said that if somebody else draws water in the house then the shoer is affected, is that still true of the latest models.?

Brian

Interesting, I refused to have one when our bathroom was redone a couple of years ago as I knew 3 people with them who all said that if somebody else draws water in the house then the shoer is affected, is that still true of the latest models.?

Brian


I don't know - but it effects the electric shower reduces the flow and the water gets suddenly hotter i end up doing the fandango dance and screaming like a girl ...

Interesting, I refused to have one when our bathroom was redone a couple of years ago as I knew 3 people with them who all said that if somebody else draws water in the house then the shoer is affected, is that still true of the latest models.?

Brian

Yes and not only that by the time the water has heated through the secondary heat exchanger gallons have already gone down the sink that's aside from reliability of them:eek:

7mind you my old boiler - was almost victorian but worked- noisey old beast - i didn't mind the noise - but then i was up when it was clonking

New pump, cleaner and stats. would have kept the old one going for another twenty years, you will not get that length of service from anything made in the last ten years:eek:

moved house .. wasn't really an option...lol

New pump, cleaner and stats. would have kept the old one going for another twenty years, you will not get that length of service from anything made in the last ten years:eek:

Don't knock it the poor quality will keep you in takeaways for life. :D

Brian

Don't knock it the poor quality will keep you in takeaways for life. :D

Brian

I know and funny that, it is Friday:cool::D

I know and funny that, it is Friday:cool::D

Is tonight chink.. oops, chinese takeaway night :rolleyes::D

Brian

Now Brian - don't start - (I was going to do the same thing- )

Is tonight chink.. oops, chinese takeaway night :rolleyes::D

Brian

Yes it's a foregone conclusion that tonight is chinky night, it's what to wash it down with that's the problem:confused::cool:

Yes it's a foregone conclusion that tonight is chinky night, it's what to wash it down with that's the problem:confused::cool:

It has to be beer or a powerful red, Chianti or Rioja work. My youngest's bloke drinks white but I end up thinking its water and after 3 bottles end up plastered. :D

Brian

I might even try one of the Yanky reds:eek:

I'm thinking of getting one of these - :)
ken

For what point exactly?:confused:

A nice bottle of Gurwitzermeiner goes brilliantly with a chinky.

Col

For what point exactly?:confused:

You enter what a kwatt/hr cost and it will tell you what an old appliance cost to run. Or anything that plugs into the wall really. My brother is going in half and among half a dozen homes in the extended family it sohould be a good investment.

You enter what a kwatt/hr cost and it will tell you what an old appliance cost to run. Or anything that plugs into the wall really. My brother is going in half and among half a dozen homes in the extended family it sohould be a good investment.

Yes but are you prepared to throw everything away, why not just buy newer efficient equipment anyway?:confused:

pls google me the link

Please what? The link as posted works on my side - ?

oh sorry my mistake