Re: Remote energy metering

[Kevin Hawkins <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Following an offlist email with Richard I just wanted to mention
something re this solution. ..

The DRM100's are DIN rail mount and most consumer units provide bus type
arrangements that feed the permanent live side of the breakers. This
makes it difficult to just put a DRM100 'inline'  that would be
metering  the whole house consumption. Any changes in this arrangement
may also not meet regulations either.    I think this what was Paul
alluded to in his earlier post.  As I just monitor zones (breaker
outputs) it never occurred to me.  Also the DRM100's are rated at 20A
maximum which is way too low for a whole home supply so they would not
be meaty enough anyway.  In fact even on 32A breakers which most ring
mains use they are not sufficiently rated (or protected).

For total consumption monitoring it would be better to use a 'secondary
meter' which is connected before the consumer panel but after the
electricity board supplied one.  The ones I use look like this .  They
cost around £45 from memory. They can be ordered with the pulse option
in different sensitivities and are often the type of meter supply
companies install (although there's don't have the pulse output - just
the flashing LED). It confuses the people who read my meter (not
difficult) as there are a few meters all similar. .  Jon has an
excellent HomeSeer based site and uses this same meter as installed by
the supply company optically coupled via the flashing LED and onto
1-wire.

http://www.econtrols.co.uk/kwh_single.htm

Jon's site - look in 'projects' >  'electricity monitoring'..  think you
have to access via
http://www.jon00.me.uk/hs.html


Kevin

Richard Parker wrote:
> Guys,
>
> Thanks very much for all your help.... I can actually head off into
the
> world now knowing how to tackle this problem :)
>
> I'm thinking I like the idea of the Netiom more than the Viom, simply
> because as a programmer with experience in TCP/IP comms and not in
serial
> comms I'd be more adept at querying this device before hammering this
list
> for assistance :)
>
> So unless anyone thinks this to be a really bad idea and it could stop
be
> achieving what I want to do, I shall go ahead with this asap!
>
> Many thanks again to everyone who has contributed
>
> Rich
>
>
> On 04/04/07, Tim Hawes <timsyahoo@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Plenty, although they tend to have industrial price tags. RS do a
>> selection (http://rswww.com) as does this outfit:
>> http://www.vydas.co.uk/prod11.htm
>> No idea on price, but they're pretty narrow so shouldn't take up
too
>> much space :-)
>>
>> Some more here:
>> http://www.ecopacpower.com/dinrail.html
>>
>> HTH,
>>
>> Tim.
>>
>>
>> On 4/4/07, Richard Parker <mr.richard.parker@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> Both versions (I think) require a 12V power
>>> supply, and I presume picking this up from the unit is not
possible
>>>
>> without
>>
>>> some kind of a transformer (is there a DIN mounted 12V
transformer
>>> available?!).
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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