Energy usage - monitor

Lauraebrad

Hi, I'm after any advice and recommendations for a (not too expensive) tool that will show me how much energy I'm using.  

I've got fairly old smart meters in my cellar, and when I contacted my energy provider (E.On/Sainsbury's) they advised that they are unable to provide a read-out device for use in the house and that I should buy one from the internet.

Ideally I would like something that I can have running near where I am so that I can see when usage goes up/down throughout the day and isolate what's causing it so that I can maybe try and alter habits.  Some of the devices available online seem to be more like a plug to fit a single appliance into and I'm not sure that's quite what I want .

Any thoughts or recommendations would be really welcome - thanks

EssexHebridean

For electricity the Owl monitors are generally well thought of. I have a similar one but mine was a freebie provided by British Gas to customers way back when. 

Shedman

Have a look at this site as there may be something suitable, more likely to be the Glowstick for your Smets1 meter.  Probably worth downloading the free Bright App and registering first to see if your meter is still smart

https://shop.glowmarkt.com/products/display-and-cad-combined-for-smart-meter-customers?variant=36560284352664

pochase

I am in the same situation, BG installed a smart meter a few years ago and when I changed to EDF it became dumb.

EDF seems to be unable to install a smart meter, I have registered interest, and get every 6 months an email if I want the smart meter, to be told on again that they are unable to install one in my area.... 

I have bought 2 weeks ago this meter and checked it against manual reading and my spreadsheet. Results are close enough for me, and it shows me the current use on my phone.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08FRPLCYW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You will need a meter with a red flashing LED to use it. 

I found that it shows sometimes as disconnected when I start the app, but that resolved itself switching to the stats page and back.

They also have a model with a display available.

FreeBear

EssexHebridean said: For electricity the Owl monitors are generally well thought of.

Most (all ?) the Owl monitors, along with many other brands, just monitor the current so do not give a true reading of power consumption. A few have a minimum sensitivity below which they won't record anything - Used one briefly on my lighting circuit. LED bulbs wouldn't register.... Ended up going for a Peacefair device that is mains powered so gives a true power consumption and not just current. Hooked up to a small computer, the data is logged every 30 seconds which gives me a fairly good indication of where the energy is going. Not for everyone though as it requires some familiarity with computers (such as a Raspberry Pi), and working with mains voltages.

Ant555

If you dont have any success in getting data from your existing smart meter then here is an option for you...


I bought one of these a few weeks ago to keep an eye on my electricity usage as I dont have a smart meter
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JIMQP6Y

I paid just over £40 for it - Currently showing as unavailable but that will probably change so keep an eye out.

It shows current/instant usage, todays usage, yesterdays, last week, this month, last month etc but there is no way of downloading that info to your lap top.  All details can be viewed in £s based on your tariff or kWh.

there is a little c lip that goes around one of the cables in your meter cupboard and although there is some question about how accurate this method is, I find that its pretty good when compared to the actual meter.  Its certainly good enough for what I want it for.

For me, its perfect, it has illustrated to me in a graphical and £s and pence way all of the things I already knew I should probably switch off but did nothing about.

I switch off so much more than I used to (but should have) -  not sure when I will recoup my £40 but as the cost electricity is going up and up, its probably not going to take as long.

hope this helps

coffeehound

Lauraebrad said:

Hi, I'm after any advice and recommendations for a (not too expensive) tool that will show me how much energy I'm using.  

I've got fairly old smart meters in my cellar, and when I contacted my energy provider (E.On/Sainsbury's) they advised that they are unable to provide a read-out device for use in the house and that I should buy one from the internet.

Ideally I would like something that I can have running near where I am so that I can see when usage goes up/down throughout the day and isolate what's causing it so that I can maybe try and alter habits.  Some of the devices available online seem to be more like a plug to fit a single appliance into and I'm not sure that's quite what I want .

Any thoughts or recommendations would be really welcome - thanks

It would feel remiss in a money-saving forum to not challenge the need to buy something to save money.  Really you shouldn't need a readout to achieve savings.  If you were to list all your electrical appliances and systems here, people can advise on what is likely to be using the most energy.  Plus every item should have a rating plate on it that states its maximum steady state power draw.  Or for white goods, the manual will give a guide to the consumption per programme.  

Basically, knowing what's fitted in your home, and only running them as needed, should avoid the worst pitfalls.  

I get that for some it's an interesting project to analyse usage patterns, but I don't think it's necessary for saving money