Funky power metrics

Index, feed.

I use a TP-Link HS300 smart power strip: at a time, it was a cost- and space-effective way to measure consumption on six devices in the same location (it cost approximately three times as much as a single-outlet HS110, and is only about 2-3 times the volume).

Sadly, my copy appears to be very sensitive to disruption: once, while disconnecting a device, I noticed a small spark (probably because I did not yank fast enough), and afterwards the outlets would report unrealistic values:

The astute reader can tell that the values are wrong, because:

• reported voltages, on the same strip, differ by a factor of three (the expected voltage is 120V, not 375V);

• some reported power values are beyond what the circuit can provide (about 1800W) by a factor of two;

• some of the reported values are much higher than the actual devices consume: “lamp” is a pair of led lamps, consuming perhaps 50w total, “lightning” is a phone or pair of phones, unable to consume more than 40w total, “ugo” is a laptop computer consuming less than 50W, etc.

Lately, this phenomenon has worsened, and I have been unable to restart the plug into a state where it reports plausible values.

It’s still fine as a non-smart power strip: it looks good, has per-outlet on/off switches, and its bulk prevents it from tipping over as easily as most non-smart strips do.

www.kurokatta.org

David Haguenauer <www@kurokatta.org>
$Id: wonky-hs300.malblog,v 1.3 2025/05/01 02:37:33 homer Exp $