Interesting power monitoring startup

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#1308993 21-May-2015 00:30

Neur is $249 for US /UK single phase. However they say that it only detects devices over 400W currently. Suspect that means it is a cruder detection technology (not the spectral analysis of the Ecoisme). So although it does look like a Ecoisme might be a copy of Neur (even down to have 3 phase and solar panel support options available!) it does look like Ecoisme are at least improving on the idea at the same time, whilst dropping the price too!

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#1308995 21-May-2015 00:32

I have minimal hope of spectral analysis workign too well with the amount of cheap really noisy loads I have here. Sure, you will know that the $9 external USB harddrive is on but it will swamp everything else out. Will be interesting to see just how much it can pull off the powerline to tell what loads are on and off.

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#1309005 21-May-2015 01:27

miked: Are they any other units (either available now, or coming soon) that people are aware of in this space?

k1wi: There is an Australian outfit called wattcost.com who are also doing cloud based power monitoring as well.

Wattscost is advising shipping in summer 2015. Preorder for Aust and USA only. Aust or USA summer? No idea.

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#1309007 21-May-2015 01:34

miked: Neur is $249 for US /UK single phase. However they say that it only detects devices over 400W currently. Suspect that means it is a cruder detection technology (not the spectral analysis of the Ecoisme). So although it does look like a Ecoisme might be a copy of Neur (even down to have 3 phase and solar panel support options available!) it does look like Ecoisme are at least improving on the idea at the same time, whilst dropping the price too!

I doubt Ecoisme would be a copy. It looks like an original ground up hardware development effort.

Interesting about the Neurio only detecting 400W or more. It requires two CTs *and* a direct connection to the busbar(!). I wonder if it can get better or they just went the wrong route with the internals.

Wattcost is battery powered and uses optical, CT is optional.

Ecoisme is CT. Do they get V input from the HV side via the figure 8 or is it CT only?

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#1309008 21-May-2015 01:36

It says it gets voltage and the spectrum data from the AC connection.

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#1309009 21-May-2015 01:45

richms: I have minimal hope of spectral analysis workign too well with the amount of cheap really noisy loads I have here. Sure, you will know that the $9 external USB harddrive is on but it will swamp everything else out. Will be interesting to see just how much it can pull off the powerline to tell what loads are on and off.

Heh Heh, Any kind of spectral analysis device would be a waste of time at my house as well. The only purely resistive load is my soldering iron. And I wonder what it will think of my combo TIG/Arc/Plasma cutter / welder? At full noise it draws 27A at 0.7 power factor. + another 10A approx for my air compressor when using the plasma cut function. Then there are the various computers. The SCR regulated power supply (Think of a switchmode supply with a 100Hz switching frequency). And the various motors / pumps on my homemade radiator central heating system.

At least Im no longer doing speed control of an induction motor using a light dimmer.

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#1309010 21-May-2015 01:53

I hate to think how bad the harmonics on my garage full of cheap LED T8 replacements must be, but the breaker buzzes with them on so its gotta be pretty bad.

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#1309025 21-May-2015 07:43

Interesting. So who's buying one?

jpwise

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#1309048 21-May-2015 08:26

There's also Smappee - http://smappee.com/

I picked one up last year. Comes in under the current customs threshold, and works well enough.
Doesn't have the notification system built in - but they did just release an IFTTT hookup tho which could probably do the same thing.

https://ifttt.com/smappee

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#1309293 21-May-2015 14:12

jpwise: There's also Smappee - http://smappee.com/ I picked one up last year.

How is the small load detection/training? I noticed on the app screenshots all the loads shown are on the large side.

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#1309619 22-May-2015 03:08

I just read a good honest review of Smappee on http://touchsmartenergy.uk

He's also tested a Neurio but seems he hasn't written up the review on the website yet. It'll be interesting to see how they compare. I've also watched a few of this guys Youtube vids

www.youtube.com/channel/UCWs5kB67gjpwlBoS6rRLB4Q

which gave me a good idea of what to expect from Smappee.

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#1309682 22-May-2015 09:25

gzt:
jpwise: There's also Smappee - http://smappee.com/ I picked one up last year.

How is the small load detection/training? I noticed on the app screenshots all the loads shown are on the large side.

I haven't trained it up on 'everything' yet since most of my loads tend to be 24/7 standby, and the rest is me finding time to go round and work out what's what.
Security lights are typically ~300watt when they kick in. Don't have TV or stereo set up since moving yet.
The fridge is an interesting one to watch too, flips on and off through the day with loads typically about 75 -> 100watt or so as it goes on and off.

Most of my other stuff is much higher drain, stove, microwave, toaster, etc.etc.

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#1309782 22-May-2015 11:31

The smappee looks good. I see problems with external metal powerboard enclosures, though, as there is no power socket and one would get wifi shielding issues.

Guess you could get a sparky to rig up a power outlet but the wifi sounds more problematic.

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#1309920 22-May-2015 14:10

Smappee has optional cat5 sensor extender up to 20 metres.

Edit: You could also look at getting a sparky to install the sensor behind the internal switch panel or similar. Having your own equipment in the meter box might be a bit iffy from a retailer pov.

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#1309969 22-May-2015 15:44

Its my box! Not the retailers. They only own the meter inside the box.

Plenty of current transformer monitoring systems available that are in common use, if there was a problem then they would have spoken up by now.

Richard rich.ms

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