Smart meter installed - IHD useless.

B0bbyEwing

So I had smart meters installed yesterday through Octopus. 

The chap said that the "waiting for current data" and "waiting for bill" on displayed on the IHD will show "in a bit" as it's "only just connected". 

That was yesterday morning. My bit is considerably shorter than the bit that has passed so now I'm wondering how you actually get those things working. 

Who knows, X-down the line it may get thrown in the drawer & never used again but because it's new I want to have a play with it & see what it shows.  

oldernonethewiser

The guy that installed the Smart meters in my mothers house said he had never taken the IHD display out of the box in his own home.  Hers lives in a drawer.

I've never even had an IHD

Reed_Richards

If your meter can't communicate with your IHD, can it manage to send readings to Octopus?  Or have you ended up with a dumb smart meter?

danco

I dop't think an IHD is particularly useful. But if you can get an Octopus Mini (there was a waiting list at one point, don't know if one still has to wait) I do recommend it.

MP1995

They hold some people's attention for a few months then end up interviewing draw. The octopus mini however has been a permanent fixture for many.

spot1034

OP I assume you've put the IHD as close as possible to the meter itself, to give it the best chance of making a good connection and downloading whatever it needs to get going? 

katejo

spot1034 said:

OP I assume you've put the IHD as close as possible to the meter itself, to give it the best chance of making a good connection and downloading whatever it needs to get going? 

I got a new Smart meter in April and the IHD still doesn't work for gas. It's fine for electricity. I can't put them close because the gas meter is outside the house under my front window. The phone app works so I know that Octopus is getting my readings so I have given up on ever getting a fully working IHD.

mmmmikey

A "bit" for a new smart meter / IHD can be a couple of days, normally they spring into life just after you give up waiting.

B0bbyEwing

spot1034 said:

OP I assume you've put the IHD as close as possible to the meter itself, to give it the best chance of making a good connection and downloading whatever it needs to get going? 

They can't be much closer tbh short of putting it on top. They're maybe 40, 50cm apart (IHD & electricity meter). 

The gas meter is located outside but only maybe 1mtr from the electricity meter.

Reed_Richards said:

If your meter can't communicate with your IHD, can it manage to send readings to Octopus?  Or have you ended up with a dumb smart meter?

I did wonder about the signal. It was a concern I had before having the smart meters installed as I wouldn't have bothered if it was possible to know in advance whether it'd end up 'dumb' or not.

But the installer assured me I had a perfectly good signal.

Whether I do or not ... I've no idea.

Scot_39

I don't think it took any length of time at all for my ihd to connect.
Out of the box almost.  But that was only electric.

For kWh anyway,  but it took a while to get pence rates updated, for EOn to send inc VAT etc even longer

And it has had its limitations.

It's main one being it doesn't cope with multirate electric - so cannot see seperate register data - daily weekly etc.

But I can use totals to get them with simple school level  arithmetic without thankfully resorting to reading to external meter in mid winter.


But its main use for me - as my energy rate switches 3x off peak sessions per day- and apart from the 5am - I can see the countdowns as a constant reminder when to use heavy power devices.

Lorian

I would give it 3 or 4 days before being too concerned.