RTS turn off

[SUNRAY]

I've had a chat with my EDF contact, his first comment when I relayed FIF's post was not printable on here, he went on to explain the clockwork backed electric time switches but couldn't explain why it stopped recording and restarted. We concluded with the forever promise of meeting for a pint.

He called while I was out shopping and left a voicemail: apparently some RTSs have a battery backed electronic time switch in them. The early units were found to be 'competing' with the switching signal by adding a second 'on' operation which included an off pulse which upset some appliances (I thought about potential issues with a washing machine starting then losing power then starting again) so the later versions were designed to not be permanently active, additionally; not kicking in immediately allowed time for changes to be made to the plan and/or hardware.
He thinks he has relayed that correctly and ditto from me, we'll speak again tomorrow or so he promises.

I hope that makes sense and a possible explanation

 

[fixitflav]

Indeed. If it really is true (and one can but believe them) that some people's RTS-switched metering is still working roughly as it should, despite absence of the LW signal, I can but presume that, as you say, the RTS must contain a local mains-powered clock which, in the past was 'kept accurate' by the LW signal. If that is the case, then such RTSs will carry on working 'for ever' and in many cases the 'drift' may be so little/slow as to not become a significant issue for many years to come (by which time one imagines that nearly everyone will have {maybe will have been compelled to have} a 'smart' meter).

Even if that is the case, I don't see how it would explain my readings - no night usage for 3 months, then start again.

 

[SUNRAY]

Even if that is the case, I don't see how it would explain my readings - no night usage for 3 months, then start again.

Possibly this?:

I've had a chat with my EDF contact, his first comment when I relayed FIF's post was not printable on here, he went on to explain the clockwork backed electric time switches but couldn't explain why it stopped recording and restarted. We concluded with the forever promise of meeting for a pint.

He called while I was out shopping and left a voicemail: apparently some RTSs have a battery backed electronic time switch in them. The early units were found to be 'competing' with the switching signal by adding a second 'on' operation which included an off pulse which upset some appliances (I thought about potential issues with a washing machine starting then losing power then starting again) so the later versions were designed to not be permanently active, additionally; not kicking in immediately allowed time for changes to be made to the plan and/or hardware.
He thinks he has relayed that correctly and ditto from me, we'll speak again tomorrow or so he promises.

I hope that makes sense and a possible explanation

 

[JohnW2]

Even if that is the case, I don't see how it would explain my readings - no night usage for 3 months, then start again.

I agree. Sunray has offered a possible explanation for a period of 'non-operation' (no default to local internal clock), which sounds conceptually credible. However, whilst that might explain a non-operational period of minutes, maybe even an hour or three, 3 months would seem to make absolutely no sense!

 

[SUNRAY]

I agree. Sunray has offered a possible explanation for a period of 'non-operation' (no default to local internal clock), which sounds conceptually credible. However, whilst that might explain a non-operational period of minutes, maybe even an hour or three, 3 months would seem to make absolutely no sense!

I hope to speak to him tomorrow to see if he has any more info, his voicemail implied days rather than hours in order to be able to shut the service down if required.
I can't add anything further until I speak to him again

 

[fixitflav]

Possibly this?:

I read that, nothing personal in not replying before! I suppose that could be it but it seems unlikely. If it's a battery it must be a good one, even if the mains keeps it charged. The RTS has probably been there since the house was built in 1963, I've been here over 27 tears. A couple of pics of the RTS attached. Be interesting to hear what your mate has to say.
The night reading has increased since the last one, so the RTS is still working.

I've had another bill, and been charged for day and electric at the appropriate rates (as I expected). No comments about unexpected night usage.

 

[AndyPRK]

No one banned night usage. So billing ppl won’t notice

 

[SUNRAY]

I read that, nothing personal in not replying before! I suppose that could be it but it seems unlikely. If it's a battery it must be a good one, even if the mains keeps it charged. The RTS has probably been there since the house was built in 1963, I've been here over 27 tears. A couple of pics of the RTS attached. Be interesting to hear what your mate has to say.
The night reading has increased since the last one, so the RTS is still working.

I've had another bill, and been charged for day and electric at the appropriate rates (as I expected). No comments about unexpected night usage.

There are still loads of mechanical time switches still in service running off peak systems, as Andy says accounts won't know who should still have a working E7 plan

 

[fixitflav]

Andy says accounts won't know who should still have a working E7 plan

That's right, the figures on the bill were as I expected.

 

[fixitflav]

There are still loads of mechanical time switches still in service running off peak systems

Using RTS for switchover?

 

[SUNRAY]

Using RTS for switchover?

Not all E7 systems use RTS, some are purely controlled by a mechanical time switch, such as this one

 

[JohnW2]

Not all E7 systems use RTS, some are purely controlled by a mechanical time switch, such as this one

Indeed - such a system is exactly what I inherited ~40 years ago but within a few years that was changed to a system in which the E7 register switching was controlled by an internal electronic clock in a ('dumb'but) electronic meter - and that's how it has ben ever since, up to and including the present day.

I see no reason why default to a back-up local clock (if there is one) in an RTS (which can no longer get a LW signal) should be 'any worse' than what I have been 'enjoying' from the local clock in my ('dumb' but) electronic meter for the past 30+ years.