Fitting a home energy monitor

[davycc]

Guys

I had Loft insulation fitted today and was given (free yehaa) a Trec Energy Aware usage moitor. Easy to fit but I want to make sure its done right.

I fitted the clamp around the wire shown red, instructions state the live from the meter to the fuse box is "usually" the 4th cable from the right. Problem is I only have 3 cables coming from the meter and I get a reading when I fit the clamp to any of the 2 cables arrowed (both different readings) Which one is the right cable? View media item 73150
View media item 73158 Here you go.

Thanks

 

[Jackrae]

can you redo the photo from a little further back to show the incoming cable and the whole meter

 

[davycc]

Added to my original post. This one shows the clamp in place.

Thanks

 

[AndyPRK]

Wonder where those thin grey tails are going

 

[davycc]

Sorry better pic



View media item 73159

 

[AndyPRK]

Put it on the far right meter cable if u can.

 

[davycc]

Yep I've had it there and it gives a reading but placed on the cable adjacent to it gives another reading, totally different.

Just noticed when on the right hand cable the digital reader shoots up from around 700 watts usage to 2.1watts when a cooker ring is turned on but does nothing when a kettle or microwave is switched on. then the opposite happens when I connect to the other cable.....


Can see it going in the bottom drawer...

 

[AndyPRK]

Your first pic is correct

Your last pic is wrong

 

[davycc]

Thanks Andy

Aways believed that a kettle ate electric just as I saw here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8tRFtRKF5I

Turning a ring on the cooker on raises it but the kettle barely effects it ...

I'll keep it as in the second pic.

 

[RF Lighting]

Either of the two grey cables coming from the meter is fine as they will both be carrying exactly the same amount of current.

The fact you get different readings on both shows these meters are cack.

 

[mfarrow]

RF, finally someone who knows that current will be the same in both meter wires on 2-wire supplies.

What is it with these monitor manufacturers? Do they think everyone has huge earth faults? Or do they just don't understand what they're selling? And why do they insist you install these on the tails after the meter?

I know it's petty, but there is a not insignificant risk when bending/pulling/twisting meter tails to make one of these oversized plastic clamps fit on the 2" of 'correct' wire in the meter box, especially when dealing with older equipment.

 

[Jackrae]

If the sensor clamp is not fully closed you will get false readings. The main problem with clamping to either of the two right side cables is that there is also power being fed to the left hand consumer unit which is not being sensed by your CT. You original location on the left cable out of the meter is your best bet.

1 out of 10 to the bonzo who stapled up the phone/data line

 

[big-all]

get one off these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Energenie-E...2074622&sr=8-1&keywords=Energenie+Power+Meter

plug it in and plug your item into the monitor
use an extension lead off say 2 metres with a 13 amp capacity
it seems to be quite accurate you can set it up to tell you the consumption over several days/weeks/months on the same item

if you use it in connection with a plug in lamp holder you can check the actual consumption off your bulbs

 

[winston1]

What is it with these monitor manufacturers? Do they think everyone has huge earth faults? Or do they just don't understand what they're selling? And why do they insist you install these on the tails after the meter?

Well theory certainly don't know that you can't measure power consumption by measuring current alone.