These figures are approximate representations, and the actual power consumption of your appliances may vary substantially from these figures. Check the power tags, or better yet, measure the amperage draw with a clamp-on ammeter or home energy monitor like a Kill-A-Watt meter. You can usually find ammeters and Kill-A-Watt meters at your local hardware store or online. Multiply the hours used on the average day by the wattage listed below. This will give you the watt-hours consumed per day.
Remember that some items, such as garage door openers, are used only for a fraction of an hour or minute per day. A 300-watt item used for 5 minutes per day will only consume 25-watt hours per day. Where a range of numbers is given, the lower figure often denotes a technologically newer and more efficient model. The letters “NA” denote appliances that would normally be powered by non-electric sources in a PV powered home. If you are considering making your own power, we strongly suggest that you invest in a true RMS digital multimeter, a clamp-on type ammeter or a Kill-A-Watt meter. It actually makes sense to know where your power is being used even if you are not producing it, and if you are, these meters are essential diagnostic tools.
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