energy meters

[beefheart]

does anyone have any preference for energy meters looking to buy a couple as loan items during survey so customer can be more involved in there energy use calcs, i keep getting asked for breakdowns of use, which is always refreshing from constant fit calcs, any help appreciated

 

[JD6400]

We buy OWL meters from cef but i think they are cheaper from cpc , i think they are what you mean ?

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Is this for post or pre install use? Wattson monitors both production and supply. Displays simple visual figures and colour coding, it can be interrogated by computer and log files .

 

[beefheart]

sorry graeme initially pre but with pv installed it also becomes post install

 

[SRE]

Is this for post or pre install use? Wattson monitors both production and supply. Displays simple visual figures and colour coding, it can be interrogated by computer and log files .

We've had a nightmare with Wattson's, getting them to clear the memory, getting any sort of backup support to sort out problems, we gave up in the end after buying 2 and not being able to use them. We gave one to one of our customers who works in IT and she had real trouble getting it set up and really only persevered with it because she was desperate to see what the impact of solar was and I let her have it for nothing.


Have yours been more straightforward?

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Not used one yet, but have a customer wanting a display in their lounge, otherwise they have to visit the garage to find out what their system is doing. I didnt install, but its a Deihl 3800 and it seemed a cost effective retrofit energy monitor.

 

[SRE]

Yea that's what I though but I wouldn't recommend unless there is no other alternative. We talk to this customer regularly about how it's not working properly. I've grudgingly gone back to SMA and Fronius displays where requested.

 

[UKMeterman]

Hi,
I am thinking of developing my own webenabled energy monitor, could you PM me with what your customers would like to see? I am aware there are some energy monitors that could be a replacement for, or in additoan to the existing total generation meter.
Thanks
UKMeterman

 

[Worcester]

Re: Connecting energy monitors with Solar PV

@Beefheart

We're working with Current Cost to develop a useage monitoring / generation system so that people can see how and when they are using what and how that matches up with their gerenation.

If you get hold of a basic Current Cost EnviR ideally with the bridge interface, the investment will be able to added to when they later add in Solar PV.

The advantage of the bridge is that all the data is available to view on the web.

So you can monitor it all before installation to undersatand their useage profile, the take it away and re-use or add on the few extra bits when the Solar PV is installed and they can now have a comprehesnive montioring system.

You can buy the current cost monitors direct, they have their own shops on ebay:
Current Cost Ltd items - Get great deals on items on eBay.co.uk Shops!
and amazon:
Amazon.co.uk: Current Cost - Electronics & Photo


Current Cost are the people that supply the majority fo the 'free' meters to all the electricity companies Scottish Power, S&S, EDF, E-On, British Gas, Frst utility, ecotricity, ebico etc.