Elster Smart Meter help needed please

Candice-Marie

Gerry1 said:

Candice-Marie said:

The main non-standard things I can think of are a pond pump and a boiling water tap.

Talking of pond pumps...

All the pond gubbins (pump/lights etc) consume approx 2 kWh /day (24 hrs) according to the plug-in monitor  - I haven't got my exact notes to hand.

matelodave

To get a better idea of what is going on read the meter before you go to bed and again in the morning before you start turning stuff on. that will give you some idea of what your house uses when "nothing" is in use. Stuff like routers, chargers, TV, computers, Sky box, things on standby, the heating system pump controls etc. not forgetting the fridge, freezer, possibly the cooker and even our electric recliners consume energy when they are plugged in so they get turned off overnight. Anything that has a standby or touch button to activate it uses energy unless it's physically switched off or unplugged

You might be surprised at just how much gets used when you think stuff is off.

You can then see whats using it all during the day. Do you have an electric shower, do you ensure that the dishwasher & washing machine are used with full loads.
What sort of lighting have you got. Ten 50w halogen downlighters in the kitchen can use half a kilowatt in an hour whereas it would take ten hours to use half a kwh with LED's

Do it for a week or so to get some data (take a note of what you are using so you can then equate it with the consumption) The only way to get a handle on what is going on is to do an audit on what is being used an when

Meters generally aren't as inaccurate as most people would like to think or hope and you'll get charged £100 or more if you want it tested.

Candice-Marie

After you mentioned the flash wasn't very bright, I've just had a look in the dark instead of daylight, and lo and behold it's flashing away..!  That gives me something to work with - thanks for the nudge.
(There's mix of halogen and LED, so definitely scope to improve things.  No electric shower and yes, full loads on lower temperatures.)