Installing energy monitor problem

lstar337

Hi Folks, I am looking to install an energy monitor to record power usage before the windows, storage heaters, and hot water tank in my flat are upgraded (thanks to Green Deal), but I have hit a snag.

I have chosen an Owl CM160 for the job as I have easily fitted one of these for my parents and it works well.

The problem is that after looking at the prepay meter in the flat, I have spotted that it has two Neutral, and two Live outputs. One output is feeding a fuse box with lights, sockets, shower... etc, the other output is feeding a fuse box with the four storage heaters and the immersion heater.

I guess my question is, how can I fit and use the Owl CM160 (or any other monitor) when it only has a single sensor?
I'm guessing (so could be wrong) that whichever live feed I choose, the other will be ignored and I will only be recording half of the story.

Also, since the storage heaters have a feed and fuse box all of their own, does that mean that only they are recieving the cheap rate electric overnight, and that everything on the other box is still charged at normal peak rate?

I could normally figure this stuff out for myself, but the meter seems to be totally self contained without a hint at what is going on inside. Other meters I have encountered have had external clocks, time switches, and single outputs, so it has been easier to work out what they were doing.

Any ideas, or is it just not possible?

Thanks in advance.

penrhyn

Is it not possible to fit the monitor to the input live feed to the meter?

HappyMJ

I just fitted one for a friend yesterday and couldn't fit it on the main live feed...it's probably better to have two monitors. You can then measure what you use on the day rate and night rate separately.

lstar337

penrhyn wrote: »

Is it not possible to fit the monitor to the input live feed to the meter?

I don't know. The intructions say to put it on the live between the meter and the fuse box. This is what I did for my parents.

Thanks for your reply.

lstar337

HappyMJ wrote: »

I just fitted one for a friend yesterday and couldn't fit it on the main live feed...it's probably better to have two monitors. You can then measure what you use on the day rate and night rate separately.

I don't really want to buy 2 monitors at £39.99 each. If I had a bit more money it would be fine, but I can't justify £80 to monitor electricity.

Maybe that is my only option, in which case I need to give up now.

HappyMJ

lstar337 wrote: »

I don't really want to buy 2 monitors at £39.99 each. If I had a bit more money it would be fine, but I can't justify £80 to monitor electricity.

Maybe that is my only option, in which case I need to give up now.

It's only an extra £10 for an E7 sensor. Look for a CMA113 Sensor.

victor2

Just read your meter regularly (like once a day) and record the information in a spreadsheet or something similar.
Then you will have an accurate history and can analyse it to your heart's content. You won't get a snapshot at a particular point in time, but those monitors are not renown for their accuracy in providing that anyway.

lstar337

victor2 wrote: »

Just read your meter regularly (like once a day) and record the information in a spreadsheet or something similar.
Then you will have an accurate history and can analyse it to your heart's content. You won't get a snapshot at a particular point in time, but those monitors are not renown for their accuracy in providing that anyway.

That is a solution, but due to the crappy screen on the meter (the viewing angle is awful, you have to be dead level to see a thing), I need to get a step ladder out every time i want to read any figures. It's not very convenient.

lstar337

HappyMJ wrote: »

It's only an extra £10 for an E7 sensor. Look for a CMA113 Sensor.

Are the extra sensors just for three phase systems?

Plus how would the time tarrif system work on the control panel?

HappyMJ

lstar337 wrote: »

Are the extra sensors just for three phase systems?

Plus how would the time tarrif system work on the control panel?

Not just for 3 phase. It's for measuring usage on different supplies so you would need 3 for 3 phase but can also use 2 one on the day rate and one on the night rate.

I don't have a manual in front of me. Maybe the supplier has a manual of how they are set up.

lstar337

HappyMJ wrote: »

Not just for 3 phase. It's for measuring usage on different supplies so you would need 3 for 3 phase but can also use 2 one on the day rate and one on the night rate.

I don't have a manual in front of me. Maybe the supplier has a manual of how they are set up.

Looking at their site, they seem to say the 3 phases are added together, which is what I need, but they are saying you need to input whether they are in L-N, Star, or Delta Configuration?

Thanks for your help by the way.:)