Power Consumption & Temperature Monitoring

["Andy Laurence" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've finally bought one of those power meters from Machine Mart.  I was
hor=
rified when I found what some of my equipment draws.  My main TV draws 15W
=
on standby, 9W for the one in the kitchen, 21W for the DVD player, and 67W
=
for my main server.  By turning off a few units rather than switching to
st=
andby, I've saved myself just over =A370 a year.  Brilliant!  What I have
d=
iscovered though, is that I now have to get up to turn the TV on.  That's
f=
ar too much hard work!  It's time to fit a few X10 appliance modules. 
Howe=
ver, if I fit a few appliance modules, will they also suck juice and make
t=
he whole exercise futile?  What I'm really asking, is has anyone
establishe=
d how much electricity an appliance module uses?

Also, next week sees the arrival of a new member of the family.  Yes,
that'=
s right, Bob The Bearded Dragon is moving in on Saturday.  Whilst he's
quit=
e tolerant of temperature changes, I want to know if the lamp cuts out, or
=
if we have a cold night have his heat mat come on.  For this, I need a
temp=
erature sensor in his room (it's about 4 foot and made of glass), and
suita=
ble software to control his mat.  The lamp is controlled by a thermostat,
a=
nd I think that's the most reliable solution.  Any suggestions?  I had a
lo=
ok for a temperature sensor with RS232 output in Maplin yesterday without
a=
ny luck.

Cheers,
Andy
--=20
http://www.andylaurence.co.uk