Self install energy monitors

Megahurtz400 · 24 Jun 2019 at 19:48

Hey all,

Looking to get an energy monitor after seeing mothers smart meter installed today!

Only issue is I live in a rented flat.

Was looking at the geo Minim Energy Monitor on Amazon, and was wondering how exactly it installs?

Will it be in the meter cupboard in the communal hallway or in the internal fuse board in the internal flat cupboard? In reading it clips onto a mains lead but they’re all inside the wall on the internal cupboard.

Very confused and have no idea where I start so I’m coming begging for help to you guys

bremen1874 · 24 Jun 2019 at 19:59

You'll need an incoming cable to clip the sender around. It won't matter where it is as long as it can get a signal to the receiver.

Megahurtz400 · 25 Jun 2019 at 13:28

bremen1874 said:
You'll need an incoming cable to clip the sender around. It won't matter where it is as long as it can get a signal to the receiver.

I’ll have a look at the meter cupboard tonight and maybe grab a pic

NoobCannon · 25 Jun 2019 at 18:45

Gotta ask why. So you can stare at all day and worry about how many pennies turning your tv on costs??

Megahurtz400 · 25 Jun 2019 at 18:48

This is what I’ve got in the meter cupboard, any ideas?

PiKe · 25 Jun 2019 at 19:03

At least get something that has a genuine use like the loop energy monitor.

They inform you if there is a cheaper tariff for you based on usage.

bremen1874 · 25 Jun 2019 at 19:06

It’ll fit to either of those brown wires.

The distance from the sender to the receiver will matter. They don’t tend to have the best wireless range.

Loop does work well if you’re happy to not have a dedicated display.

Megahurtz400 · 25 Jun 2019 at 19:42

bremen1874 said:
It’ll fit to either of those brown wires.

The distance from the sender to the receiver will matter. They don’t tend to have the best wireless range.

Loop does work well if you’re happy to not have a dedicated display.

Ah I thought this, distance from cupboard to kitchen is probably 20m or so

pastymuncher · 25 Jun 2019 at 19:49

We have a British Gas branded one of these from when they were giving them out as freebies and have had it for years. It's handy for a quick look at the end of the day to see that energy use is normal for the day. Usually for us that means 10-12 kw/h per day. You just clamp the sender to one of the input cables (instructions should tell you which) and it sends the info to the head unit wirelessly.

samcat · 25 Jun 2019 at 20:07

GEO Minim Electricity Energy Monitor... British gas used to give these away, bargains can be had.
We have one, about 10m from the meter cupboard and its showing 3 bars signal. Works really well.

Only thing it doesnt know is which direction the power is going... We have solar as well, and if we are exporting (generating more than we are using) then it shows as usage on the meter, which can be confusing.
If you dont have solar then its a total non issue.

jpaul · 25 Jun 2019 at 20:26

... presumably you can't see the cable in your internal cupboard. ? to have the clasp closer

I want one that has a wireless connection to a phone+app ... no sign of that yet .. so I wouldn't be investing £40 it appears to cost

Megahurtz400 · 25 Jun 2019 at 20:48

samcat said:
GEO Minim Electricity Energy Monitor... British gas used to give these away, bargains can be had.
We have one, about 10m from the meter cupboard and its showing 3 bars signal. Works really well.

Only thing it doesnt know is which direction the power is going... We have solar as well, and if we are exporting (generating more than we are using) then it shows as usage on the meter, which can be confusing.
If you dont have solar then its a total non issue.

Didn't know British Gas used to give these away, will keep an eye out!

jpaul said:
... presumably you can't see the cable in your internal cupboard. ? to have the clasp closer

I want one that has a wireless connection to a phone+app ... no sign of that yet .. so I wouldn't be investing £40 it appears to cost

No cables in the internal cupboard, just the "fuse board" and all the cables are inside the wall one would imagine.

adwol48 · 26 Jun 2019 at 13:48

i use the a geomin to monitor my none smart meter all you have to do is place the sensor over the flashing led and setup the base station with your energy costs i.e. 15p kwh etc and everytime that led flashes its does a bit of math and works it out for you its dead simple to use.

samcat · 26 Jun 2019 at 13:54

Ours clamps around the large L cable

pastymuncher · 26 Jun 2019 at 19:38

So does mine.

jpaul · 26 Jun 2019 at 19:43

but the 64Kmm question is - for folks who already have one - how far from the meter does the display still function ?

NoobCannon · 26 Jun 2019 at 20:14

Mine reaches all the way from the meter cupboard to the box in the meter cupboard as thats where it went as soon as the installer left.

Still waiting for the op to tell me a reason for wanting one as genuinely interested

jpaul · 26 Jun 2019 at 20:22

NoobCannon said:
Mine reaches all the way from the meter cupboard to the box in the meter cupboard as thats where it went as soon as the installer left.

Still waiting for the op to tell me a reason for wanting one as genuinely interested

typo ? the display is in the meter cupboard ?

.. finding out what power consumption of standby stuff is, finding out your cooker/hob energy, overnight use. ... lot's of things ?
I had checked washing machine and bread-maker with a smart plug 'meter'

NoobCannon · 26 Jun 2019 at 20:24

Not a typo. Its unplugged in the storage cupboard/meter cupboard as wondering how
Many penny's it costs to every time i turn a kettle on is pretty sad imo.