On 07/04/2025 10:25, Smolley wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success, but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v. this would
explain the difference.

A 5% increase in voltage would not equate to a 50% increase in power consumption. Many items would not use any more power with a small
increase in voltage.

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On 07/04/2025 10:25, Smolley wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success, but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v. this would
explain the difference.

Well say the use was 3kwh/day, that is an average of 0.125 kwh/h i.e. a
avg power consumption of 0.125 kw.

That would imply an average current of 125W/230V = 0.54A. At 247V and
assuming all that load was resistive[1] 0.54 x 247 = 134W, or about
3.22kwh / day

(for simplicity you can just scale by the ratio of voltages, so: 3 / 230
* 247)

So the the answer is "no" the voltage change would not account for the
extra power consumption.


[1] Probably is not - but will likely be mostly

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \=================================================================/

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I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day rate
for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per day. I have
been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success, but then I
noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v. this would
explain the difference.

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* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote in news:vt05lv$3d1g3$1@dont-email.me:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day
rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per
day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no
success, but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from
230v. this would explain the difference.

Even if your load was entirely resistive the increase in voltage would only account for a rise of 15% in your use. I'd keep looking (but only if you
really want to . . . )

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On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 10:53:53 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

On 07/04/2025 10:25, Smolley wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day
rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per
day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success,
but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v.
this would explain the difference.

Well say the use was 3kwh/day, that is an average of 0.125 kwh/h i.e. a
avg power consumption of 0.125 kw.

That would imply an average current of 125W/230V = 0.54A. At 247V and assuming all that load was resistive[1] 0.54 x 247 = 134W, or about
3.22kwh / day

(for simplicity you can just scale by the ratio of voltages, so: 3 / 230
* 247)

So the the answer is "no" the voltage change would not account for the
extra power consumption.

[1] Probably is not - but will likely be mostly

Perhaps a capacitor has stopped working in the fridge or Freezer.

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On 07/04/2025 11:53, Theo wrote:

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day rate >> for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per day. I have >> been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success, but then I
noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v. this would
explain the difference.

Something off with your E7 timings? eg if your storage heater timer was set to
GMT and your meter updated to BST, or similar? Could cause a spillover from night to day rate - an extra hour for a 2kW device would do it.

Someone left the fridge door open
Someone left something else on.
You've been playing too many action games on that hot little gaming
computer.
Your SO finally got around to doing the washing
Next door has tapped into your house supply for his cannabis farm

So many explanations

--
“Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.”

H.L. Mencken, A Mencken Chrestomathy

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The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 07/04/2025 11:53, Theo wrote:

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day rate >> for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per day. I have >> been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success, but then I
noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v. this would
explain the difference.

Something off with your E7 timings? eg if your storage heater timer was set to
GMT and your meter updated to BST, or similar? Could cause a spillover from
night to day rate - an extra hour for a 2kW device would do it.

Someone left the fridge door open
Someone left something else on.
You've been playing too many action games on that hot little gaming
computer.
Your SO finally got around to doing the washing
Next door has tapped into your house supply for his cannabis farm

If you have a smart meter you can set your account to 30 minute readings,
and then you can look at your consumption over the course of a day. It'll
tell you if it's a constant drain or if something is turning on and off, and when.

You can do the same by hand with the spinning disc or the flashing light on
a non-smart meter, but it's more work.

Theo

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Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success, but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v. this would
explain the difference.

Something off with your E7 timings? eg if your storage heater timer was set to GMT and your meter updated to BST, or similar? Could cause a spillover from night to day rate - an extra hour for a 2kW device would do it.

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On 7 Apr 2025 at 11:53:30 BST, "Theo" <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day rate >> for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per day. I have >> been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success, but then I
noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v. this would
explain the difference.

Something off with your E7 timings?

This is a good point. E7 timings vary across the country. Round here there are *two* sets of E7 timings, and it wasn't until EDF put in a smart meter at the Village Hall and I could ask the guy for the times, that I actually found out what we're on around here.

--
Tim

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On 07/04/2025 10:25, Smolley wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success, but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v. this would
explain the difference.

clock on C/H incorrect, and making the heating come in the mornings
while it's still frosty out there?

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On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:53:30 +0100, Theo wrote:

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day
rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per
day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success,
but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v.
this would explain the difference.

Something off with your E7 timings? eg if your storage heater timer was
set to GMT and your meter updated to BST, or similar? Could cause a spillover from night to day rate - an extra hour for a 2kW device would
do it.

Yes thanks, that is probably the answer.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:14:08 +0100, Theo wrote:

If you have a smart meter you can set your account to 30 minute
readings, and then you can look at your consumption over the course of a day. It'll tell you if it's a constant drain or if something is turning
on and off, and when.

You can do the same by hand with the spinning disc or the flashing light
on a non-smart meter, but it's more work.

Theo

Smart meter not connecting because I am north of the sensible connection line.

Does your IHD (portable display) work? If so you can set it to display live watts and daily consumption so far, and then keep an eye on it.

Theo

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On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:14:08 +0100, Theo wrote:

The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 07/04/2025 11:53, Theo wrote:

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p
day rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h
per day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no
success, but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v
from 230v. this would explain the difference.

Something off with your E7 timings? eg if your storage heater timer
was set to GMT and your meter updated to BST, or similar? Could
cause a spillover from night to day rate - an extra hour for a 2kW
device would do it.

Someone left the fridge door open Someone left something else on.
You've been playing too many action games on that hot little gaming
computer.
Your SO finally got around to doing the washing Next door has tapped
into your house supply for his cannabis farm

If you have a smart meter you can set your account to 30 minute
readings, and then you can look at your consumption over the course of a
day. It'll tell you if it's a constant drain or if something is turning
on and off, and when.

