PLEASE HELP, energy smart monitor, have i installed it right?

spinningsheep

I got my energy smart monitor today from BG and in the next to useless manual that came with it, it says to attatch the sensor to ANY cable on your meter, yet on their installation video online it says to use the FAR RIGHT HAND CABLE as this is your live feed cable, and this will give you the read of power being consumed. I have a former economy 7 meter which is now on single rate billing and it has 4 cables coming out of it, 2 go to the little box with a switch on saying main switch, and 2 go into an ancient black box next to the current digital meter, and I assume is a throwback to the original equipment in the house built in 1900. Have I attatched the cable to the right wire? Just the reading I am getting seems very low!

espresso

spinningsheep wrote: »

I got my energy smart monitor today from BG and in the next to useless manual that came with it, it says to attatch the sensor to ANY cable on your meter, yet on their installation video online it says to use the FAR RIGHT HAND CABLE as this is your live feed cable, and this will give you the read of power being consumed. I have a former economy 7 meter which is now on single rate billing and it has 4 cables coming out of it, 2 go to the little box with a switch on saying main switch, and 2 go into an ancient black box next to the current digital meter, and I assume is a throwback to the original equipment in the house built in 1900. Have I attatched the cable to the right wire? Just the reading I am getting seems very low!

Where have you told us which of the wires that you have fitted the sensor to?

spinningsheep

Apologies, far right hand one

espresso

spinningsheep wrote: »

Apologies, far right hand one

That is correct then. What reading are you getting?

spinningsheep

Think its just my perception of the readings, it reads 0.82kwh per hour now, with fridge, freezer, xmas tree lights and lamp in lounge, V+ box on standby and PC running, and jumps to 3.15kwh when I put the dryer on so seems to be right. Sorry if I sound dense.

Andy_WSM

spinningsheep wrote: »

Think its just my perception of the readings, it reads 0.82kwh per hour now, with fridge, freezer, xmas tree lights and lamp in lounge, V+ box on standby and PC running, and jumps to 3.15kwh when I put the dryer on so seems to be right. Sorry if I sound dense.

That sounds as though it is functioning correctly. With "nothing" on in the house you can expect to see 0.1/0.2Kwh on the display - this is the total of all the standby consumption by various appliances.

Your tumble drier / electric kettle (if you have one) are 2 of the most energy guzzling appliances in your house so will make the readings go up.

If you have an electric shower, turn that in and watch the meter go to 8Kw and beyond!

worried_jim

I've been using mine for a couple of weeks and have now turned off everything except, alarm clock, fridge and oven when I am not at home. am saving £3 per week !

spinningsheep

Cheers andy wsm I cant wait for my housemate to get home & go in the shower, will see it rocket! He's far too fond of 30 mins+ showers and he insists they aren't expensive. We'll see!!

Cardew

spinningsheep wrote: »

Cheers andy wsm I cant wait for my housemate to get home & go in the shower, will see it rocket! He's far too fond of 30 mins+ showers and he insists they aren't expensive. We'll see!!

You really don't need a monitor to demonstrate the cost of an electric shower.

If you have a 9kW shower(the average) and your electricity costs 10p/kWh, it costs 1.5p a minute for a shower. So 30mins = 45p.

Plus the cost of water if metered!!