Smartmeter: Anyone knows how to get detailed info on them?
in [Design]
|
From: D Yuniskis on 28 Apr 2010 18:56 Hi Jan, Jan Panteltje wrote: > On a sunny day (Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:21:49 -0700) it happened D Yuniskis > <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote in <hra52o$pc0$1(a)speranza.aioe.org>: [overly ambitious snipping?] > That is what they do here, once a year. presumably, a response to my comment: "Why not read it once a *year*? Estimate ALL of the consumption during the summer months (highest rates, typically) and bilk the user accordingly?!" If that is standard practice, then your tariffs, no doubt, are designed for "year round average usage" -- they aren't opting to charge you "summer rates" for your year round usage just because they *happened* to read the meter in the summer, etc. > And you can internet the number to them yourself if they find you not home, > the meters are in the house here (do not get wet tha tway I suppose). Yes, some places I've lived have left "postcards" at the house on which the resident would mark the positions of the dial indicators (they don't trust you to *read* them as alternate decades rotate in opposite directions) and mail it in. They would actually take your word on the reading (presumably, checking that it isn't "outrageous") as they would eventually catch up with you (i.e., if you distort this month's reading as "low", then *next* month they will see the net as *high* (no free lunch)
From: D Yuniskis on 28 Apr 2010 19:00 miso(a)sushi.com wrote: > On Apr 28, 1:04 am, Robert Baer <robertb...(a)localnet.com> wrote: >> Q concerning those old meters; they have been around for like ages.. >> Are they so reliable that they never show up in surplus shops or does >> Piggie sledgehammer them? > > I've seen what looks like brand new meters at different electronics > flea markets. I just never really knew what I would do with one. Not > expensive, maybe $25. > I do have a Killawatt. Damn handy toy. You might want to check the accuracy of that "toy" :> (i.e., with some known loads of various power factors)
From: krw on 28 Apr 2010 18:58 On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:00:14 -0700, D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: >miso(a)sushi.com wrote: >> On Apr 28, 1:04 am, Robert Baer <robertb...(a)localnet.com> wrote: >>> Q concerning those old meters; they have been around for like ages.. >>> Are they so reliable that they never show up in surplus shops or does >>> Piggie sledgehammer them? >> >> I've seen what looks like brand new meters at different electronics >> flea markets. I just never really knew what I would do with one. Not >> expensive, maybe $25. > >> I do have a Killawatt. Damn handy toy. > >You might want to check the accuracy of that "toy" :> >(i.e., with some known loads of various power factors) Why? Do you have some evidence that they're PF sensitive?
From: sj on 28 Apr 2010 20:17 On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:15:03 -0700, D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: >sj wrote: >> Some basic information on the meters can be found here... >> http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/metering/en/utility_revenue_meters/index.htm >> >> There is a pdf link for a fact sheet about the I-210+ meter near the >> bottom of that page. As D Yuniskis mentioned, the utility customer has >> some options. The changing LCD display reflects these choices. On this > >By "utility customer", you mean "your electricity provider" (?). Yes, that's what I meant. >Yes, they can configure the "parameters" that are displayed >as well as how long the display pauses on each. It's a >crappy interface but "flexible". For the homeowner, you just >learn *which* parameter is of interest and ignore the rest. > >> meter, the top big display field seems to be the elapsed kWh measurement >> (mostly). The lower left on this one changes: current kW, voltage, and > >Does your display actually have icons/legends saying "current kW", >"voltage", etc.? Yes, but not quite that specific. If you download the 2-page fact sheet... http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/metering/en/downloads/i_210_plus.pdf The second page shows the full LCD display. The top number field seems to show the elapsed kWh most of the time with the kWh legend displayed. The lower number field is usually combined with one of the two legends to its right. I've seen 246 Volts and 1.01 kW. It also shows Adl with nothing else and the main number still showing the normal kWh number. The lower-right display shows Delivered with flashing triangle. I assume if I was generating power into the grid this would become Received instead. Hmm. Looking at the fact sheet right now, maybe Adl is accumulated delivery. Seems maybe at Adl display the Received and/or Delivered legend could be on, indicating what has happened since [some time period]. > >> the letters Adl. I have no idea what Adl means; there is no number on >> the bottom then, just Adl. When the voltage is displayed on the bottom, >> the top goes to all 8's with a minus sign. So that 888 thing seems to be >> just some artifact of the voltage display configuration. There's a > >"Display test" -- to prove all the segments "light". Depending >on their choice of "fonts" (blech), it can help ensure a '7' >doesn't appear as a '1', '9' (without a tail) as a '4', etc. > >> little bar graph at the right middle too. It may be a crude differential >> indication -- power use up or down. Seems the lower left can indicate >> power direction, like if the customer has solar panels and can pump back >> power to the grid. > >Yes. One selling point is to support co-generation for "consumers" >like that. > >> In the above link page, if you select AMR meters from the left column, >> it takes you to a page of options the utility can choose for phoning >> home. This meter seems to have the SSL wireless link at the bottom of >> the page. There is another pdf fact sheet. Seems it uses 900 MHz >> wireless. Later I may run a wireless sniffer to see if I can find new >> IPs in the neighborhood. > >Note it will be 900MHz spread spectrum so not "WiFi". > >> The gas meter got a new attachment too. The display on that is an >> old-school set of geared dials, but apparently it has wirless link too.
From: sj on 28 Apr 2010 20:25
On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:52:23 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: >sj wrote: >> On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:56:34 +1000, "David L. Jones" <altzone(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> I wonder what happens if the new gadget completely fails for, err, some >>> mysterious reason... Do you get your electrons for free until they can >>> replace it? >>> >>> Dave. >> >> From bits of information I have heard in the media about California PG&E >> complaints, some of the meters have failed to record and the PG&E >> solution is to estimate the bill from previous history. I don't have any >> confirmation link to cite. >> > >But there were people who claimed the bill was 3x the previous year's or >more. That can't be an estimate. Also, on the bill it should clearly say >"estimated". Yes, from what I have heard the big increase in bills is the most common complaint. I was just reporting what I think I heard about some small number of meters that died (in response to the question). On TV, in the last couple days, I think I also heard that they are not going to halt distribution of the new meters, but there is an investigation team that will deliver a report around August. Want to place odds on the results? |