Owl gone cuckoo

grahamc2003

Wonder if anyone can nhelp with a problem with an Owl energy monitor?

The problem is - and I say this after careful and exhaustive research - it reads just 1/2 of the actual consumption. So I put the 3kW immersion on, and it reads 1.5kW more than it was reading. I've ruled out all variables I can think of, and I'm certain it's reading 1/2 for some reason. I know these are completely inaccurate below about 400W, so I've tested it above that (many times).

It used to work well and give correct readings (in its accuratish range). I noticed the reading going odd just after I had solar panels installed. I know the effect the panels would be expected to have i.e. lowering the reading by the generation of the panels - I'm not talking about that effect.

I'm stumped. It is consistent - it reads 50% of the actual consumption. The clip on bit is on the correct cable and it is fitted correctly. Any ideas what's wrong? Anyone know an internal setting in the Owl which for some reason halves the readout?

espresso

What is the voltage set to in the Owl settings?

rogerblack

Check that there is no debris on the face of the clip where it clips together.
It has to close properly.

It's not impossible it's been banged closed, and cracked.

If the solar has been insanely wired, it is not quite implausible that it would be taking some of the load.
Try it on another wire.
In most, there are 4 that should give an identical reading.

grahamc2003

espresso wrote: »

What is the voltage set to in the Owl settings?

I wonder if that's it? I did set the voltage to 230v from 240v some months ago. Tomorrow I think I'll change it back to 240v anmd see if that fixes it. (Of course it shouldn't make a great difference, but you never know the state of the software in these things).

Roger - I've had the clip off a couple of times, and put it back carefully - it is in a tight spot, and it's not easy to clip on and off. It's always been on the live between the main supply fuse and the meter. Maybe I'll move it to after the meter to see if that fixes it for some reason.

I'm pretty confident the solar has been wired correctly.

I've just had a look at the fuse box, and saw another possible cause - a second energy monitor (not an Owl, an Eon freebie) which measures my PV generation. I bet there's some interference going on. I remember when I fitted the eon one, I was careful to set the frequency so it didn't interfere with the owl - I wonder if I got that right?