solar panels and energy meters

john.errington

I recently had a 3.6kW solar array installed. This uses a "solo PV" meter to display energy generated - and it works great.

I also signed up to Southern Energy's Iplan and received an ONZO smart energy meter; this (like most smart meters ) uses a clamp around the incoming cable to measure power used (actually current.)
However because it cant distinguish between power coming in from the mains and power being fed back to the mains the readings arent much use.

Does anyone have a solution to displaying only the power coming in from the mains (ie what I am actually paying for?)

macman

Your existing import meter is the most accurate measure of what you are taking from the grid.
What you export is nominal, under FITs you receive an export tariff of 50% of the generation, which is assumed to be what you put back into the grid, though it may not be in reality.

espresso

john.errington wrote: »

Does anyone have a solution to displaying only the power coming in from the mains (ie what I am actually paying for?)

Your existing meter should tell you that providing it does not go backwards - if it does you need to get it changed.

You would be better using your energy monitor to give a real time approximate display of what the panels are producing by fitting the sensor on the inverters live output cable i.e. between the inverter and the AC isolator switch.

Solar_Novice

john.errington wrote: »

Does anyone have a solution to displaying only the power coming in from the mains (ie what I am actually paying for?)

John,

I've just recently had panels installed and noticed the same thing. The monitor will no-longer give you a display of what you are using at any given time - unless the panels are off i.e. at night.

Is there a way of putting the clamp on a different cable to monitor correctly?

bw