Build your own energy-monitoring EnerJar

We're big fans of energy-monitoring gear -- when you've got this many gadgets lying around, every watt counts -- so these plans on how to roll your own EnerJar power meter definitely piqued our interest. You might remember that the EnerJar recently won first place in the Greener Gadgets competition, judged in part by some punk named Ryan Block -- and we're happy to report that building your own little piece of glory is pretty simple: all you need are a couple ICs, 12 resistors, an LED display, and an old cellphone charger. Oh, and a jar, we suppose -- but then again, nothing's stopping you from building an EnerCube*, now is there?

*Rejected ideas: EnerBox, EnerQuarium, EnerJug, EnerHD DVD player

[Via Inhabitat]

[TomTom2007 @ Feb 25th 2008 11:51PM]

is that safe? I don't wanna burn my parents' basement down...

[Jimbo @ Feb 26th 2008 12:03AM]

You can buy one of these on Amazon. They aren't expensive.

But it would be a ton of fun to do it yourself. Just be careful.

[James @ Feb 26th 2008 1:31AM]

Too late I already burnt mine down.

[James @ Feb 26th 2008 3:12PM]

The Kill A Watt is only 20 bucks and is much more capable. It can measure volts, amps, volt-amps, power factor, watts, and keep track of cumulative kilowatt-hours. Yeah it's fun to build your own stuff, but unless you have the parts laying around and want the educational experience, it makes more sense to buy the commercial product.

[Mike @ Feb 26th 2008 12:00AM]

You get to waste more energy by keeping track of how much energy you're wasting. Interesting.

[Elkin @ Feb 26th 2008 12:57PM]

right on!

[DarkLightConnection Unbanned @ Feb 26th 2008 12:07AM]

LOL that's what I was thinking

[m @ Feb 26th 2008 12:45AM]

it's engadget's way of doing penance for pimping bizarre, energy-wasting inventions the other 99.999% of the time. really, who needs a USB Mood Light Pen Holder?

[andres @ Feb 26th 2008 12:59AM]

but how do you measure how much energy you've wasted by measuring it?

[Abuzar @ Feb 26th 2008 1:02AM]

OK you waste a certain amount of energy running the device, but if it helps you be energy conscious then you can come out in black in the end.

[James @ Feb 26th 2008 1:30AM]

Ill make something to measure how much energy that is wasting then one for that one and that one then for the next one then....ugh did the light just get dimmer?

[Verbatim9 @ Feb 26th 2008 12:35AM]

If I make one from an old TV, will I be famous on teh EnerTubes?

[Sam @ Feb 26th 2008 12:43AM]

I lol'd at EnerHD DVD player.

[Chris @ Feb 26th 2008 10:05AM]

Yea - that pretty much made my morning.

[Allister @ Feb 26th 2008 12:45AM]

You could use little OLEDs instead of the bar LCD and call it the EnerMus Maximus

[paul34 @ Feb 26th 2008 12:51AM]

Well it wouldn't really be one until you delayed it for a few years until no one cared anymore.

[pcgecko85 @ Feb 26th 2008 1:04AM]

I have that black fan! it works well. That is all.

[Reader @ Feb 26th 2008 1:08AM]

I have that orange extension cord! Oh wait, so does everyone else.

[Robobagins @ Feb 26th 2008 1:18AM]

Says you. I only use the limited edition silver ones. You know they let more electrons in.

[thehumanyawn @ Feb 26th 2008 1:27AM]

Uhhh, the device is supposed help you determine the amount of electricity a device is using, it's not meant to be permanently plugged in. I consider myself incredibly green, not owning a car and not wanting to unless it's electric, and I see nothing wrong with this device. If you are honestly concerned about global warming more than I am, then hook a $10 solar panel to it, but it doesn't even use that much power, so take that idiots who know nothing about what they're talking about.

All right, I saw HD DVD, time to rant. First off, from a fanboy perspective, I'm pissed that HD DVD lost, especially after the $98 players. From a reasonable perspective, HD DVD wouldn't require a new player every time an update came out. If an update came out two years later, and you could pick up a new player for $50, I don't think people would mind as much.

[peshue @ Feb 26th 2008 1:30AM]

You could always just buy one
http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html
I guess that would defeat the nerd factor though.

[ethana2 @ Feb 26th 2008 1:46AM]

USB/bluetooth device that passes float numbers to machine on .25s intervals-- from built in outlet multipliers. Must have linux, XP, OSX, Vista, OpenSolaris, and *BSD drivers and 3 outlets.
(or just a linux driver and open specs)

That is what I want. I want to monitor power for various devices so it can be changed. This is why I monitor my CPU and network traffic in my panel.

[Will H. @ Feb 26th 2008 2:51AM]

[quote]cool[/quote]

[Djono @ Feb 26th 2008 4:20PM]

Come on! I wonder how much energy is put in making this stuff!! Bet you it's far more than anything you'll ever save watching those boring numbers. What do they mean anyway? Does anyone know how to count their energy? Joules? Watts? Apples?
Dumb thing if you ask me.

[elfy @ Feb 27th 2008 12:16AM]

1st look at it..i thought its a bomb....:P