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[benn600]

Our Christmas tree and surrounding decorations are covered in LED Christmas lights purchased last year.  I would estimate total bulbs to around 500 lights, all running through a single wall outlet.  I took my power meter (one for ~$20...kill a watt or something) and it reads 0 watts!  Is this possible?  Since LEDs essentially are cold, perhaps they are so incredibly efficient that their power usage is really almost all for creating light and non is released as heat.  Is this possible?  What could explain this if it is not possible?  It seems very strange indeed.

[KingSparta]

0.1 Watts Each Light

Light Count: 25
Style: Mini Ice - M5
Bulb Color: Gold
Wire Color: Green
Bulb Spacing: 4"
String Length: 8'8"
Lead Length: 4"
Tail Length: 4"
Average Hours: 200,000
Connector Type: End-to-End
Wire Gauge: 20
Max Sets Connected: 125
Usage: Indoor/Outdoor
Energy Saving LED Lights
Virtually Unbreakable (No Glass)
Colors will not fade or flake
Cool to touch
Water and Weather Resistant
Perfect for indoor and outdoor installations or displays
UL Listed
Commercial Quality
Rated 0.02A, 2.4 Watts per Set
Requires Special LED Adapter for operation
Adaptor Sold Separately - item #18470
Why our lights are better - Our LEDs have undergone extensive testing through the Energy Star Testing Program
Tests - our bulbs had a 0.016% failure rate compared to an average failure rate of 2.65% for all manufacturers tested
Lumen Maintenance - Our bulbs maintain 92.2% of their original brightness after 1,000 hours of use compared to a 67% average for all manufacturers tested
Accelerated Weathering Tests - Lights are subjected to high humidity and UV radiation to simulate outdoor use. Our lights had 0.0% failure rate compared to 5.2% for all manufacturers tested

[benn600]

So 50 watts.

I'm getting a steal on power @ 0 watts!

[newsposter]

or your $20 meter is a piece of crap.........

[KingSparta]

or your $20 meter is a piece of crap.........

Or how he used it.

I have a new digital meter i bought 4 months ago (about $150) and have only figured out 1\2 of the options on it. Most of them are idiot proof but some of them you need to stand on your head with your arms out with tinfoil.

[benn600]

I have my $180 UPS I could run the lights through and it has a watt readout.

My cheap meter works fine on other equipment.