Smart Metre

Astria

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

why depend on smart meter/ IHD, take a weekly/monthly actual meter reading, set up a wee spreadsheet, keep an eye on usage and payments.

I actually have a device inside the gas cupboard which takes a daily photograph of the display of the gas meter. It's then OCRd and fed into a database. A benefit of the old mechanical ones, the newer "smart" versions require buttons to be pushed

[Deleted User]

Astria said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

why depend on smart meter/ IHD, take a weekly/monthly actual meter reading, set up a wee spreadsheet, keep an eye on usage and payments.

I actually have a device inside the gas cupboard which takes a daily photograph of the display of the gas meter. It's then OCRd and fed into a database. A benefit of the old mechanical ones, the newer "smart" versions require buttons to be pushed

The new ‘smart’ ones have an IHD that provides both gas usage in kWh (albeit using a fixed CV) and a gas index meter reading. My NorthQ Optical Reader has been made redundant which is just as well as NorthQ is no longer supporting these devices.

TheDirector

Verdigris said:

This may say like a daft question. Although some meter boxes are metal, most are glass fibre, so is yours definitely metal?

If it is, it could possibly be changed for glass fibre, but they tend to charge rather a lot for that sort of thing.

I really cant imagine I could change it; unless it was identical in shape and size, without a builder amending brickwork etc.  However, I had just assumed it was metal.  But looking at all the recessed boxes that look like mine they are glass fibre like you say. So i am guessing mine is the same.  So if that is the case.....can I take it that the smart metre will work in a glass fibre recessed box?

Am I right in saying that if a smart metre does not work due to the metal casing of the box, that you would then just have to use the smart metre like a traditional one? 

MWT

TheDirector said:

So if that is the case.....can I take it that the smart metre will work in a glass fibre recessed box?

Am I right in saying that if a smart metre does not work due to the metal casing of the box, that you would then just have to use the smart metre like a traditional one? 

Certainly a much better chance of it working fine over the distances you've mentioned if the box is not metal.

If it doesn't work then yes, you would be taking manual meter readings just like you do now.

Astria

[Deleted User] said:

Astria said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

why depend on smart meter/ IHD, take a weekly/monthly actual meter reading, set up a wee spreadsheet, keep an eye on usage and payments.

I actually have a device inside the gas cupboard which takes a daily photograph of the display of the gas meter. It's then OCRd and fed into a database. A benefit of the old mechanical ones, the newer "smart" versions require buttons to be pushed

The new ‘smart’ ones have an IHD that provides both gas usage in kWh (albeit using a fixed CV) and a gas index meter reading. My NorthQ Optical Reader has been made redundant which is just as well as NorthQ is no longer supporting these devices.

That's a good idea as a friends display shows cost by default but can show kWh reading, but not the meter index! Or at least, don't know how to get the meter index.

MWT

Astria said:

Or at least, don't know how to get the meter index.

Typically it can be found under an option like 'Meter Info' or similar...

If you can post which IHD they have I'm sure one of us can help with that...