Upstairs lighting circuit drawing using 60 watts everything switched off

[jimmer83]

Hi,

I have just received an electricity monitor and noticed an anomaly in my upstairs lightning circuit. Basically even with every appliance in this circuit (that i know of) 6 x lights and 2 x extractor fans being switched off the circuit is still using 60w?

Any suggestions whats using this 60w?

Thanks

 

[jimmer83]

Cheers murdoch, i think you may have cracked it. I have 2 mains powered smoke alarms (1 upstairs and 1 downstairs). Also, I can confirm the two of them are synced together but unsure if they are wired or wirlesses linked.

 

[Octopus]

Cheers murdoch, i think you may have cracked it. I have 2 mains powered smoke alarms (1 upstairs and 1 downstairs). Also, I can confirm the two of them are synced together but unsure if they are wired or wirelesses linked.

Do the green lights remain on with all the other circuits switches off?

BTW there is a "thanks" and "like" button in each reply, so please use these!

 

[jimmer83]

Yes green lights on both remain on when all circuits switched off. Confirm both are in 'upstairs lightning' circuit.

 

[UKMeterman]

Hi,
Leave everything else off and see how much your electricity meter moves in an hour, you may have a large capacitive load.

 

[HandySparks]

Yes green lights on both remain on when all circuits switched off. Confirm both are in 'upstairs lightning' circuit.

If the smoke alarms don't feel warm to the touch, they won't be consuming more than a watt or two each. Any more than this and you'd feel it.

Given that you can run a smoke alarm on a PP3 battery for more than a year, I wouldn't expect a mains one to consume more than a watt.

 

[ruston]

long way off 60w

 

[ruston]

You beat me again. Time for a new provider lol.

 

[jimmer83]

Ive opened up my smoke alarm and its says they are only 0.8w . I do also have a carbon monoxide alarm tied in to the circuit but after doing some reasearh have found these are very low wattage too...

 

[sean_ork]

What does this tester read when the CU is fully isolated, or sat on a table well away from anything ?

 

[UKMeterman]

Hi,
0.04 *240 = 9.6 VA
Your electricity company meter will only see 0.8W but the owl will see 9.6 on it's display, 2 of these and the carbon monoxide alarm and you are half way to your 60.

 

[Dave OCD]

You don't have a small electric towel rail or tubular heater in an airing cupboard ?

 

[jimmer83]

Thanks meterman, i never knew that but it makes sense!!

Embarrassingly, ive just noticed out i actually have another 2 smoke alarms (garage and living room). Only been in my house 2 year....

 

[UKMeterman]

As I said check tp see what you electricity meter ( supply company) increased by over a measured hour. If you are drawing 60w then it should increase by 0.06

 

[Lucien Nunes]

OP please can you confirm which monitor you're using? As UKMM says certain types such as the Owl USB can read high / inaccurately on loads of low power factor, as they measure apparent power (disregarding phase angle) rather than real power (what you pay for). Murdoch mentioned the Owl but I don't think you did. UKMM's suggested test is a good one.