Why are IHDs (In House Displays) so rubbish ...

[diy_fun_uk]

... when it comes to the length of time they run on battery.

Mum got a smart meter installed. Installer was showing her the IHD and said 'You can leave it plugged in or run on battery. You should get about a week out of it'.

So we were surprised when she wasn't even getting a day out of it on battery. I wondered if it was maybe faulty but on looking online, it appears these IHDs typically offer at most a few hours of life on battery. One energy provider said theirs gives about an hour.

Why are they so rubbish on battery? Is it due to constant communication with the smart meter?

 

[Stivino]

Mine doesn't last two minutes on the battery. Which makes me wonder, how much is it costing me to run this energy saving device?

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Mine doesn't last two minutes on the battery. Which makes me wonder, how much is it costing me to run this energy saving device?

I wonder if they just have sh1te little batteries in them? The guy who told my mum it should last a week was either misinformed or bullsh1tting.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

So we were surprised when she wasn't even getting a day out of it on battery. I wondered if it was maybe faulty but on looking online, it appears these IHDs typically offer at most a few hours of life on battery. One energy provider said theirs gives about an hour.

Why are they so rubbish on battery? Is it due to constant communication with the smart meter?

Mine is an LCD only one and lasts much longer than the ones which use an LED. It's only to be expected - the idea is, to run on battery, only when you wish to carry it around while assessing what is using what power.

 

[morqthana]

Plan B - develop the habit of just turning off anything you're not using.

 

[noseall]

only when you wish to carry it around while assessing what is using what power.

Why do you need a device to tell you that things are using power?

If it has to heat a lot of stuff or drive a big motor for long periods - it will use lots.

If it is a trickle charge or a low demand, it will use less.

 

[fixitflav]

Why do you need a device to tell you that things are using power?

If it has to heat a lot of stuff or drive a big motor for long periods - it will use lots.

If it is a trickle charge or a low demand, it will use less.

Quite. I only switch something on when I need it on. I don't need a smart meter to tell me it's using energy.

 

[pcaouolte]

If there is more than one person in your home then the light on the IHD can provide a quick indication that one of the occupants who doesn't pay the electricity bill has left an appliance on unnecessarily.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If there is more than one person in your home then the light on the IHD can provide a quick indication that one of the occupants who doesn't pay the electricity bill has left an appliance on unnecessarily.

Without being obsessive about it, I too keep an eye on my instantaneous consumption. I already have an idea what is the normal maximum, and minimum range, and just check it's within those bounds. Energy, is too expensive too waste unnecessarily.