Smartmeter: Anyone knows how to get detailed info on them?
in [Design]
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From: D Yuniskis on 27 Apr 2010 20:39 sj wrote: > On Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:52:27 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> > 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? >> > > > I'm in San Jose. I got the new meter about a month ago, so don't have > any feel yet for how it compares to the old one. Other neighborhoods got > them much earlier. I haven't heard anything from people I know, just the > media stories. I can show you what the PG&E Smart Meter looks like, > though. > > Here's a link to a zip containing 4 pics of the meter face... > http://www.xertech.net/pub/SmartMeter.zip > > The LCD display cycles through several formats every few seconds. The The meter can be "configured" (there is usually an "opto-isolated configuration port" on the front of the glass jar) to display any of a variety of parameters measured by the meter. Some meters will track peak usage (per billing period -- which can be a 10 minute interval), total usage, etc. Usually, there is a two digit (?) display that indicates which "parameter" is being displayed (to the left of the value itself) > two 'meter' pics show two of those displays. I was trying to get better > pictures of the various display formats, but it started raining, so I > ran for cover. The two label pics may have information to lead to more > information (FCC ID, for instance) but I haven't tried searching yet. > > I assume this is the same one you will get. The cylindrical case is not > transparent on the sides, but I would doubt there is anything mechanical > in there (like a spining disk). Some meters may have large *relays* inside (i.e., to allow the utility to disconnect your service completely without removing the meter). > I'm interested too. Post if you find more information.
From: miso on 27 Apr 2010 20:35 On Apr 27, 11:52 am, Joerg <inva...(a)invalid.invalid> 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? > > 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 ... > > -- > Regards, Joerg > > http://www.analogconsultants.com/ > > "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. > Use another domain or send PM. They can turn off the power house by house. Disaster in my opinion since computers use software and all software has bugs. Since I got a smart meter, I've have two power interruptions in I guess 5 months (I don't recall when it got installed). I could go years without a glitch before the meter was installed. I installed a double conversion UPS. It reports small outages about every 2 months.
From: Jim Thompson on 27 Apr 2010 20:44 On Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:21:06 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: >Jim Thompson wrote: >> On Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:16:33 -0500, Jim Yanik <jyanik(a)abuse.gov> >> wrote: >> >>> Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon(a)On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote in >>> news:tbeet5lqev8hlb202plsncusntssmjfnm2(a)4ax.com: >>> >>> >>>> Relax, Joerg, Your cost of electricity WILL go up, WITHOUT a rate >>>> increase. >>>> >>>> You can't fight it, >>> well,you can,but the only practical solution is against the law. >>> >>>> just bend over and brace yourself, and hope that >>>> will make it less painful :-) >>>> >>>> ...Jim Thompson >>> consider what Comrade Obama wants to do with coal-fueled electric >>> power,which is ~50% of US electric supply;Cap-n-Trade would dramatically >>> raise electric rates.(he's SAID he wants to bankrupt the coal industry..) >>> >>> then consider that Comrade Obama -says- he supports nuclear power...as long >>> as there's safe storage for the wastes...then turns around and kills Yucca >>> Mountain Repository and insitutes a NEW site search that will take many >>> years to complete,so actual construction of a safe storage site will be a >>> couple of DECADES away,and nuclear plants will not go forward. >>> So,Comrade Obama has effectively BLOCKED new nuclear plants. >>> Solar and wind will NOT make up the difference,nor will biofuels. >>> >>> End result is much higher electric rates,brownouts and blackouts,and/or a >>> lowering of lifestyles.Industry will suffer,jobs will suffer. >>> It also fits right in with his desire for high gasoline prices. >>> (the lowering of your lifestyle) >>> Our economy is closely tied to energy prices. >>> >>> That's Comrade Obama's "social justice". >>> He's out to drag us all down to the "poor's" level. >> >> I'm vindictive. I think VAT and Cap & Trade are just what the >> "faithful" deserve. >> >> I think we (those of us on the productive end of the stick) will >> prevail. If not, I have my escape plan. I would suggest everyone >> else develop the same. >> > >Just remember, past a certain age (which you have exceeded ...) NZ >requires immigrants to bring a major amount of money into the country. I already have that covered... did you not notice ?:-) >Probably so they have some assurance that the new folks won't plop into >the welfare/health system. > >How's the gnat problem coming? No time, too busy. And rabbits I must address first :-) ...