Another Smart meter grumble

[charles]

Of course, if they turn off your supply via your home network, they won't be able to turn it back on. ;-)

[Dave Liquorice]

network

perhaps a

No but they don't need to have access to your network or you to have access to the meter. The "meter" just needs to squirt the consumption data out at regular intervals. As USB is limited to 5 m unless you start using active cables, the data ought come out of the remote display box which is far more likely to be within USB range of a PC. The only communication between the box and PC would be the low level stuff to establish the USB link. The PC then just listens to the incoming data stream (XML formated say). In the box any data sent by the PC isn't connected to anything so is "harmless".

This is how my "Current Cost" useage monitor works (except it sends a TTL serial data stream but they do a TTL to USB convertor). It sends live data every few seconds, then every minute or five historical data, broken into a number of periods. Last 24 hours, last week, last month I think, I only log the live data and do my own processing.

[Dave Liquorice]

there is

Exactly, though one can reduce base load consumption by using more effcient devices, such as CFL or LED bulbs instead of incandescant.

[The Natural Philosopher]

One can.but a lot of base load here is computer equipment, fridges, the motor that runs the sewage plant, the kettle, cooking, the electr[on]ics that runs the CH and water heating...

It's like insulation. Once you have picked the low hanging fruit one finds diminishing returns.

[Chris Bartram]

It isn't.

[David]

Top posted for Brian.

I may be wrong but I don't think you get to interrogate the meter directly.

I seem to remember that you are (for at least some suppliers) required to go to their web site for the results.

Anyway, I have a local clamp on device courtesy of Eon many years ago.

[David]

How exactly does your smart phone get the data?

Does it read it directly from the meter infrastructure or does it go to the supplier's web site?

[critcher]

dont be silly harry

[harry]

Ah. You're beginning to grasp the picture. You'll probably be able to set up your home computer to switch off none essential equipment for you when it's expensive to run.

Eg fridge, freezer, immersion heater etc.Even large TVs. (Watch on smaller one instead)

[harry]

It's you being silly. In Germany, you can be paid for using electricity

You're not very well informed are you? Try to keep up!

[Harry Bloomfield]

Dave Liquorice used his keyboard to write :

Are you saying this is something you have actually managed to do, or are proposing a way to do it?

Have you actually managed to tap into the remote display unit of an ordinary smart meter?

[Harry Bloomfield]

When your are right - you are right ;o)

[Harry Bloomfield]

[e-mail] brought next idea :

That would not work well in a producing factory, they cannot just keep stopping production.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Dave Liquorice used his keyboard to write :

I cannot, I have already done that :D

[tabbypurr]

Works great for the supplier.

NT

[Dave Liquorice]

That is how my "Current Cost" energy monitor works and has done since Jan 2013. It's a proposal for how the data could be made available from the display unit of a Smart Meter, with compromising the security of the meter or the users LAN. But I'd be very surprised if such a feature appeared the Great Unwashed will be happy with their suppliers web thing and 30 min intervals.

No, don't need to. Already have the fuctionality and logging down to

1 minute intervals.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Dave Liquorice formulated the question :

OK, Thanks - How have you done that? Monitoring the flashing LED on the meter?

[Andy Burns]

grid to the energy resellers?

[Dave Liquorice]

Only one of our meters has a flashing LED...

Suggest that GIYF "current cost energy meter". B-)

[Chris J Dixon]

Up to a point I was following the official documents as the metering standards were discussed, but I eventually gave it up.

It was certainly originally specified that the consumer must be able to have access to view and download the data locally.

Chris