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Data and monitoring: Recomendations for energy monitor?

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1 to 16 of 16

  1.  
    • CommentAuthorJamster
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017
     
    Hi everyone,

    As part of some planning for PV + battery install (or not), I would like to record our power consumption with as much granularity as possible - down to 15 min or 30 min intervals ideally? I can access the incoming mains cable - is there a clip on logger / transmitter I can use?

    I know there are DIY solultions, but I don't have the skills or time really so if anyone has a system or device they can recomend before I plunge into the web, I'd be grateful.

    Thanks.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017 edited
     
    I used CurrentCost devices. You will have to hunt about on eBay as they are no longer made.
    You then have to connect them up to a data logger, usually a Raspberry Pi and tinker a bit with the output file.
    When I was involved in energy metering, I never found a cheap (sub £100) logger.
    One of the problems is that most wanted to upload the data to a website and display as they saw fit. Not always what you actually want.

    You may well find that your inverter has logging built in. I know that some had it that was accessible via Bluetooth and needed no extra hardware, though installers often charged for extra kit unnecessarily.
    • CommentAuthorJamster
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017
     
    Thanks Steamy; nothing fitted yet, I wanted to try and best see when our power usage is over a day and how this would fit against PV generation curves to see if I can make a more educated decision on if storage is worthwhile or not.

    As you say, all I want to do at this point is download some data locally, not access or display in real time over the web...
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017
     
    Where in the country are you? If fairly local I could cobble a bit of kit together and set it up for you. I am down in West Cornwall, so nowhere is local to me, in a way.
    • CommentAuthorJamster
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeaWhere in the country are you? If fairly local I could cobble a bit of kit together and set it up for you. I am down in West Cornwall, so nowhere is local to me, in a way.


    That's very very kind of you but sadly I'm in Durham so not exactly local (as I discovered when we holidayed on Mount's Bay this summer)... Frankly, I would happily pay you (or make a donation somewhere) for your time / kit if it was the best way to get the job done though - should we see how this thread goes?
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017 edited
     
    Did you like the rain, was not a good summer. Can't even hide in The Coffee Lounge now as it is residence only.

    I shall have a little look about and see what is available as I have not done much monitoring for the last few years.
    • CommentAuthorJamster
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017
     
    We had a great time TBH, we got a bit of everything but it was still warmer than Durham! Even got a heritage train ride in...

    Thanks for your monitoring help too!
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017
     
    You could ask your electricity supplier to fit a smart meter and get the data emailed to you. It is at the half hour level.
    I think I may have some PV and house hold data on the PC (I am away at the moment). Shall see what it shows as an example.
    • CommentAuthorgoodevans
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017
     
    If you electricity meter that has a flashing LED (one flash Per watt hour) - there are sensors that will read and transmit the flashes via wifi. This has the benefit of measuring what the electricity meter is actually charging you for.
    • CommentAuthorsam_cat
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017
     
    OWL Intuition-E should fit the bill. I used one of the older ones and was very happy with it.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2017
     
    Quick Chart over a badly designed system (2 kWp, East, South split).
      Usage and Generation.jpg
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeNov 11th 2017
     
    I'd suggest getting an OpenEnergyMonitor. https://openenergymonitor.org/ You can buy kits or complete products. There are various versions and its all very expandable. https://guide.openenergymonitor.org/ https://shop.openenergymonitor.com/emonpi-3/ There's a fairly active community.

    Basically, if you want to measure your energy usage, you clip a small device around your incoming mains wire (a 'CT') and connect it to a computer-based device that analyses the data, logs it and displays it. There are options for all parts.
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeNov 11th 2017
     
    I'd second the OEM stuff. Very flexible, can add in room temp and humidity monitor, there is a PV diversion that someone has done. If you are a tinkerer then don't go for the EmonPi version but put it together from bits.
  14.  
    I used OWLs in the past, now favour Geo Solo II, as they can also automatically read the flashing LED on the meter, and don't suffer the power factor/inductive/capacitive errors of most clip based meters, including the OWLs.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeNov 12th 2017
     
    Another cheap and easy way is to just read your meter. It does not have to be at the same time, but note the time you read it.
    Once you have 1000 readings over a couple of months, it should give you a fairly good indication of what is going on.

    I like the open energy stuff, just found it expensive at the time.

    A 10 quid Pi Zero W can read just about any USB input and put a time stamp on it.
    Does take a bit of fiddling to get working which Jamster was trying to avoid.

    I agree that the ones that can read the pulse LED are the better ones.

    Have a look though this lot, you may find something.
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/current-cost-envir
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeNov 13th 2017
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeaI agree that the ones that can read the pulse LED are the better ones.
    OEM do a pulse reader option.

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