Smartmeter: Anyone knows how to get detailed info on them?
in [Design]
|
From: Joerg on 28 Apr 2010 21:01 sj wrote: > 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. > Let's see. If they are really diligent now it might fly but they've got so much egg in the face by now that that isn't guaranteed. In America we have relatively direct access to our representatives and that's a wonderful thing. People expect them to put the foot down when something is seriously amiss. A hearing about a technical problem, broadcast in detail on the evening news, that's pretty bad. I think only Toyota and some investment banks came close to that lately. > Want to place odds on the results? > Nah, I can almost picture it ;-) -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: Jim Thompson on 28 Apr 2010 21:27 On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:01:24 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: >sj wrote: >> 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. >> > >Let's see. If they are really diligent now it might fly but they've got >so much egg in the face by now that that isn't guaranteed. In America we >have relatively direct access to our representatives and that's a >wonderful thing. People expect them to put the foot down when something >is seriously amiss. > >A hearing about a technical problem, broadcast in detail on the evening >news, that's pretty bad. I think only Toyota and some investment banks >came close to that lately. > > >> Want to place odds on the results? >> > >Nah, I can almost picture it ;-) In Californica, particularly in San Fransicko, there's only one question... what will the sphincter stretch factor be ?:-) ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson, CTO | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | The only thing bipartisan in this country is hypocrisy
From: miso on 28 Apr 2010 23:30 On Apr 28, 4:00 pm, D Yuniskis <not.going.to...(a)seen.com> wrote: > m...(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) http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2695 Looks good enough for government work. Damn good considering it costs $14 at Fry's.
From: E on 30 Apr 2010 09:09 "Jan Panteltje" <pNaonStpealmtje(a)yahoo.com> kirjoitti viestiss�:hrab6a$kgr$1(a)news.albasani.net... > On a sunny day (Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:21:49 -0700) it happened D Yuniskis > <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote in <hra52o$pc0$1(a)speranza.aioe.org>: > > That is what they do here, once a year. > 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). Ah, same way here just read the meter once a year yourself and post it to some form in internet. Self-service is best service or so... btw. the meter here has been running since 1968. Those old meters are really quite sturdy. Don't mind little lightning and whatever crud long rural lines can generate.
From: JosephKK on 30 Apr 2010 10:45
On Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:52:46 -0700, Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon(a)On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote: >On Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:47:24 -0700, "Paul Hovnanian P.E." ><Paul(a)Hovnanian.com> wrote: > >>Joerg wrote: >>> >>> Hello, >>> >>> Many of you will soon be in the same boat. Our utility has informed us >>> that we and the whole town will get the dreaded smartmeters. Whether we >>> want that or not. Obviously they have serious issues and as usual the >>> utility is stone-walling: >>> >>> http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14963541 >>> >>> Having seen all the grief caused by, ahem, sub-optimal electronics >>> design in cars I am not all that surprised. Does anyone know where to >>> find some serious data on this problem? Or maybe even schematics & board >>> layouts of those things? >> >>Find out which makes and models they're using and post that info here >>and maybe on alt.engineering.electrical (and maybe >>misc.industry.utilities.electric if that group hasn't died of neglect >>yet). >> >>> BTW, we used to have a meter with LCD readout and all until years ago. >>> It eventually failed, maybe because it gets hit by the full morning sun. >>> The utility replaced it with, tada, a classic mechanical meter. Probably >>> because those simply work ... >> >>You might have a hybrid meter there. That would be a classic >>electromechanical device with dial readouts and all, but also a pulse >>counter/processor/communications module. This counts and stores the >>metering disk revolutions and periodically is interrogated by a wireless >>network*. I've got one (and a similar gas meter). If the remote reading >>stuff goes TU, they can send a meter reader out to check the mechanical >>dials. >> >>*In some cases (rural areas), the utility doesn't bother with installing >>a wireless network. They just send someone out with a van equipped with >>the r.f. reading equipment once a month. It pulls the data as it drives >>by, saving the meter reader from having to get out of the vehicle and >>get chased by dogs. > >That's the way our water meters are read. > > ...Jim Thompson Same here. I used to be on flat rate, my bills actually seem to have gone down. Just installed a few months ago. |