Dodgy terminations

[rebuke]

So, I just noticed this video on the BBC website talking about some gadget to automatically read meters (I've not listened to it as I have no audio at work): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7828918.stm

Is it just me, or when they look at the leccy meter, has the SWA been really bodgily terminated?

 

[ericmark]

I would guess this is not a real house but some mock up to test it all out. It does look as if the gland to the right is not earthed and just the three cores are being used but out going gland to left has a bango and earth cable. And where monitored by skilled persons I would not think this is a problem although would not wire like that in a domestic house.

I wonder what is wrong with using the supply cables for the telemetry connection why do they need a mobile phone connection? In the large concrete works I worked in we had dedicated phone line connected to main meter again as we were charged not on how much we used but on peak readings at certain times.

My father was the same with the Steel works he worked in where their on site power station could produce 400MW plus also controlled the gases used.

So in the future no dinner on table when you get home as you will need to wait until your agreed slot before you can cook?

 

[Steve]

We have smart meters in some of our shops. But I notice in the clip, their meters were retrofitted with the devices onto the infra red eyes, our meters were replaced (though they look the same, they have an aerial on top - they use GSM, a problem in some areas still)

ericmark, GSM is used for a lot of things now. Even G4 use GSM for their criminal tagging / curfew base units - it means the crim dont need a telephone line in their house / street corner (though it still needs lectric and they put a numbered seal around the wall wart. Its battery backup but knows if its been moved).

You can see now though what the "big number" was all about - creating new telephone numbers for these special purposes. If every house/building in the UK gets a smart meter, think of the implications for the telecoms business.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Its battery backup but knows if its been moved.

By motion detector/GPS/GSM cell detection, or just "oh I got disconnected from the mains"?

The latter means:

1) What happens if there's a power cut?

2) What's to stop someone paralleling a generator or inverter supply to the socket and then removing it and roaming at will?

 

[Steve]

Its battery backup but knows if its been moved.

By motion detector/GPS/GSM cell detection

Yes. GSM cell detection, and a vibration detector, AFAIK. The base also has a built in phone, which the monitoring station can dial and talk to the person should they wish to. Also AFAIK, if it is disconnected from the mains they dial in to check.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I bow to your superior knowledge of the system.

I won't ask what you did.

 

[Steve]

I didn't do anything. Though I was intrigued as to the workings of her apparently mobile tag base, so I hung around while the man did her monthly battery change.