How much current should my gas furnace be drawing?

Factual Questions
1

I’m not paying a stupendously high amount for electricity ($8 for administration fees, $14 or so for the actual juice last month) but I’ve noticed that my furnace seems to draw quite a lot of current, at least compared to anything else I own.

I was checking that little spinning wheel dealy on my meter, and with my low-end Linux box, dual Xeon PC and 21" CRT (300 - 400W together I’d guess) running, plus a bunch of CFLs turned on, it made one revolution every 40 seconds. When the furnace kicked in, it turned once every 20 seconds or so.

I’ve only been here 4 or 5 months so far, so I really don’t know what ‘usual’ useage is, but does that seem normal? I have a clamp multimeter that I don’t know how to use lying around someplace if anyone recommends its use.

2

Go look at the data plate on the furnace. It should list the normal amperage draw for the fan motor either on the furnace plate, or on a plate on the motor itself.

3

Here is a list of power consumption for appliances.

It says the average furnace will cost you between $4.20 and $10.80/month to run.
350watts is equivolent to about a 1/2 hp motor. Furnace motors are not known for being terribly efficient, that’s why some go with DC units that use drives to control the blower.

I would not recommend using the meter on 120 volts unless you were very comfortable doing this and I would still be hesitant to walk someone through it.