What to use to monitor electricity usage/generation

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › What to use to monitor electricity usage/generation

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#182445 16-Oct-2015 07:46

Hello,

I have been doing some searching etc, and have not come up with anything (in recent posts) that seems to match - although I am sure I have seen some posts in recent time, but my search skills are somewhat lacking (it would appear).

So I am keen to see what peoples thoughts are on what I should use to track/monitor our household electricity usage and generation (PV Solar). We don't have a smart meter, so no (close to) real time metric are available from that direction.
It would be great to be able to identify when high drain items are turned on, high use periods etc,
Also would like to make it as little of an eye sore as possible and I think what is going to make this tricky is that the power meter is at one end of the garage and the fuse box is at the other (albeit on the same wall).

Thanks for your ideas :)

Cheers

Dynamic

3867 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1407585 16-Oct-2015 08:27

I backed this Indiegogo project recently for similar reasons

https://ecois.me/en/Indiegogo

I think the release date is still 6-ish months away.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management. A great Kiwi company.

ajbw

115 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1407605 16-Oct-2015 09:22

I use an arduino with two current transformers and a 433 MHz radio module. The transformers clip over the cables, so there is no actual metallic connection. This sends a signal that is picked up by three receivers: one lights up a big bargraph made of 30 LEDs on a strip, for display in the kitchen, one on a hot water tank load dump system, and one on my data logging system. All powered by arduinos except the last one, which runs on a raspberry pi.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1408060 16-Oct-2015 20:56

http://openenergymonitor.org/emon/ can build it yourself or buy it pre built. And it measures and corrects for power factor. Alot of current clamp systems can't measure power factors. Therefore they will be wrong when measuring motor and electronic device loads.

SumnerBoy

2074 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1408096 17-Oct-2015 01:35

+1 for OEM.

Jase2985

13459 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1408104 17-Oct-2015 06:52

ajbw: I use an arduino with two current transformers and a 433 MHz radio module. The transformers clip over the cables, so there is no actual metallic connection. This sends a signal that is picked up by three receivers: one lights up a big bargraph made of 30 LEDs on a strip, for display in the kitchen, one on a hot water tank load dump system, and one on my data logging system. All powered by arduinos except the last one, which runs on a raspberry pi.

got more details of what parts you used? or a link to a similar project?

ajbw

115 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1408127 17-Oct-2015 08:38

I'm currently travelling, so I can't get at the details, which I can post in about a week. I did think about the accuracy of just measuring current, but decided that since the major load is water hearing, power factor is not an issue. And the system is a feedback one, which tries to minimise the difference between generated and consumed power, so errors from assuming 230V cancel out.

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1408953 19-Oct-2015 07:25

Hmm oh and did I mention that I am time poor and don't have many tools to tinker with - so plug and play FTW :D

But thanks for the comments so far...the Indiegogo does look appealing...just wish it was here now! :)