Getting power usage information directly from Smart Meter

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timmmay

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#173751 4-Jun-2015 17:38

I had a smart power meter installed recently, it appears to be an EDMI Mk7C. Flick reports usage information at the half hour level, two days in arrears. Is there any safe, legal, practical way to get finer grained information from it more quickly? Does it do wifi, bluetooth, anything like that?

NB: I will of course not be altering, touching (other than the marked buttons), or modifying anything to do with mains power.

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#1317486 4-Jun-2015 18:20

Pulse 1 led gives 1000 pulses per kWh real time. There are monitors can use that info.

timmmay

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#1317489 4-Jun-2015 18:24

That would need an optical sensor and a transmitter... could be good, if someone's got a packaged product, thanks.

lxsw20

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#1317490 4-Jun-2015 18:28

All you need to know about smart meters right here: http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/

gregmcc

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#1317491 4-Jun-2015 18:30

it's not a metrix brand meter, it EDMI, Metrix is the name of the company that own the meter.

The black almost circle bit on the R/H side is an infrared port, there is a usb adaptor avaliable.

Inside under the sealed cover there will be a serial port, this may already be in use for the modem that transmits the info back to the metering company.

The may also be digital outputs that are pre-programmed for a pulse per KW.

You can't get to any of the connections under the cover as you can see from the photo there is a meter company seal on it, and I doubt the company would authorise the connection to any of those connections anyway.

BTW they are not really a smart meter, just a standard electronic meter with the capability to wireless transmit usage information, the power company just use the words "smart meter" to fool the general public in to thinking there is something special about them when there isn't

gzt

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#1317499 4-Jun-2015 19:07

timmmay: That would need an optical sensor and a transmitter... could be good, if someone's got a packaged product, thanks.

Efergy does one:

http://efergy.com/nz/eliteir-monitor-reviews

Envi uk had option but not sure nz

/mobile...

timmmay

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#1317502 4-Jun-2015 19:12

gregmcc: it's not a metrix brand meter, it EDMI, Metrix is the name of the company that own the meter.

The black almost circle bit on the R/H side is an infrared port, there is a usb adaptor avaliable.

Inside under the sealed cover there will be a serial port, this may already be in use for the modem that transmits the info back to the metering company.

The may also be digital outputs that are pre-programmed for a pulse per KW.

You can't get to any of the connections under the cover as you can see from the photo there is a meter company seal on it, and I doubt the company would authorise the connection to any of those connections anyway.

BTW they are not really a smart meter, just a standard electronic meter with the capability to wireless transmit usage information, the power company just use the words "smart meter" to fool the general public in to thinking there is something special about them when there isn't

Ah great, thanks for the info. Plugging anything in won't fly, but do you know if there's a way to use the IR port? It's smarter than my old meter, gives some useful information.

gzt:
timmmay: That would need an optical sensor and a transmitter... could be good, if someone's got a packaged product, thanks.

Efergy does one:

http://efergy.com/nz/eliteir-monitor-reviews

Envi uk had option but not sure nz

/mobile...

Cool - shame there's no information about that product at all on the site.

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gzt

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#1317510 4-Jun-2015 19:35

Heres the envi one avail nz

http://www.smartnow.co.nz/products/envir-energy-monitor/optismart-have-arrived/

davidcole

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#1317511 4-Jun-2015 19:40

I'm sure there was a post somewhere, maybe on nicegear about fashioning and optical sensor to read the led pulse and transmit it to a machine.

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timmmay

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#1317515 4-Jun-2015 19:45

The SmartNow buy now link doesn't work - genius! May try nicegear thanks.

gzt

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#1317516 4-Jun-2015 19:51

The guy is usually responsive on twitter etc. He was regular on geekzone for a while.

richms

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#1317530 4-Jun-2015 20:11

timmmay: The SmartNow buy now link doesn't work - genius! May try nicegear thanks.

The page doesnt even load for me to look at the product.

I would love to be able to get real time current and wattage out of the meter. I was hoping that the IR ports would deliver that (even once every 10 seconds or so would be fine) but the magnetic clip things are quite pricy to have a play with.

Pulse per second is a pretty lame way to get the data, only tells you the rate that usage is accumulating. And if I get solar put in will be no use for knowing which way it is going.

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#1317532 4-Jun-2015 20:12

lxsw20: All you need to know about smart meters right here: http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/

Only if you're a bit weird. A cellphone outside and a small power supply. Nothing to worry about there. One of probably about 200 small power supplies in the house.

Richard rich.ms

davidcole

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#1317537 4-Jun-2015 20:18

Here it is here https://nicegear.co.nz/blog/electricity-meter-usage-over-mqtt/

gregmcc

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#1317555 4-Jun-2015 20:40

richms:
timmmay: The SmartNow buy now link doesn't work - genius! May try nicegear thanks.

The page doesnt even load for me to look at the product.

I would love to be able to get real time current and wattage out of the meter. I was hoping that the IR ports would deliver that (even once every 10 seconds or so would be fine) but the magnetic clip things are quite pricy to have a play with.

Pulse per second is a pretty lame way to get the data, only tells you the rate that usage is accumulating. And if I get solar put in will be no use for knowing which way it is going.

If you get solar installed and want to sell back to the power companies there are some fish hooks,

at least 1 new meter will be needed to measure the power you selling your power company, there is a chance that the current meter you have may have to be changed so it only registers the power you use

the buy back rate the power company offers is not that great, it may not even be cost effective, you'll need to do some sums to work it out.

As far as getting the information you want out of a KWh meter, there is nothing stopping you purchasing your own meter that is capable of delivering this information and getting it installed

richms

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#1317556 4-Jun-2015 20:43

Ill probably be getting the one I have replaced in anycase, as vector are now finally going to replace the other power pole in the driveway that was a do not climb so I will be able to get the supply upgraded without having to pay for a new pole myself or undergrounding the whole way. bigger compressor here we come :)

Richard rich.ms

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