Fictional worked example

Use an average reading for a cycling refrigerator

A resident uses a multi-day plug meter reading that averages 45 W across cooling, idle and defrost periods. They want to project that sample to 30 days.

Open Calculator

Inputs and calculation

Measured average
Tool inputValue
CurrencyUSD
Power unitW
Power45
Hours per day24
Days or equivalent sessions30
Duty cycle (%)100
Energy price (USD per input kWh)0.22

45 ÷ 1,000 × 24 × 30 × 100% = 32.4 kWh. 32.4 × 0.22 rounds to USD 7.13.

Tool result · USD 7.13

Warmer-room comparison
Tool inputValue
CurrencyUSD
Power unitW
Power60
Hours per day24
Days or equivalent sessions30
Duty cycle (%)100
Energy price (USD per input kWh)0.22

60 ÷ 1,000 × 24 × 30 × 100% = 43.2 kWh. 43.2 × 0.22 rounds to USD 9.50.

Tool result · USD 9.50

What the comparison shows

The second estimate adds 10.8 kWh. Applying a separate compressor duty factor to the average would count idle time twice.

Assumptions and limits

Set duty to 100% when power is already averaged over the full day. Repeat the measurement if room temperature or usage changes.

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