Killawatt meter question

[gadgtfreek]

When I plug a surge protector into it, hit AMPS, it displays the actual current draw for all those devices running correct?

Reason I asked, is I just checked my HDDVR, EHD and subwoofer (cranked pretty loud) andit was 1.10 AMPS. For some reason I figured it'd be worse I guess. Im using a tripplite isobar ultra for those and its 12amps, so I guess no worries there LOL.

Cool stuff, Vacuum was 9.1 amps and the hair dryer was almost 13A.

 

[StevenD]

I've found the Kill-A-Watts to be fairly accurate. All of my UPS's display current wattage being used, and I have compared that to a Kill-A-Watt and they were both pretty close to each other.

People make a lot of fuss about nothing about DVRs running 24/7. Comparatively speaking, they don't really draw that much.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Thanks. I guess I was more surprised that the sub wasnt pulling jack for amps.

 

[raoul5788]

Thanks. I guess I was more surprised that the sub wasnt pulling jack for amps.

Did you check when it was hitting a low, loud note? I'd think that's when you would get the most draw.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Oh yeah, I had it on a bassy song, and the volume was cranked. I wonder since most amps have large capacitors, if it does not slowly build its power for peaks, so you dont see a huge draw on the bass hits because it comes from the caps.

 

[jayn_j]

That is exactly it. The power supply is heavily buffered to avoid heavy draw on short peaks. In addition, the sub is a heavily inductive load, so the large capacitors will also lower the power factor. It is an efficiency issue because reactive loads will draw more power than resistive ones.

 

[gadgtfreek]

I guess that's why like for my sub, it's 350rms and 1400 short term. Also why I guess HSU recommends certain setup parameters on the sub to offer the most "headroom". I guess headroom is about eating into that stored capacitor power too quickly.