What energy monitor fits my needs?

quattro610

Wonder if anyone can help me please. I need a real time monitor to display the TOTAL DRAW of current in the house hold in Kw's on a display 24/7 available for all to see at a glance. Not an app, an actual box on the wall / table. I need it to display KW in real time, I am not specifically concerned with tariffs  / costs displays just one that will display the total KW draw of the house. I do not have a smart meter and will not have one installed.

My house is a large 4 storey Victorian property, with 2 adults and 3 adult children.we have 3 bathrooms with electric showers and we have always made sure that no more that 2 showers are ever used at any one time even though we all work shifts at various times so as not to get close to the maximum total draw of the main 100 amp incoming fuse of the property. showers are about 9KW each,  so 2 showers  on at the same time = 18KW. Total max for any UK house on single phase is 24kw. Therefore  240volts x 100Amps = 24,000 KW. But keeping it safe we have been advised not to go above 20KW

We now have an electric car with a zappi car charger which charges at 7.2KW The app for this tells me the total draw of the house is so is great for me to be able to see and I wish to put a fixed unit in the house for all to see at a glance. I get home and may my car on charge so i am good to go that evening. BUT if the wife and kids do not know the car is plugged and 2 showers go on.. well.... bang... No power. Leaving notes is bit hit and miss. The zappi apparently can detect the power draw and compensate with stopping / starting charge, but i want to be extra safe.

A display would let them know instantly if the car is charging and a shower is running eta as it is easy to define showers and a car charge. Then they can then sort out who can shower and when etc while i am sleeping soundly.

Is there a unit on the market with a CT clamp that will display total KW draw, it is easy enough to run a cable and have a display in my kitchen for all to see.

Many thanks in advance.

 

TheElectricCow

quattro610 said:

Is there a unit on the market with a CT clamp that will display total KW draw, it is easy enough to run a cable and have a display in my kitchen for all to see.

Many thanks in advance.

A quick google search for “ct clamp monitor” brings up a whole host of devices which could adequately achieve what you’re looking for, either wired in or wirelessly e.g. 
https://amzn.eu/d/3Dg6kyz

Wonder if anyone can help me please. I need a real time monitor to display the TOTAL DRAW of current in the house hold in Kw's on a display 24/7 available for all to see at a glance. Not an app, an actual box on the wall / table. I need it to display KW in real time

What you’ve described here just so happens to be EXACTLY what the in home display provided with a smart meter would do for you, with no direct cost to yourself in purchasing additional equipment. Although if you have no interest in one of those there’s no reason for me to push that subject of discussion any further.

Rodders53

As the EV charger can show this and old 'phone or tablet running the App could display this I'd have thought - possibly for free.  This is MSE after all.

https://www.smartgreenshop.co.uk/home-energy-monitors has a range of monitors that will do what you want and is just one example retailer.

Or get a tin foil hat and a smart meter.  One will be forced on you sooner or later.  Plus it would allow a wider choice of EV tariffs another potential MSE plus.

Spoonie_Turtle

An IHD will do exactly what you want, for free*.  The accompanying smart meter will give you access to tariffs that save you money.

*Not technically free, as we're all paying for the rollout in our bills, so even more reason to get your money's worth.

That's all I'm going to say on that.

The brand(?) or type I saw a lot when looking into this before we got our smart meter was Owl.  There were also secondhand units for sale on eBay from when suppliers gave them out for free for keeping an eye on energy use before smart meters; I don't know if there are any issues with compatability though, I never got far enough before needing to get our meter changed for a smart one.

rp1974

Not what you asked OP,but don't you have load management for your EV charger?if you do your problem is largely solved,bar the fact that you seem to have an inadequate mains supply for your needs.
Was this discussed with relevant professionals before fitting an EV charger?,if not it really should've been.

As a side note,an EV and a smartmeter are ideal bedfellows,imho,a point which I won't labour on about,in accordance to your stance on the matter.