RTS turn off

[JohnW2]

New valves could be manufactured but cost and time to make the valves would be prohitives

Time has never been an issue, since they have been talking about this for years - and I strongly suspect that the cost would be regarded as far less (if at all) 'prohibitive' if the BBC actually wanted to continue their long-wave broadcasting.

In any event, as I said before, IF they wanted to continue, it would probably make more sense for them to replace the whole transmitter with a 'modern technology' one, rather than try to just replace the output stage valve(s). At the time, I 'agreed' that a replacement transmitter could cost 'millions' but, on reflection, I'm far from convinced about that ....

.... I imagine that I would be able to build them a 200 kHz transmitter with, say, 100 W, or maybe 'a few hundred Watts', output,probably for just a 'few hundred quid' (a thousand or three at the very most) - so it would only be necessary to add a driver or three and an output stage to get up to 500 kW (if they really needed that much). Indeed, it would seem that 500 kW transmitters for frequencies down to at least 4 MHz can be bought 'off the shelf' (although I suspect that they are 'made to order'), so I doubt that it would be far from impossible to shift that down to frequencies less than an order of magnitude lower.

 

[fixitflav]

Well, we are after the switch off deadline, and my lights, fridge, and computer are still working. That will do me for now. I will get the meter changed in a couple of months when I am less entangled with things. I assume I am now on peak rate 24/7. Low rate should be handy since I have to keep the fan on all night to get some breeze.

Same here, but as has been said, maybe yours and mine haven't been switched off yet. Anybody know about a program by area, or something?

I assumed after switchoff it would freeze in day or night mode, which (in my case) is irrelevant as my cost per kWh is the same. But I just had a closer look at the RTS, pic attached, and there's a little box labelled ON and OFF, and judging by the white flag inside it looks more like OFF, but power is on OK. So I'm just a touch worried it might switch power off completely when the signal stops. Seems unlikely, as when smart meters were being pushed there was talk, a lot of it irrelevant, about storage heaters, or other heating systems, no longer working after switchoff, but nothing about complete power loss. That would be a big incentive to go smart. So fingers crossed!

 

[SUNRAY]

For years many E7 services ran on a Venner timeswitch, mechanical, electrically driven, with a clock spring to keep it going for a day or two in the event of a power outage. I see no reason an electronic timeswitch could not be used.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

But I just had a closer look at the RTS, pic attached, and there's a little box labelled ON and OFF, and judging by the white flag inside it looks more like OFF, but power is on OK.

If you took that photo during the day (peak), then I would normally expect it to be in the off position.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

For years many E7 services ran on a Venner timeswitch, mechanical, electrically driven, with a clock spring to keep it going for a day or two in the event of a power outage. I see no reason an electronic timeswitch could not be used.

The problem with those was, that with any interruption of power, they would use up the clock spring, which was not as accurate as mains synchronised. Given that they could go many years, with no one even giving them a second glance, they could eventually drift way off. RTS, avoided all of those issues.

Rather than replacing with the Venner style units, they could have made use of the MSF time standard, on 60Khz, to keep a clock accurately on time.

 

[fixitflav]

If you took that photo during the day (peak), then I would normally expect it to be in the off position.

OK thanks, so that's how it works. It was taken during the day. Can you confirm it will freeze in day or night mode (with power on!) after switchoff?

 

[Taylortwocities]

There will not now be a mass switch off from errr yesterday. From this date, a phase out will begin of the RTS functionality for small groups of meters at a time. Customers will be informed directly.
More information here: https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/custom...tch-service-switch-off-what-you-need-to-know/

 

[SUNRAY]

The problem with those was, that with any interruption of power, they would use up the clock spring, which was not as accurate as mains synchronised. Given that they could go many years, with no one even giving them a second glance, they could eventually drift way off. RTS, avoided all of those issues.

Rather than replacing with the Venner style units, they could have made use of the MSF time standard, on 60Khz, to keep a clock accurately on time.

Yes I agree, however I have a Muller electronic TS for Christmas lights which runs for 37 days per year and so far has kept time within one minute for at least 20 years. I don't see a need for anything better even if the tariff is outdated.

