Strengths:Inexpensive, easy to use. Provides a number of different measures.
Weaknesses:Cannot store information, resets when unplugged.
Posted Jan 15, 2007 - I must admit I was quite excited when the Kill a Watt Power Meter arrived in the mail. I had envisioned the drastic savings this new tool would spur me to achieve. However, I was a bit disappointed. While it was interesting to see how much electricity each of my appliances use, I was coming up empty when it came to finding areas to save. I turn of my computers when not in use, I have LCDs as opposed to CRTs, and my stereo has been on energy saver mode since 1998 when I purchased it. All in all, the best I came up with was I could switch off my home theater powerstrip which draws 6 watts even when powered off. Rather disappointing.
However, the arrival of a new electric space heater changed my mind on this handy little appliance. By using the Kill a Watt, I was able to determine exactly how much power the space heater consumed at various thermostat settings. It's easy to see that it takes 750 watts of power when it is on, but how was I to know how much it used over the course of an evening when it switched itself off and on as necessary? By using this tool I was able to optimize the room temperature with the cost of maintaining that temperature
This is a useful tool, but it is not the electricity saving godsend that some would make it out to be. At best, you will find some ways to save a bit of money. At worst, you have a tool that will interest you for a few days or weeks, and then will serve as a paperweight.
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Rated 
Eye Opener
Comment about this review
Cheap, but needs to be redesigned!