You can do the same by hand with the spinning disc or the flashing light
on a non-smart meter, but it's more work.

Theo

Smart meter not connecting because I am north of the sensible connection
line.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 07/04/2025 10:25, Smolley wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success, but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v. this would
explain the difference.

It wouldn't double your consumption.

If you are running an extra 100w, day in, day out, it sounds like an
electrical rather than an electronic load. Ditto if it is 500w for five
hours - or even an hour at 2.5kW. Logging your meter should give you
plenty of clues.

Something left on in the loft or shed? External lights?

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On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:25:53 +0100, Theo wrote:

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:14:08 +0100, Theo wrote:

If you have a smart meter you can set your account to 30 minute
readings, and then you can look at your consumption over the course
of a day. It'll tell you if it's a constant drain or if something is
turning on and off, and when.

You can do the same by hand with the spinning disc or the flashing
light on a non-smart meter, but it's more work.

Theo

Smart meter not connecting because I am north of the sensible
connection line.

Does your IHD (portable display) work? If so you can set it to display
live watts and daily consumption so far, and then keep an eye on it.

Theo

I have not had one, the installer said as the meter is dumb any linked
display wouldn't work.

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On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:27:36 +0000, Smolley wrote:

On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:53:30 +0100, Theo wrote:

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day
rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per
day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no
success,
but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v.
this would explain the difference.

Something off with your E7 timings? eg if your storage heater timer was
set to GMT and your meter updated to BST, or similar? Could cause a
spillover from night to day rate - an extra hour for a 2kW device would
do it.

Yes thanks, that is probably the answer.

Oh no its not, just noticed its not the off peak usage..

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 07/04/2025 11:30, Smolley wrote:

On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 10:53:53 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

On 07/04/2025 10:25, Smolley wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p day
rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h per
day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no success,
but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v from 230v.
this would explain the difference.

Well say the use was 3kwh/day, that is an average of 0.125 kwh/h i.e. a
avg power consumption of 0.125 kw.

That would imply an average current of 125W/230V = 0.54A. At 247V and
assuming all that load was resistive[1] 0.54 x 247 = 134W, or about
3.22kwh / day

(for simplicity you can just scale by the ratio of voltages, so: 3 / 230
* 247)

So the the answer is "no" the voltage change would not account for the
extra power consumption.


[1] Probably is not - but will likely be mostly

Perhaps a capacitor has stopped working in the fridge or Freezer.

Fridges / freezers tend to use capacitors to enable induction motors to
either start, or start and run (typically to create the illusion of an
extra phase being available to create phase rotation to spin the motor.
Without the cap the motor will basically just not work.

In other cases caps can be used for power factor correction (PFC) - e.g. reducing the inductive nature of a load like strip lights that have
magnetic balances, or smoothing the pulsed load from switch mode power supplies.

In industrial settings where you may have financial penalties for
presenting a poor power factor to the grid, this could cost you more.

However in domestic environment where you are only billed for the "real" component of your power draw, there would be very little effect. (with a
poor power factor, your apparent current would rise somewhat, and that
could result in increased thermal losses in wires etc, it is not going
to make a noticeable difference in your bills.

It seems far more likely there has been either a real change in load, or
a change in the accuracy of the metering.



--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \=================================================================/

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Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:25:53 +0100, Theo wrote:

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:14:08 +0100, Theo wrote:

If you have a smart meter you can set your account to 30 minute
readings, and then you can look at your consumption over the course
of a day. It'll tell you if it's a constant drain or if something is
turning on and off, and when.

You can do the same by hand with the spinning disc or the flashing
light on a non-smart meter, but it's more work.

Theo

Smart meter not connecting because I am north of the sensible
connection line.

Does your IHD (portable display) work? If so you can set it to display
live watts and daily consumption so far, and then keep an eye on it.

Theo

I have not had one, the installer said as the meter is dumb any linked display wouldn't work.

Not true. The IHD should still show live consumption even if the meter
isn’t communicating with the DCC and your power company.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

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On 07/04/2025 14:21, Smolley wrote:

On Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:14:08 +0100, Theo wrote:

The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 07/04/2025 11:53, Theo wrote:

Smolley <me@rest.uk> wrote:

I have been enjoying using between 2 and 3 kw/h per day on my 39p
day rate for the last year or so. Suddenly it has gone up to 5 kw/h
per day. I have been searching all outlets for extra usage with no
success, but then I noticed the mains voltage has gone up to 247v
from 230v. this would explain the difference.

Something off with your E7 timings? eg if your storage heater timer
was set to GMT and your meter updated to BST, or similar? Could
cause a spillover from night to day rate - an extra hour for a 2kW
device would do it.

Someone left the fridge door open Someone left something else on.
You've been playing too many action games on that hot little gaming
computer.
Your SO finally got around to doing the washing Next door has tapped
into your house supply for his cannabis farm

If you have a smart meter you can set your account to 30 minute
readings, and then you can look at your consumption over the course of a
day. It'll tell you if it's a constant drain or if something is turning
on and off, and when.

You can do the same by hand with the spinning disc or the flashing light
on a non-smart meter, but it's more work.

Theo

Smart meter not connecting because I am north of the sensible connection line.

So build or by a basic power monitor that will let you see at a glance
what the actual household load is. Then by a process of elimination
(i.e. turning circuits off one at a time you can see if there are any unexpected loads).

https://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/DIY_Real_time_mains_power_meter

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \=================================================================/

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