Energy monitors for flats

thriftymanc

Is it possible to get an electricity monitor that works in a flat that's quite a few floors above the metre room?

I did ask about this on here maybe a year or two ago but can't find my post, and was wondering if things had changed since then anyway - I seem to remember that last time I asked, the general answer was no as the wireless transmission isn't strong enough to beam the information more than a floor or two, but have they improved, or are there new ones available designed for flats? (I've googled but all the monitors I'm looking at don't specifically say one way or the other if they're suitable for use in flats or not.)

matelodave

The energy monitor sensor clamps around the cable that runs between the meter and the fuse board, so assuming that your fuse board is in you flat and not down in the meter cupboard you could clamp the sensor around the cable where it goes into the fuseboard if there's space.


Otherwise they only have a range of 30-50 ft so wouldn't work through a couple of floors, especially reinforced concrete floors between flats.

matelodave

Sounds about right. The cable that comes from it into the wall. What does it look like, is there one or two. About how thick is it (are they). The feed cables the fuse box are about 6mm in diameter, and usually have grey sleeving over them.


To use an energy monitor you need to be able to access one of the two cables that go into the fusebox, so if they are bundled together you won't be able to fit the clamp. If you can access them separately then the clamp will fit one of the cables and you should be in business - it doesn't really matter which cable you fit the clamp onto.