When considering various power options for both home and portable use, understanding wattage is essential. Whether you're looking into solar panels, EV chargers, LiFePO4 batteries, portable power solutions, standby generators, or wind turbines, wattage plays a crucial role in optimising power consumption and efficiency.
What do watts, kilowatts, and kilowatt hours mean?
Wattage refers to the amount of power consumed or produced by an electrical device, and it greatly influences the performance and compatibility of renewable energy products. By paying close attention to wattage specifications, you can make informed decisions that align with your energy needs, maximise the effectiveness of your investments, and contribute to a sustainable future.
What do watts, kilowatts, and kilowatt hours mean?
To calculate and manage your electricity consumption effectively, it's important to understand the terms watts, kilowatts, and kilowatt-hours (kWh). Electricity is measured in watts, and for simplicity, we'll focus on watts in this guide. It's worth noting that amps multiplied by volts equals watts.
For reference:
- 1,000 watts (W) = 1 kilowatt (kW)
- A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the unit of electrical energy used for billing and measuring household electricity consumption.
- The formula for calculating energy consumption is kW multiplied by time in hours, resulting in kWh.
Here are a few examples to illustrate these concepts:
-
Watch a film on the television for 2 hours; TV average of 75 watt:
0.075 kW x 2 hours = 0.15 kWh
0.15 kWh x 31.8p = 4.8p
-
Cook a stew in the oven for 3 and a half hours; oven average 2200 watt:
2.200 kW x 3.5 hours = 7.7 kWh
7.7 kWh x 31.8p = 244.86p = £2.45
Understanding your average household electricity consumption is also important. In the UK, an average household with 2.4 people and 3 bedrooms consumes around 250 kWh per month or 3,000 kWh per year.
How much electricity do my appliances consume?
To get an idea of how much electricity your appliances consume, refer to the table below. However, it's recommended to manually check the wattage of your own appliances to accurately assess your electricity consumption. While this process may require some effort, it's worth it and can be accompanied by a cup of tea and some music to make it more enjoyable.
See the below table for a point of reference.
|
Appliance |
Electricity (average wattage of UK supplied brands) |
Useage per Day (average over 24 hour period) |
Kilowatt Hours (kW x time in hours = kWh) |
Running Cost per Day (based on 1kWh = 31.8p) |
Running Cost per Month (based on a 30 day month. |
Running Cost per Year (based on a 365 day year. |
|
Broadband Router |
12 watts |
24 hours |
0.288 kWh |
£0.09 |
£2.70 |
£33.43 |
|
Dishwasher |
1800 watts |
2 hours |
3.6 kWh |
£1.14 |
£34.20 |
£417.85 |
|
Fan Heater |
3000 watts |
5 hours |
15 kWh |
£4.77 |
£143.10 |
£1,741.05 |
|
Fridge-Freezer |
600 watts |
24 hours |
14.4 kWh |
£4.58 |
£137.40 |
£1,671.70 |
|
Hedge Trimmer |
500 watts |
0.5 hours |
0.25 kWh |
£0.08 |
£2.40 |
£29.02 |
|
Kettle |
3 watts |
0.5 hours |
0.0015 kWh |
£0.005 |
£0.15 |
£1.83 |
|
Laptop (charging) |
140 watts |
2 hours |
0.028 kWh |
£0.89 |
£26.70 |
£325.00 |
|
Lawn Mower |
1300 watts |
0.75 hour |
0.975 kWh |
£0.31 |
£9.30 |
£113.17 |
|
Light bulb |
75 watts |
8 hours |
6 kWh |
£1.91 |
£57.30 |
£696.42 |
|
Power Washer |
2500 watts |
1.5 hours |
3.75 kWh |
£1.19 |
£35.70 |
£435.26 |
|
Smart Phone (charging) |
6 watts |
1.5 hours |
0.008 kWh |
£0.29 |
£8.70 |
£104.46 |
|
Tumble Dryer |
2500 watts |
2 hours |
5 kWh |
£3.18 |
£95.40 |
£1,160.70 |
|
Washing Machine |
2000 watts |
2 hours |
4 kWh |
£1.27 |
£38.10 |
£463.55 |
It is worth manually checking your own appliances when considering your own electricity consumption. We know it’s labour intensive - but that’s what cups of tea and radios were invented for.
Remember, being aware of wattage helps you make informed decisions about power options, understand energy usage, and manage electricity consumption efficiently.
Empower yourself with the knowledge of wattage, and embark on a journey towards a greener and more energy-efficient future by making the right choices for your power needs. Start exploring the vast range of options available and seize the opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment while enjoying the benefits of optimised power consumption.