How to Measure Power Use at Home: Watt Meter vs Smart Plug
How to measure what a device uses with a watt meter or energy-monitoring smart plug, turn watts into kWh and cost, and find standby power, from the sources.
Latest guides
All guides →Electronics
16 min readJump Starter With Air Compressor: How They Work and What to Look For
A jump starter with an air compressor starts a weak battery and inflates tires. Learn how it works, how to read amps and charging advice, and what to…
Electronics
16 min readProjector Throw Ratio Explained: How Far to Place It from the Screen
Throw ratio is distance divided by picture width. Learn how to work out how far to place a projector from the screen, and how zoom and lens shift…
Electronics
12 min readProjector Brightness Explained: How Many ANSI Lumens Do You Need?
What ANSI lumens mean, why the lumens on a projector box can mislead, and how screen size and room light set how many you need, with worked numbers.
Electronics
15 min readSmart Thermostat Without a C-Wire: Your Options and What Works
No C-wire? Smart thermostat makers disagree on who needs one. How to check your wiring, when a spare wire or maker add-on works, and when to call a…
Electronics
18 min readHow to Hardwire a Dash Cam and Set Up Parking Mode
How a dash cam gets power for parking mode: hardwire kit, OBD cable or battery pack, with cutoff voltage, fuse and troubleshooting notes from maker pages.
Electronics
14 min readWhat SD Card Does a Dash Cam or Security Camera Need?
Which SD card a dash cam or security camera needs: endurance ratings, how to work out the size, which file system to use, and what card errors mean.
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CarPlay & Car Tech
Guides and explainers on CarPlay and in-car technology: what works with which vehicle, and what each option can and cannot…
All CarPlay & Car Tech →Electronics
Guides and explainers on everyday electronics, including laptops, phones, displays and power: how they work, what the limits are and…
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