Want to lower your electric bill? 3 tools I use to find the biggest power hogs in my house

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Not a week goes by without someone asking me about my testing process, and I get asked a lot about the tools and gadgets I use to test power consumption. I'm always happy to talk tools, but I'm always clear that the tools I use might not be the best for home users. 

Also: These unassuming devices promised to lower my electricity bills - only this one was legit 

Take power meters, portable gadgets that measure power consumption of any mains-powered item connected to them. These have been a staple of my testing equipment for a decade. The power meter that I've been using for the past few years is the Antai ATX 9801, and it's been a robust, reliable workhorse. 

Using the ATX 9801 is easy -- plug one end into a mains outlet ...