Watt

[robertkerans]

I noticed that all house rentals state the WATT capability (1300W, 2200W....)
How much would I need? Let's say I might use AC + washing machine + computer at the same time... (2 people in a small house)

Thank you :mod:

[Mas Fred]

My first hovel had 900w.
That ran:
TV
Washing machine
Lights
laptop
Fan

and whatever all at the same time.

Many appliances sold here are stated wattage but, if not, it's on a label where the power cable goes in.

[millie]

I think my first place had 1300 watts and if we had one airconditioner running and turned on the iron or rice cooker without disconnecting the fridge, the overload caused the electricity to cut off. Tho in those days irons and rice cookers weren't low wattage. 2200W would be the lowest safe level, 6000W better. The higher the level, the higher rate of electricity is charged

[marcus]

Besides taking in account the power of each equipment (W or VA) , some have other characteristic to consider also . For example , my house had a 900 W capacity but every time I started my 640W vacuum cleaner as the only electricity consumer , the circuit breaker opened . I think irons only use full power few minutes after start .
It is worth to know the minimum wattage you need because your monthly electricity bill is also dependent of the power capacity . There is a fixed fee , and also the price per kWh used , both are higher for higher house capacity (W) .
You can ask the electricity power company (PLN?) to change the capacity also , for a fee . Probably easier to scale it down than up .

[atlantis]

My first hovel had 900w.
Washing machine
One will never operate a front load washing machine with a 900W installation. These aplliances require 2200W just to be able to heat the water to 60° or 90°. The washing machine you had/have is very certainly a cold water washing, top load one. Also, with 900W, forget about air con.
To have no problem to operate the three AC + washing mavhine and compter at the same time, a minimum of 4400W would be required and, as it has been said, 6000W wouldn't be a waste, depending on the size of the house and the number of other electric appliances running at the same time (ex: microwave/electric stove...etc).

Indonesia having a problem of electricity shortage, scaling up an existing electricity installation cost an arm and a leg most of the time (read: bribes required)

[gffgold]

With just one a/c I get by on 2300W, but here in Bogor is a little cooler than down Jkt way. Monthly bill is a shade under Rp300ribu.

[cup1981]

I just bumped my house from 900 watts to 1300 watts because I kept overloading. I run 2 laptops, a 32" LCD, Low wattage light bulbs, small fridge, rice cooker and my Xbox 360. I would say somewhere between 1300 and 1500 would be good for you. FYI to upgrade my house's wattage was 500,000 Rp.

[robertkerans]

Thank you :)

[Mas Fred]

One will never operate a front load washing machine with a 900W installation. These aplliances require 2200W just to be able to heat the water to 60° or 90°. The washing machine you had/have is very certainly a cold water washing, top load one.

Correct. Because the available power was low, we had little choice. However, it works.
We still have it now and there have been no problems at all. Clothes seem to come out fine.
That includes my white work shirts.

[atlantis]

Correct.
Cool. My job application to work for LG service center should go through then...

I had a similar problem for quite a long time in Manado. I had to juggle with electrical appliances. When we wanted to wash clothes we had to stop using tthe microwave or swith off the air con...etc. You get used to it, but if you can avoid it by paying more attention to these details before renting a house, it is much better.

[K&M]

. Probably easier to scale it down than up .

Actually it is very difficult and tedius to downgrade, probably more difficult than upgrading

[stt_cibubur]

We got 4400Watt but sometime still trip down when our water heater starting and microwave on at same time.

[MadCat]

I run 3500W here, which is good for 3 laptops, 1 desktop, 2 ac's, 2 fridges, the lights, 2 fans, a washing machine, and the electric water heater in the bathroom.

[marcus]

Actually it is very difficult and tedius to downgrade, probably more difficult than upgrading
I already changed from 900W(VA) to 3500W than down to 1300W , all without any difficult and quickly . But it was easy because it didn't involve cable change . The PLN's technician just changed the circuit breaker's capacity .

[waarmstrong]

Upgrading in our neighborhood is a no-no, and its even difficult to get a new connections of any kind. I understand from the local PLN guy that the transformer for our area is operating a 110% of capacity. Par for the course.

[atlantis]

Upgrading in our neighborhood is a no-no, and its even difficult to get a new connections of any kind. I understand from the local PLN guy that the transformer for our area is operating a 110% of capacity. Par for the course.
Same in Manado. Downgrading will be accepted with a smile wile upgrading is (officially) a no-no...

[jimbo]

Been try to upgrade from 2200 to 3500 for some time here in Makassar. They want a minim of 3.5 juta. All it needs is a new higher grade circuit breaker and a sketch of the wiring in the house. Officially there is a shortage and they will do no upgrades. Real price is 1.5 juta so it is 2 for their pockets :-(

[K&M]

Reminds me of a time whilst in India,
We were suffering fluctuating supply voltage, standby generator kept kicking in and out, called the local electrician, who quickly diagnosed the problem to fluctuating input, at the house main circuit breaker.
OK local electric company called, multiple visits and many days later still could not find the problem.
Had more checks by other electricians
Finally almost two weeks later someone managed to diagnose it to faulty switching in the main meter box, the neutral was some how disconnected.
Called the electricity company back, and the guy "temporary " fitted a neutral from main distribution in the garden to the meter box, problem solved.
Or so we thought, I jet off to Uk with the hope that they would fix it by the time I return.
I arrive to UK about 06 00 in the morning and the phone is beeping away with SMS's and the wife's call followed shortly.
It seems the temporary fix made by the electric companies employ was illegal" GREAT" not only that but they wanted to arrest the wife for stealing electricity, and were demanding to see the receipts, originals no less for the past 18 months.
The copies my wife held were not sufficient, "S**T:" they were averaging over 100 USD a month, I could not believe it.
Of course the originals were with the company since they refunded utilities.
By now the house was full, well sort of, the fact we had a big boxer who was trained to attack anyone even touching the wife helped a bit, so they kept their distance.
Eventually the HRD got there with the bills, but as I, as the person whose name was on the lease was not there, they were going to cut off the electricity, and I would have to sort it as soon as I got back 8 days later.
No big deal, we have a 7kw generator as back up.
It was pretty hot and by the time I got there the generator was flagging badly, constantly over heating, and not in a good state at all. the wife even more flustered.
some 1000 dollars later in fines things were restored, and the meter was replaced, the worst bit was the guy who replaced it was the guy who made the temporary fix in the first place.
Man what a bad scenario, and to top it all we had guests at the time. I am sure I know who made the report about the "so called illegal temporary fix" In hindsight and as time goes by it starts to sound funny but it wasn't at the time that is for sure
India - "Incredible F**King India" seemed more appropriate at the time
That one incident left a bad taste, but who knows maybe one day we will return

[marcus]

Been try to upgrade from 2200 to 3500 ... Real price is 1.5 juta so it is 2 for their pockets :-(
My contract with PLN (Jan 2007) , for the upgrade (900W to 3500W) , states :
Meterai : Rp6k , and "Biaya Penyambungan" : Rp910k

[K&M]

Same in Manado. Downgrading will be accepted with a smile wile upgrading is (officially) a no-no...

Unbelievable as part of what the company does in Indonesia, we have a requirement to downgrade 100's of sites due to more efficient equipment being deployed, and we are met with Severe with a capital S difficulty and expense to do what we thought would be accepted with a smile ..........I guess someone is trying to line their pockets