Smart meter just installed

danco

I had a smart meter installed yesterday. While the installer was there the meter just showed the message "JOIN HOLD OK" but no readings. As he predicted, after quite a few hours it sprung to life and can be read fine.

Because of this problem he did not do anything with the IHD (which is a Chameleon IHD3), and this does not seem to be working properly. I suspect that it was never paired. Does that mean that someone will have to come back and set it up? There is a slight possibility that it is just stuck in the tutorial mode and I have not worked out how to get out of it. The display seems to show figures that aren't real, and it does not show the battery/mains status or the connectivity quality.

razord

danco said:

I had a smart meter installed yesterday. While the installer was there the meter just showed the message "JOIN HOLD OK" but no readings. As he predicted, after quite a few hours it sprung to life and can be read fine.

Because of this problem he did not do anything with the IHD (which is a Chameleon IHD3), and this does not seem to be working properly. I suspect that it was never paired. Does that mean that someone will have to come back and set it up? There is a slight possibility that it is just stuck in the tutorial mode and I have not worked out how to get out of it. The display seems to show figures that aren't real, and it does not show the battery/mains status or the connectivity quality.

Who are you with? Some providers are a bit weird with their IHDs and they can take up to a month to start working, as they're not immediately registered.

Just leave the IHD unplugged a few hours if you're worried it's stuck in some mode and it'll quickly go flat enough to reset.

danco

Supplier is GEUK. Is it the IHD that needs registering or the meter itself? I thought it was the meter.

I don't think the battery is even active. There's what looks like a tab to pull, that I have not yet pulled, which is something I have often seen to start an installed battery working.

Incidentally, the box the IHD came in contains a battery, which suggests I can replace the one that's there (or install a battery if one isn't actually installed). But I could not see how to remove the battery cover (Chameleon IHD3, as I mentioned).

QrizB

The installer should have shown your IHD working and connected to the Home Area Network (HAN, the local network that connects the meters and IHD to the comms hub).

It's likely that your supplier will be able to get it paired for you, but it will need a Customer Service message - and an agent who knows what they are doing - and might take a little while to go through.

[Deleted User]

danco said:

Supplier is GEUK. Is it the IHD that needs registering or the meter itself? I thought it was the meter.

I don't think the battery is even active. There's what looks like a tab to pull, that I have not yet pulled, which is something I have often seen to start an installed battery working.

Incidentally, the box the IHD came in contains a battery, which suggests I can replace the one that's there (or install a battery if one isn't actually installed). But I could not see how to remove the battery cover (Chameleon IHD3, as I mentioned).

There isn’t a user removable battery in an IHD3. The rechargeable battery will power the device for about 3 hours. 

https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/chameleontechnology.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IHD3-CAD-PPMID-User-Guide-1.pdf

badger09

I suspect the ‘tab’ is nothing more than a screen protection film on the IHD. 

danco

The Installer did not show the IHD working because the meter itself had not properly registered during his time with me. It took several hours to begin working (he said, occasionally up to twelve hours).

I agree, the battery is rechargeable and probably non-replaceable. But for some reason a separate battery is included in the box, though I haven't double checked that this is a rechargeable battery.

No, the tab extends into the battery compartment, not the surface. I've seen that kind of tab often enough with new items. They are used to prevent the battery being connected until the equipment is ready for use.

Ultrasonic

danco said:

No, the tab extends into the battery compartment, not the surface. I've seen that kind of tab often enough with new items. They are used to prevent the battery being connected until the equipment is ready for use.

Well if you're certain that's what it is then remove it. I have a Chemelion IHD3 PPMID v2 and don't think it had one, and I can't obviously see where it could. I think people's scepticism above is that they aren't sure the IHD you say you have normally comes with this but perhaps there is a newer version.

[Deleted User]

Ultrasonic said:

danco said:

No, the tab extends into the battery compartment, not the surface. I've seen that kind of tab often enough with new items. They are used to prevent the battery being connected until the equipment is ready for use.

Well if you're certain that's what it is then remove it. I have a Chemelion IHD3 PPMID v2 and don't think it had one, and I can't obviously see where it could. I think people's scepticism above is that they aren't sure the IHD you say you have normally comes with this but perhaps there is a newer version.

If you read the user guide link that I posted, the rechargeable battery is to allow consumers to move the IHD around the home so they can determine the power used when they turn things on. The weakness in the design logic is that most IHDs do not work unless they are within spitting distance of the comms hub due to such things as foil-backed wall insulation.

FWiW, the IHD6 does give any access to the battery compartment: it is a completely sealed unit. Chameleon is now offering an IHD7/CAD. I suspect that suppliers are still offering the IHD3 as it provides the basic information required by the Smart Meter Code.

Ultrasonic

Dolor said:

Ultrasonic said:

danco said:

No, the tab extends into the battery compartment, not the surface. I've seen that kind of tab often enough with new items. They are used to prevent the battery being connected until the equipment is ready for use.

Well if you're certain that's what it is then remove it. I have a Chemelion IHD3 PPMID v2 and don't think it had one, and I can't obviously see where it could. I think people's scepticism above is that they aren't sure the IHD you say you have normally comes with this but perhaps there is a newer version.

If you read the user guide link that I posted, the rechargeable battery is to allow consumers to move the IHD around the home so they can determine the power used when they turn things on. The weakness in the design logic is that most IHDs do not work unless they are within spitting distance of the comms hub due to such things as foil-backed wall insulation.

FWiW, the IHD6 does give any access to the battery compartment: it is a completely sealed unit. Chameleon is now offering an IHD7/CAD. I suspect that suppliers are still offering the IHD3 as it provides the basic information required by the Smart Meter Code.

Errr, I own the sort of IHD being discussed and have previously read its manual. I fully understand the benefit of the battery allowing the device to be easily moved around and have made use of it myself  . Nothing in my post you quoted suggested otherwise.

Tightasaducksarse

I'm surprised to hear that the IHD is supplied with a rechargeable battery. I have just had smart meters fitted and the IHD that I received had no battery. The fitter told me to fit AAA batteries, but I notice that they run down in approximately 6 hours. I have reported this as default to Octopus energy and await a response.

My IHD is a Chamelion3