Energy Monitor showing amperes used

A question about : Energy Monitor showing amperes used

I am about to purchase a pottery kiln with a 15KW/66 amp rating. I have a single phase, 100 amp supply and Scottish Power recently provided me with a 100 amp meter and fuse. (Because of where I live, a three phase supply would cost somewhere in the region of Ј15K - so completely out of the question).

I want to buy an energy monitor which will enable me to manage my other electricity use when the kiln is firing so that I don't blow the main fuse for the house, but I'm having difficulty finding one which will measure and display current amperes used, up to 100 amps. Ideally I'd want one with an alarm I can set to go off when I reach 95 amps just to be on the safe side.

Does anyone know where I can buy such a device that doesn't cost the earth?

Best answers:

• The home energy monitors only show kW, but in order to do that they actually measure the amps.
  Home energy monitors aren't particularly accurate, but they should be good enough for this use - as long as you get one which is capable of 100A (not all are). You just need to use the conversion factor 100A = 23 kW.
  So, if the monitor goes over 20 kW, then it's time to start reducing power consumption .
• These people https://efergy.com/ seem to have a wide range. Maybe they have got something to do the job
• 1 just don't use an electric shower when the kiln is on and u should be ok!
  2 I think the White digital meters have a light which comes on when your drawing 100Amps
• Look at the power consumption of stuff 3kw = 13a (that's washing machines, kettles, tumble dryers & dishwashers, immersion heaters and some electric fires) so you should be OK with one on at the same time as the kiln. bear in mind though that you'll probably have lights, TV, fridges & freezers on as well. Avoid making a cup of tea whilst the kiln & washing machine are on.
  Cookers can be quite high if you have all the rings & both ovens flogging away easily 10kw so they frequently have a 45amp fuse. Likewise an electric shower at 8kw or so = 35amps. Avoid using these whilst the kiln is on.
  As Chumpus says an energy monitor that reads 20kw should be a warning to reduce consumption a bit - blowing the company fuse can cost you to have it replaced
• Many thanks for all the replies - the 20KW limit sounds like a good rule of thumb so long as I can find a monitor that goes up to 100 amps.
• The ones linked to above go up to 95 amps.