Smart meter
- Thread starter LabR@t
- Start date
right i take it that would require an engineer to visit the property ?
Yep
My smart meter has never got the readings for the gas in the 2 years it's been installed. I think it just can't pick up the signal as it too far away. The electric is spot on though. We were told it might take a few days to pick up. It never did. Maybe I should have tried moving it but I'm sure the bloke said to my Mrs that it didn't pick up the electric in the next room.
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Can I ask some advice on my smart meter - it's a SMETS1 meter (Landis and Gyr e470) and a Trilliant SEAP-2000-V comms hub. From my side there's nothing smart about this meter - I still have to do manual readings.
I've recently installed my own D1 Mini-based sensor that monitors the 1000 w/h light and can tell me the power usage of the house, all visible and logged in Home Assistant. This is excellent and has helped me save money already. Combined with the fact that I've found a web interface on the solar panel inverter, my HA data could be really impressive.
However, the electric meter cupboard is on the outside of the house, and there's no power socket. The D1 Mini is being powered with a USB power brick but it's not lasting long enough. What I really need is a socket in the meter box - is this even possible? If not, is there much point looking into a meter upgrade to SMETS2? I believe that would mean no more meter readings, but I wouldn't necessarily have access to the live usage.
I've recently installed my own D1 Mini-based sensor that monitors the 1000 w/h light and can tell me the power usage of the house, all visible and logged in Home Assistant. This is excellent and has helped me save money already. Combined with the fact that I've found a web interface on the solar panel inverter, my HA data could be really impressive.
However, the electric meter cupboard is on the outside of the house, and there's no power socket. The D1 Mini is being powered with a USB power brick but it's not lasting long enough. What I really need is a socket in the meter box - is this even possible? If not, is there much point looking into a meter upgrade to SMETS2? I believe that would mean no more meter readings, but I wouldn't necessarily have access to the live usage.
Your old meter (an ex British Gas meter first 5 characters of the lower serial number will be BGSML) is defunct and will never work again. They cannot be enrolled into SMETS2 (some other meter types can be).
I would recommend getting a smets2 meter installed it will give you the details you want either on an app or on the in home display.
The meter box on the outside of your house should contain nothing other than the metering equipment installed by or for your provider. Anyone who installs anything else in that cupboard is taking a very close line along some legal standings that could end them in some very hot water.
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Thanks for all the info, much appreciated. Heard something about these meters going dumb - what a mess. Wonder if it was deliberate or a bad update. You're dead right, it is a BGSML serial number.
Appreciate the warning on the meter box, I will bear it in mind (and probably fail to find anyone who will do what I want ha). One idea I did have is to use the 240v line from the meter to the Trilliant comms hub as my feed. The Trilliant is surely redundant now from what you've said. Feels a lot less problematic using that than trying to branch off heavy duty cables to get power.
Edit: I think you're right on the SMETS2 meter, that would be convenient, and I'm sure I could see daily usage, although I think it's the case that I would still need my sensor to get the live usage at any given time.
Appreciate the warning on the meter box, I will bear it in mind (and probably fail to find anyone who will do what I want ha). One idea I did have is to use the 240v line from the meter to the Trilliant comms hub as my feed. The Trilliant is surely redundant now from what you've said. Feels a lot less problematic using that than trying to branch off heavy duty cables to get power.
Edit: I think you're right on the SMETS2 meter, that would be convenient, and I'm sure I could see daily usage, although I think it's the case that I would still need my sensor to get the live usage at any given time.
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Live usage is displayed on the in home display. Instant updates, (within 15seconds) as soon as you put the kettle on you will see the spike in usage.
The power to Comms hub is only 5v but breaking into that cable will blow the meter and Comms, leaving you open to a legal inquest because you have damaged supplier equipment (lots of legal thing here) and most suppliers/providers don't take kindly to interference.
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Is it 5v? Ok, I heard it was 240 but 5v makes more sense and if there's tamper protection then it doesn't really matter, can't go near it.
I will look into the upgrade path and try to find out what sort of meter Octopus are currently fitting. Hear what you're saying about the IHD but I really want the data in Home Assistant as well.
Anyone tried the Hildebrand Glow products? Their upcoming SMETS2 CAD stick looks interesting and might solve my Home Assistant problem
I will look into the upgrade path and try to find out what sort of meter Octopus are currently fitting. Hear what you're saying about the IHD but I really want the data in Home Assistant as well.
Anyone tried the Hildebrand Glow products? Their upcoming SMETS2 CAD stick looks interesting and might solve my Home Assistant problem
Yup 5v, I remove them constantly... its only a 2g modem and zigbee broadcaster.
I believe Octopus use EDMI and L&G Smart Meters, the only way to get data from the meter will be via your provider, and API would have to exist for export of data but I doubt they offer that (only saw one with Samsung Smart things integration and that was revoked due to security risk).