 

[fixitflav]

There will not now be a mass switch off from errr yesterday. From this date, a phase out will begin of the RTS functionality for small groups of meters at a time. Customers will be informed directly.
More information here: https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/custom...tch-service-switch-off-what-you-need-to-know/

I read in the link "All affected customers will be contacted in advance" but assume that means customers with an RTS will be contacted about a smart meter, not about the switchoff programme.

 

[SUNRAY]

The problem with those was, that with any interruption of power, they would use up the clock spring, which was not as accurate as mains synchronised. Given that they could go many years, with no one even giving them a second glance, they could eventually drift way off. RTS, avoided all of those issues.

Rather than replacing with the Venner style units, they could have made use of the MSF time standard, on 60Khz, to keep a clock accurately on time.

Yes I agree, however I have a Muller electronic TS for Christmas lights which runs for 37 days per year and so far has kept time within one minute for at least 20 years. I don't see a need for anything better even if the tariff is outdated

 

[JohnW2]

For years many E7 services ran on a Venner timeswitch, mechanical, electrically driven, with a clock spring to keep it going for a day or two in the event of a power outage.

Same here.

I see no reason an electronic timeswitch could not be used.

As I keep saying, my E7 is now run by a 'dumb' electronic meter, which presumably has an ('electronic') clock in it (one imagines with batter or capacitor backup in case of power failure).

 

[ericmark]

I see nothing wrong with the Venner style units. Every time the meter is read, it can be corrected if required, and only required where Smart meters will not work.

Before the Smart meter, Scottish Power gave me a CT coil which connected to the internet, idea was the meter only needed to be read once a year, and bill corrected to real reading.

The Smart meter claimed we would only be charged for electric used, but I watched the credit rise to a £1000, so clearly that is not the case, I had to ask for the money back, and a lack of a bill when the Smart meter was fitted, resulted in my having no idea of what was owed. When we went from British Gas to Octopus, we found both were trying to charge us for the same power, when I complained British Gas did use the same end reading as Octopus start reading, but since British Gas got our business by default when our previous provider went to the wall, we had not start reading from British Gas.

So all in all, putting it in the simplest terms, the smart meter simply did not do as promised, we need it to get payment for export, but we did not get a penny for export while with British Gas. And it is so simple to match the paper bill with the app, so app shows month to month, so paper bill also needs to show month to month, not the 22nd of the month as that does not match the app.

And since we now show £460.09 in credit, why was money taken out of our account? It says £74.49 exported and £36.35 imported, last month, so why take the monthly payment of £77.80? OK I am not strapped for cash, but they don't know that.

 

[DiyNutJob]

I read in the link "All affected customers will be contacted in advance" but assume that means customers with an RTS will be contacted about a smart meter, not about the switchoff programme.

I was contacted since 3 years ago on a regular basis about changing the meter. So, they did contact in advance of the switch off. They may not necessarily have to tell you the exact details for the change because it would just create confusion for most people.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The Smart meter claimed we would only be charged for electric used, but I watched the credit rise to a £1000, so clearly that is not the case, I had to ask for the money back, and a lack of a bill when the Smart meter was fitted, resulted in my having no idea of what was owed.

It depends on how you set up the account type, but most people, tend to pay in an amount each month, which is estimated annual consumption, divided by 12. That way you avoid sudden big winter bills, and build up credit in summer. They allow you to revise what you pay, but it is up to you, to keep an eye on it.

I don't know what you mean, about having no idea what was used/owed - Owed, was certainly a problem with BG, because they got my account in an unholy mess, used - I knew instantly what I had used. My meters are just off my drive, they only take a second for me to read, then feed the numbers into a spreadsheet.

Now on Octopus, what I owe can be seen almost minute, minute, what I am using can be seen every 10 seconds. I get a bill every month without fail, along with an update on my credit. If I fire off a manual reading, purely as a cross-check, then I get a new 'short bill' bringing my account right up to date. I don't know what more any company could do.

 

[fixitflav]

I was contacted since 3 years ago on a regular basis about changing the meter.

So was I. They were pressing me for ages.