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: Joerg on 27 Apr 2010 21:36 Jim Thompson wrote: > On Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:21:06 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> > wrote: > >> Jim Thompson wrote: >>> On Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:16:33 -0500, Jim Yanik <jyanik(a)abuse.gov> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon(a)On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote in >>>> news:tbeet5lqev8hlb202plsncusntssmjfnm2(a)4ax.com: >>>> >>>> >>>>> Relax, Joerg, Your cost of electricity WILL go up, WITHOUT a rate >>>>> increase. >>>>> >>>>> You can't fight it, >>>> well,you can,but the only practical solution is against the law. >>>> >>>>> just bend over and brace yourself, and hope that >>>>> will make it less painful :-) >>>>> >>>>> ...Jim Thompson >>>> consider what Comrade Obama wants to do with coal-fueled electric >>>> power,which is ~50% of US electric supply;Cap-n-Trade would dramatically >>>> raise electric rates.(he's SAID he wants to bankrupt the coal industry..) >>>> >>>> then consider that Comrade Obama -says- he supports nuclear power...as long >>>> as there's safe storage for the wastes...then turns around and kills Yucca >>>> Mountain Repository and insitutes a NEW site search that will take many >>>> years to complete,so actual construction of a safe storage site will be a >>>> couple of DECADES away,and nuclear plants will not go forward. >>>> So,Comrade Obama has effectively BLOCKED new nuclear plants. >>>> Solar and wind will NOT make up the difference,nor will biofuels. >>>> >>>> End result is much higher electric rates,brownouts and blackouts,and/or a >>>> lowering of lifestyles.Industry will suffer,jobs will suffer. >>>> It also fits right in with his desire for high gasoline prices. >>>> (the lowering of your lifestyle) >>>> Our economy is closely tied to energy prices. >>>> >>>> That's Comrade Obama's "social justice". >>>> He's out to drag us all down to the "poor's" level. >>> I'm vindictive. I think VAT and Cap & Trade are just what the >>> "faithful" deserve. >>> >>> I think we (those of us on the productive end of the stick) will >>> prevail. If not, I have my escape plan. I would suggest everyone >>> else develop the same. >>> >> Just remember, past a certain age (which you have exceeded ...) NZ >> requires immigrants to bring a major amount of money into the country. > > I already have that covered... did you not notice ?:-) > No, didn't. Earlier this month you hinted that you might have to just walk away from your home because more is owed than worth, 2nd post from bottom: http://www.edaboard.co.uk/ot-white-house-secretly-passes-currency-controls-t456809.html >> Probably so they have some assurance that the new folks won't plop into >> the welfare/health system. >> >> How's the gnat problem coming? > > No time, too busy. And rabbits I must address first :-) > Wild rabbits now, too? -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: Joerg on 27 Apr 2010 21:43
miso(a)sushi.com wrote: > On Apr 27, 11:52 am, Joerg <inva...(a)invalid.invalid> 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? >> >> 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 ... >> >> -- >> Regards, Joerg >> >> http://www.analogconsultants.com/ >> >> "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. >> Use another domain or send PM. > > They can turn off the power house by house. Disaster in my opinion > since computers use software and all software has bugs. > > Since I got a smart meter, I've have two power interruptions in I > guess 5 months (I don't recall when it got installed). I could go > years without a glitch before the meter was installed. > > I installed a double conversion UPS. It reports small outages about > every 2 months. > If that's happening at a lot of other places they've really got to put a stop order on installations. That's what someone demanded on TV yesterday, and I think he had a point there. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM. |