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Thanks for the reply EFL

Thanks for the reply John - yes I have done both but was puzzled by the results. Thanks for the explanation which I will try absorb later.

Thank you for the reply freddo - I was alarmed by what I thought to be a high reading for earth conductor. (I thought theoretically you only see a current on the earth conductor if there is a fault). I tried a similar thing next door and it read 16mA. So a reading of 2.5A could be fine in some...

Hi All, I have an RCD that keeps tripping randomly - Maybe 2/3 times a day. I have done all the usual and unplug everything - it still trips. I thought I would get a earth leakage meter, I'm having trouble understanding the results (I have noticed that if I turn the unit the other way on the...

Thanks for the info. I think it's easy to charge the right amount as the rate is printed on your bill, even if you have a 2 or 3 tier system, just use a weighted average. And if I ever get to build this system it can take into account all 3 tiers, but some people seem to have doubts over its...

Sorry bas did not have time to separate your quotes. I'm not sure BAS - that is why I'm here, to have things that would have never occurred to me pointed out. It still seems strange though - the supplier can cut you off but a landlord using a secondary meter cant. All the purpose built...

HI BAS, It must be legal - as the suppliers own pay meters do this - and they cut the whole house off. This you could say is a safety issue as you could be in left the dark when it cuts off. With my meter I can select only ring mains to go off with the contactor. It's neither here or...

It's currently like that now - but with a mechanical meter. That I bought and is purpose built for this. I wish to replace this meter with my own electronic version as it will be more accurate (take economy 7 into account etc) and can hold more money. Whether it will cut the electric I don't...

again just an idea: The coin meter would be powered via a circuit not on the rcd. When the money ran out a condition (earth connected to neutral (plus resistor?)) would occur and remain that would trip the rcd. If you tried to reset the rcd, it would trip in your hand. Feed the meter...

Years ago I used to have 4 separate meters. Tenants would run long extension cords to socket that were not on their meter (living room). So now I bill as a whole. Everyone's energy requirement is the same, they all have a fridge and they all have a tv. I let them police themselves. They seem to...

Great idea. had no idea these existed. Do they fit inside the consumer unit?

It's a multidwelling. 4 people. Who are much happier since the meter went in. Now they dont waste. Contactor? this is why i'm here, to learn. I will look it up, unless you have time to explain it to me. thanks.

well it's not, non-calibrated, do you doubt the flashes of my meter (provided by my electric board)? (agreed my system has to record them acurately) the system i build will be more acurate than my curret mechanical system. the coin mechanism will be bought. link is at the top.

my current mechanical one does. http://www.stephenpwales.co.uk/Product/coin_meters/pp100.htm But we never let the money run out. I don’t have plans to cut the whole house off with this new one as the tenants don’t mind paying their bill, I'm sure they will not let the thing go negative...

Any +/- in cash over the month will be adjusted when the actuall paper bill is sent out. It's unlikely to be out more than 5pounds per month (you have the problem of multi tier rates 29p 15p 5p). but even a multi tiered system can be programmed into this unit i will build, it cant on my current...

secondary metering is legal, your rate has to be the same you get charged. i dont make profit on the bill. it's cheaper for the tenants this way rather than have british gas install their meters, which would cost me nothing. everything i do is legal. DIY? I have bought professionally built...

Thanks for the reply bernardgreen. I would have preferred to actually stick in on the led window, so the photo diode only received signals from the meter. I could try your method but it would take some tuning I'm guessing to get it to react to the led pulse only and not the light when I open...

looks like the photo diode method would be cheaper. what would an electric meter guy make of such a device stuck to his meter?

I see - thanks for the help westie.