Meter reading vastly different from energy monitor

moogorse

I have an efergy meter monitoring my electricity usage. The wireless type that has a sender around the house electricty feed. With different appliances on, it seems pretty accurate in how many KW we are using. I know these aren't totally accurate however just looking at my bill, its WAY off.

According from the actual meter it looks like from NOV to MAR we have used 3500KW.

Looking at the history on the efergy device we have used 987KW

Is there any chance the actual meter is incorrect? It's just a standard meter with single reading. It's the mechanical type with the disc that spins....

zaax

Left the immersion heater on? Turn everything off and see if it still moves then, monitor it for a day.

[Deleted User]

The old style analogue meters are very reliable, more reliable than an electronic wireless gizmo. If you have the time and inclination and have an electric fire handy you could always try switching every thing off and running a 1kw bar for an hour. It should use exactly one unit on the meter, or maybe just do 30 mins for half a unit as it can be monitored easily on the tenths of a unit 6th dial.

moogorse

Thanks for the reply. I checked the meter midnight last night and then 9am this morning. Shows we used approx 4.5 KW while the wireless gizmo reported that for the entire day.

Immersion heater was my first thought but it is physically unplugged. We do use this occasionally.

My teenage daughter did pipe up and say she leaves her TV on all night, lol.

Good idea on the fire. We do have one and so will try this out. Are these fairly reliable on usage?

I can see on the analogue meter that there is a marker on the disk. Any idea what usage this represents? Per Watt consumed?

[Deleted User]

Is the meter a dial meter with six small rotating pointers ? I only ask that because these meters get misread all the time. Yes 4.5 units used is cause for concern . Fridges and freezers and other bits and bobs such as tvs/laptops/recorders and even a microwave display can all add up. I think I get through 1 kw through the night leaving all my stuff on. If you try the one bar electric fire test then make sure every thing else is off inc fridgefreezer.

matelodave

Have you actually checked what's switched on or on standby.

Stuff like Tv's, computers, Sky boxes, routers, video recorders, game consoles, phone & laptop chargers, fridges, freezers and even cookers, microwaves, washing machines etc Outside floodlights, especially if they come on & off every time someone walks past.

I was surprised to see that even our electric reclining armchairs take 15 watts each just by being plugged in.

As said, on their own they aren't a lot but it can all mount up.

I'm pretty frugal but the stuff that sits on all night, including the heating system electronics & pump would use about 2.5 kw in 9 hours - I could reduce that to about 1.5kw if I shut the heating system right off.

The marker on the rotating disk is there to let you count rotations - somewhere on the meter it will tell you how many revolutions it takes to accumulate 1kw (it's a lot)

ToomanyPies

I would be more inclined to investigate why the efergy monitor is under-reading by so much. In my experience with these type of devices is that they significantly under-read at low loads (less than 1 kW) and often at higher loads too. They also take no account of any variation in supply voltage. Ensure that the current clamp is securely attached and that you haven't trapped any dust or cobwebs in it (I've seen that and it made a significant difference)

[Deleted User]

Compared with an average user, your efergy monitor is about right, and the meter reading sky-high. (Assuming you don't heat electric, of course.)

moogorse

Thanks for all the input.

The house is Gas heated and heating is off during the night as the pump is quite noisy.

Quite a few things on standby and so I think tonight I will turn everything off apart from the fridge/freezer and landing light (energy saving bulb). Things like laptops/phones charging and boxes on standby could be a cause I suppose.

I will try reseating the transmitter for the montior. Is odd that it is roughly average usage. Also see what usage it shows with the electric fire on.

[Deleted User]

You can ask supplier for a meter check . They may even install one alongside it to compare.If the meter is faulty its free but if found to be ok, within tolerance, they will charge you approx £60 to £70 or more . I think I would try the one kw electric bar test first before applying for one before trying the gamble of a meter check. If after an hour ( or 30 mins ) its recording well over one unit ( or half a unit for the 30 mins ) You will be confident that its faulty.