In response to the currently rapidly rising energy costs here in Europe, at work my boss decided to be prepared for the winter, where costs are expected to be even higher than now- and if some computers or other stuff is old and verrrry energy-inefficient, it would be the best course of action to buy replacements in the summer, when the suppliers still have stock at low prices...
So in preparation I suggested that we go and "Round Up The Usual Suspects." This would mean measuring the power consumption in operation, and in case of illumination probably over the course of a workday.
With devices like PCs or similar it is no problem, but when we take standby consumption into account, like printers idling around (and in case of inkjets that need to be switched on periodically for cleaning) or monitors that are not switched off at the end of the day, we are talking about single digit Watts that are consumed, but ultimately will add up.
And given the fact that the power supplies are not exactly taking the power in with cos Phi=1, I would like to have some measures that are usable in that range.
We also have lots of uplighter in use due to workplace regulations regarding quality of lighing and avoidance of reflections at computer screens. These are usually powered by EVG and some GX11 tubes, so I do not know how well the EVG behaves and draws continuous current...
Here in germany there are some devices readily sold at every corner, like this:
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Brennenstuhl-Primera-Line-protection-individually-electricity/dp/B007459MH6/Are there any other devices that can be recommended from experience, that honor the power factor/cosPhi at low consumption and do not break the bank?
(->approx 50 Euros)
Or are there situations where those digital devices fail miserably and some good old Ferraris-based meter should be used for some longterm usage?
https://www.bauhaus.info/sicherungskaesten/wechselstromzaehler/p/12158819