A quick question about Owls

don0301

grahamc2003 wrote: »

You'll be getting the same power in both locations, so theroetically the owl can go in both. Looks like due to shielding or interference, or possibly wiring configuraton (i.e. not getting at the single live wire), then in practice it doesn't work in one of the places.

You'll never get an 'accuarte' reading from the owl - they're pretty basic devices made just to give an indication of what's being used. Iirc, the specs say readings above 200W are +-5% (so an actual 4kW flow could read anywhere between 3.8kW and 4.2kW) and below 200W the accuracy is unspecified (i.e. it really means nothing when you see a reading below 200W - hence why you get some confused users asking why their standby TV is 75W when it's supposed to be 1W - you can't simply read off values off the owl and assume they're true!.

If you have the documentation of your owl available, perhaps you could post the actual accuracy specs just to see if I am remembering them correctly.

don't believe any of this nonsense...

don0301

grahamc2003 wrote: »

I don't see why the ac out from the inverter should be a meaty cable at all.

But the dc in will be pretty thick to carry 4kW at 20 or 30V

Sure you're not clamping the owl on the dc input rather than the ac output?

that'll be 133.33 to 200A dc then graham?

The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.”

Martyn1981

grahamc2003 wrote: »

I don't see why the ac out from the inverter should be a meaty cable at all.

But the dc in will be pretty thick to carry 4kW at 20 or 30V

Sure you're not clamping the owl on the dc input rather than the ac output?

Nah, Don, I think G got his amps and volts mixed up a bit!

M.

grahamc2003

Please excuse my extremely ignorant twin cyber stalkers - they are both insane I'm afraid, and just seem to exist to cause disruption on these threads, as no doubt you will soon discover, if you haven't already.

Martyn1981

Usky wrote: »

Thanks for that TailSpin - I can't see what difference it makes either, but then I'm no sparks so am only really guessing. I've emailed Owl and will post their response here, assuming I get one of course.

As it goes the Owl monitor is wireless up to 30m so you can take the receiver with you wherever you are in the house and stores history up to 12 months. It also comes with a USB connector so can be plugged into a computer to download readings. The only drawback I've found so far is the software being Windows dependent and since I'm a Linux user I'll have to install third-party software to read it, which is a bit of a pain. Owl do say they're considering offering both Linux and Mac versions of the software if the demand is there, so hopefully in the future I'll be able to connect direct.

Just been looking at the Geo Solo on the web and it does look like the dog's wotsits... wish I seen that first.

Hiya Usky, hope it's going good now, that you're getting lots of sun.

Remember that the Owl may give very inaccurate readings around / below 250watts (about 1amp). But will hopefully be pretty good as you get higher. Good enough anyway to switch on your washing machine etc and enjoy some free leccy.

Have fun.

M.

Usky

don0301 wrote: »

you don't have to strip all the plastic away, it's a magnet!


you just need it only clamping over one of the 2 wires


when set up it will look something like this

Easier said than done Don...


As you can see, there's not a lot of space to work with... and I really don't want to take a knife to that cable without knowing where the cores are.

The Owl seems to be working well with the sensor clipped below the generation meter trip switch - current reading is 2.161Kwh.

Usky

grahamc2003 wrote: »

I don't see why the ac out from the inverter should be a meaty cable at all.

But the dc in will be pretty thick to carry 4kW at 20 or 30V

Sure you're not clamping the owl on the dc input rather than the ac output?

Absolutely positive Graham :rotfl:


The inverter is in the most inaccessible point of the loft imaginable, hence the need for a separate monitor. The generation meter, AC isolator etc. are in my garage. Clipping the Owl sensor to any of the black cables is hopeless - no readings at all.

Usky

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Hiya Usky, hope it's going good now, that you're getting lots of sun.

Remember that the Owl may give very inaccurate readings around / below 250watts (about 1amp). But will hopefully be pretty good as you get higher. Good enough anyway to switch on your washing machine etc and enjoy some free leccy.

Have fun.

M.

Hi Mart,

Things are really buzzing now we've got some sunshine; I recorded 9.55Kwh yesterday and expect something similar today too. Two loads of washing yesterday, one on the go now, and in between I've run the dish washer and put the vacuum round - how come housewives complain? I'm having a ball... just call me Cinders! :rotfl:

Usky

I've just received an email from Owl confirming connection of the sensor before the AC isolator and after the Generation Meter will be the same - so there we are... problem solved.

Dave_Fowler

Usky wrote: »

Absolutely positive Graham :rotfl:


The inverter is in the most inaccessible point of the loft imaginable, hence the need for a separate monitor. The generation meter, AC isolator etc. are in my garage. Clipping the Owl sensor to any of the black cables is hopeless - no readings at all.

All the black cables I see in your picture are 3 core. You won't get any reading clipping round them. It's only after the gen. meter where you appear to have separate live and neutral and earth wires.

Dave F