How can I find out how much power appliances use?

GreenBo

dmworking247 wrote: »

Hi all, I'm new to this site but have been digging around for information about solar and energy meters for months.

I've just now made the choice to install a 5.5kw solar system with a 3-phase inverter into my 3-phase grid connection.

The subject of monitoring though has been driving me insane. There seems to be an unacceptable down side (accuracy, convenience, or cost) to every option I look at.

Today I've been reading a lot more about Smappee which seems to still be a very new product to the Australian market so there's not much feedback.

These posts which suggest Smappee somehow has the upper hand on accuracy due to measuring voltage (whereas other clip-on solutions do not), is VERY intriguing and may make the high cost of this particular monitor worthwhile.

My primary need is not really at a device level. My priority is having a simple display in the kitchen for my family to be more aware of the DELTA between our current solar production and energy use, to determine how much energy we are buying or how much energy we have to spare.

Devices like 'wattson plus solar' have the best display for my needs, but is reputed to be inaccurate, particularly with 3-phase installations. Devices like Watts Clever on the other hand lose points for their limited display and 'cloud integration'.

Ideally I would get something with 'reasonable indicative accuracy' and a good free-standing display. App level control and/or integration with tracking services like pvoutput.org are a bonus but not essential.

I'm really interested to hear more experiences with Smappee, anyone who knows of options to simplify the constant display of the data (an smartphone stuck on the wall??), or who can validate these claims of Smappee being accurate due to measuring voltage (how?).

Thanks in advance!

G'day, and welcome to the forum

I can help you on the Smappee experience but I have to warn you, I don't have solar yet. I'm just in the process of sussing out what I need before I make the leap.

On the accuracy side of things, here's what I remember from a few months back. You need volts and amps to calculate power (kw). An accurate meter like my billing meter samples these 1000's of times a second. The problem with alot of energy monitors is that they assume a voltage which you have to enter. This means they are assuming the volts stays the same, which it doesn't. Also, assuming this really affects the kW calculation in another way to do with power quality or something - sorry you may have to look back through this thread for the details. I can't remember it now. But in short the Smappee reads the volts and amps the same as a billing meter i.e. 1000's of times a second and takes the power quality into account, so the accuracy is very good. I couldn't remember finding another monitor that did this at the time, but there may be some now.

Regards using it as a display, constantly showing the readings, this is something mine does not do. You'll have to ask them directly if they have a display now, I don't remember them having one when I bought one. It displays the reads in realtime on my phone or iPad but I just don't have the option to have it as a display sitting on the kitchen table. But to be honest I didn't want it for that anyway as I doubt my family would have paid any attention to it whatsoever, unless it was in the way of the sweet jar. :rotfl: