Electricity usage was 6kwh now 46kwh per day

[johno12345]

thats what i thought, the ones i have at work are several thousands to buy, was just hoping of something cheap and cheerful using the pc as the datalogger.

im just gonna get one of those owl jobbies, you can set the voltage on it, hopefully its fairly stable here, im next to the substation. if this shows a big difference, ill go down the check meter route with the supplier

 

[securespark]

You can ask the DNO to install a test meter. I think if they find no fault they charge you - it was around the £80 mark last time I enquired.

 

[johno12345]

they want £50 up front, so i thought it would be easier to be certain in my own mind before i have to dismantle the kitchen for them to fit a meter, to then remove it and replace the faulty one a month later

this is the device im looking at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-El...cility/dp/B004BDNR84/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

[ban-all-sheds]

before i have to dismantle the kitchen for them to fit a meter, to then remove it and replace the faulty one a month later

You should go and have strong words with the idiot who decided to make things like CUs and meters inaccessible by building a kitchen over them - he's a t**t of the first water.

 

[johno12345]

it was me

 

[securespark]

awkward silence from BAS...

 

[JohnW2]

awkward silence from BAS...

He may not know how to respond to an unexpectedly honest and non-defensive response!

Kind Regards, John

 

[johno12345]

well at least it was typically non-constructive

 

[JohnD]

Well if the electricity bill is going up by £50 a month you might like to get your screwdrivers out.

When you rebuild it you can design in easy access

 

[ban-all-sheds]

awkward silence from BAS...

He may not know how to respond to an unexpectedly honest and non-defensive response!

Or he may have gone to bed, and then later got up and gone out for the day.

 

[Chri5]

Or he may have gone to bed, and then later got up and gone out for the day.

They allow you out

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yes, and they let me play with scissors.

 

[JohnW2]

Yes, and they let me play with scissors.

and matches?

Kind Regards, John.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yes, but they aren't as much fun - if you run with them they just go out.

 

[SimonH2]

it was me

Then have some strong words with yourself

thats what i thought, the ones i have at work are several thousands to buy, was just hoping of something cheap and cheerful using the pc as the datalogger.

Actually not.
There are some much more economic options around these days.
If you are into DIY then there's this project - 16 channels of true power measurement.
http://www.delorie.com/electronics/powermeter/

And then there's this commercial unit
http://www.brultech.com/products/ECM1240/default.htm
From memory, when I was looking at this sort of stuff for work, it's Ok for 240V.

im just gonna get one of those owl jobbies, you can set the voltage on it, hopefully its fairly stable here, im next to the substation. if this shows a big difference, ill go down the check meter route with the supplier

It's not just voltage, and you are correct that it tends to be reasonably stable. What you can't set, and these piles of rubbish cannot deal with is power factor - and that makes a BIG difference. In various places I've seen comments along the lines of "I switched everything off and tracked it down to 'x' was using 'some stupid power'" when 'x' is something that typically has a crap power factor and will (to a pile of rubbish with no PF measurement capability) appear to take power that it isn't. I've even seen a comment to the effect that turning on the lights reduced his power consumption