[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by jyl

Okay, so defer decision until after the minisplits are in.

Are there meters that can log the consumption of 240v appliances? I’m thinking clamp-on type?

EDIT I found this one, which seems absurdly cheap if it even sort of works. https://www.amazon.com/Current-Amperage-Voltmeter-Multimeter-Transformer/dp/B07JB9B2QL/

Actually this one looks better https://www.amazon.com/SIEMENS-Smart-Home-Electricity-Monitoring/dp/B0CTTSC7DR/

These modern tools look great.

In my last house I did it the old fashioned way with an amp clamp and then calculating the hours per day in use. My ancient HVAC from 1985 consumed 12,000w and struggled to keep the house cool on 100F days. This was a big clue. The first step is quantifying the problem, and then you have choices to address the problem from a clear-eyed cost/benefit analysis.

Our current home was finished in 2021 and is highly efficient with extensive insulation and very efficient appliances. We only pay 10 cents per Kwh on average here in ID with a lot of hydro and some of the lowest electrical generation costs in the US. As a result our energy cost is about 30% of what it was in SoCal with a 1965 home and essentially the same sq ft.