I measured with two different volt-meters, they both showed the same value.
Have you checked whether your volt-meters could show correct measurement on other electronic device?
And yes, basically, I'm mining with a loss (although: electricity is free because it is excess power from my solar installation).
But since you probably make only <$1/month, you probably wasting your time for setup/maintain your ASIC. And depending on where you live and how much excess power you create, you have option to sell it to government.
If you take a look at the OPs other thread here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5420302It's not running in a location that can sell power back. I agree with you in the fact that running the miner is loosing time and money, but I can also see it as a I am going to do this because I can, not because its going to generate any money.
As for the oddball power consumption, take the miner back to where you can plug it in and run it on power company power and see what it says in terms on consumption. I have seen some solar, and other inverters, cause some power meters to give really odd results. As in, running a 100W bulb would pull 50 watts or 500 watts according to the meter and the inverter. Had an electronics guy try to explain it to me but never really understood it.
-Dave