Indicator light when current is drawn...

Perhaps you could adapt a current sensing circuit for automatically turning on periperals when a computer is switched on. There was one published in Elektor, July/August 2004 and I've got a feeling I saw a similar thing in one of the other mags- Silicon Chip or EPE maybe.

I also found one at:

Andy Wood snipped-for-privacy@trap.ozemail.com.au

I been in that UNIT situation.

I replace the switch with switch+light (light goes on when switch is on) but doesn't monitor current

You could look at current clamp meter

This needs to go around one of the wires

Or

Joe

I think you will find that poster means an indication inside their unit so that they dont have to travel umpteen floors to find out

and SNIP was what I meant to do just now, rather than quoting and so doing exactly what I was whinging about! The laugh's on me!

"Alan Rutlidge"

Suzy"

And a PITA, moronic net cop.

PISSSS OFFFFF

....... Phil

"Suzy the anonymous brain dead bitch "

And a PITA, moronic net cop.

PISSSS OFFFFF

....... Phil

If it works so well, buy one to remind yourself to take ALL your medication.

OUCH!!!! Slam dunked beautifully. :-)

What can I say? My health is finally improving, and my sense of humor is backkkk! :)

shared external laundries. Each unit

Current transformers are often used in typical domestic PC UPS devices, Those that I have seen usually have about 4 turns of wire round the primary, in series with the load (on one side of the mains output). The secondary is rectified, and monitored by the UPS to determine the mains load, so as to act as overload protection, etc.

With a laundry, it probably be wise to use thick wire, due to startup currents of washing machine motors, and possibility of a washing machine/dryer being on at the same time, maybe drawing in excess of

if you are technically minded and know what you are doing in relation to mains wiring and safety, you could try removing the low voltage secondary of a typical small transformer from a 240v (ironcore transformer based ! ) plugpack and replacing the secondary (low voltage side) with a few turns of 20a rated wire in series with the load. Im sure you would get a usable voltage from the other side of the transformer that you could monitor to get an idea of the current being drawn in the laundry.

Depending on the voltage coming out under load, it could be used to drive a LED through a suitable dropping resistor. if the voltage is too much you can have less windings on the primary (mains) side.

On the other hand you could try Haymans, Turks etc, they might have something in their catalog that would do this job with much less fuss.

Remember too that since this involves direct connection to fixed wiring doing this would certainly be illegal, if you arent a licensed electrician, and even if you were, the device might require approval etc.