The Hildebrand products will get your meter banned from the smart network in the UK, only devices allows direct data access are controlled by the DCC and All devices have to be pre-registered, cannot see this ever changing.
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God there really is no good news here is there!!
I've been playing with the octopus API and it's pretty impressive. Can get meter readings and presumably that would include the figures from a properly working SMETS2 smart meter. It might even include daily usage figures but am sure it won't include the live usage figure I have now from the sensor.
I believe Hildebrand products do have the proper certifications and encryption keys but will take heed of the warning and look into it properly, thanks
All I want is about 40 milliwatts of power for a D1 mini to watch a light flash
I've been playing with the octopus API and it's pretty impressive. Can get meter readings and presumably that would include the figures from a properly working SMETS2 smart meter. It might even include daily usage figures but am sure it won't include the live usage figure I have now from the sensor.
I believe Hildebrand products do have the proper certifications and encryption keys but will take heed of the warning and look into it properly, thanks
All I want is about 40 milliwatts of power for a D1 mini to watch a light flash
If changing from a pay meter, does one have to then have a smart meter installed?
My friend has a meter where he tops up the dongle in a shop and plugs it into the elec meter.
He wants to get rid of that payment method.
My friend has a meter where he tops up the dongle in a shop and plugs it into the elec meter.
He wants to get rid of that payment method.
Yes he will have to switch to a smart meter, the phrase he must use is that he wants to switch from Pay as you go to Credit. Or the will just install a pay as you go smart meter.
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I knew this was coming. Was laughed at when I suggested it.
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money...-overhail-higher-peak-electricity-prices.html
If it happens and you have no choice that will be new doing the vacuum cleaning in the middle of the night.
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money...-overhail-higher-peak-electricity-prices.html
If it happens and you have no choice that will be new doing the vacuum cleaning in the middle of the night.
Deleted User 298457
Deleted User 298457
You've mistaken the OCUK forum for the comments section on the Daily Fail
Incentivising folks to use electricity at different times is an obvious thing to do, and lots of folks are wising up to that now more than ever with electric cars. It is the ***** that are quite happy to force the "peak" consumption as high as possible because they have to charge their electric car during the half time of a premiership match
Yeah I can see why id want to have my tea at breakfast to save money, vacuum at night, do all my TV watching at night, may as well sleep at peak time.You've mistaken the OCUK forum for the comments section on the Daily Fail
Incentivising folks to use electricity at different times is an obvious thing to do, and lots of folks are wising up to that now more than ever with electric cars. It is the ***** that are quite happy to force the "peak" consumption as high as possible because they have to charge their electric car during the half time of a premiership match
Deleted User 298457
Deleted User 298457
Do you have economy 7?
No.
What’s wrong with time of use pricing?
People that use obscene amount of electricity at peak times literally push up the prices for everyone. The very peek of electricity generation costs an obscene amount of money per KWh.
You need to remember that outside of peak times, buying power will be significantly cheaper.
There are people who come home every day and literally turn on every appliance they have including their electric car charger at peeks times because they are charged a flat rate. It’s just unnecessary.
There is nothing stopping energy providers from offering flat rate pricing still if that’s what you want, just remember that you’ll be the ones not managing your consumption at peek times so you’ll be paying more for it.
It will also encourage people in office blocks to you know turn off their lights and unused equipment at the end of the work day.
What it does do is enable providers to offer more flexible pricing to those who can shift their usage by putting washers, dryers, dish washers on later or earlier then the 4pm to 8pm period to save a whole load of money.
At the same time the grid becomes easier to manage and balance generation and consumption.
People that use obscene amount of electricity at peak times literally push up the prices for everyone. The very peek of electricity generation costs an obscene amount of money per KWh.
You need to remember that outside of peak times, buying power will be significantly cheaper.
There are people who come home every day and literally turn on every appliance they have including their electric car charger at peeks times because they are charged a flat rate. It’s just unnecessary.
There is nothing stopping energy providers from offering flat rate pricing still if that’s what you want, just remember that you’ll be the ones not managing your consumption at peek times so you’ll be paying more for it.
It will also encourage people in office blocks to you know turn off their lights and unused equipment at the end of the work day.
What it does do is enable providers to offer more flexible pricing to those who can shift their usage by putting washers, dryers, dish washers on later or earlier then the 4pm to 8pm period to save a whole load of money.
At the same time the grid becomes easier to manage and balance generation and consumption.
I used to think so
But hourly energy price is driven by european market. So if electricity is expensive in France, we get hit with higher prices. No matter how many washing mashines you set on timer for your neighbours to enjoy in the night.
...investing in energy storage solutions that help deal with peaks.
We need energy storage one way or another, wind and solar demand it. But no, lets blame the consumers and shift the cost of load management to them.
Not arguing against saving electricity or spreading use to to off-peak hour. I do it anyway, even when paying flat rate.
But don't sell it as something good for consumer.