Smart meters

[Russell griffiths]

Morning 

had a letter from sse regarding putting in a smart meter. 

This is for the little bungalow we live in now, not the new house. 

What is the current thoughts on for or against. 

 

We are hoping to still own this when the new house is built, so as long as funds permit we will have it for a few years. 

[ProDave]

I ask the simple question.  How will I personally benefit from a smart meter.  Every time I have asked that question the answer has been I won't. So I say no to a smart meter.

 

That might be different if you WANT a tariff that charges variable rates throughout the day (and can work around the silly high afternoon / early evening price) in which case you might have a valid reason for wanting one.

[Gone West]

Depends what type I suppose. We have a first generation smart meter which isn't activated so just like a normal meter, but it's useful because it stores all the monthly usage data.

[SteamyTea]

45 minutes ago, ProDave said:

How will I personally benefit from a smart meter

I had a letter from EDF saying that the radio signal that controls my E7 is being switched off (2023 I think), so I will benefit from one come the day.

Shall drag it out mind you.  They were meant to swap it out with the radio switch glitched a few weeks back, they never did and the switch started to work correctly again.

[ToughButterCup]

1 hour ago, ProDave said:

... I ask the simple question.  How will I personally benefit from a smart meter. ....

 

Apologies @Russell griffiths if this takes your thread off topic a little ....

 

In relation to smart meters, my focus is self-consumption (because we fitted the system after the end of the FIT incentive period). As  @SteamyTea and @ProDave point out here I'll need a smart meter or an export power manager.

 

We fitted a Solis inverter. Had I known how dreadful the data-logging sotware was, I would never have entertained fitting Solis. By far the worst choice of our whole build (Schadenfreude permitted @SteamyTea) .

Now, I just have to assume that the PV we generate is consumed by us (if demanded) . But, I can't trust  Solis until I have evidence to the contrary.

 

@ProDave's answer is to  fit a 

Quote

... meter (that) records what is exported back to the grid and does not register what is imported.

https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/17097-self-consumption-making-sense-of-meter-readings/?tab=comments#comment-276152

 

To bring the focus back to your  question  @Russell griffiths, I think the answer might be; fit a smart meter if there is a compelling reason (saving meaningful amounts of money)  or you want to Demand Side Manage   your consumption - switch electrical appliances on and be sure that you are consuming your own PV.

[SteamyTea]

40 minutes ago, ToughButterCup said:

my focus is self-consumption

I think a normal digital meter has the LED light up permanently if exporting.

Link that in with the generation meter flashing, via a Raspberry Pi or two, job done.

[ToughButterCup]

16 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

I think a normal digital meter has the LED light up permanently if exporting.

Link that in with the generation meter flashing, via a Raspberry Pi or two, job done.

 

Ya got me hooked now @SteamyTea

Help me help myself ... how do I start please? 

 

I'll start by looking at the meter: we are generating now ( reasonably sunny here)  and the dishwasher is running. So the LED should be off .....

(Apologies Russ, I'll start another thread)

[SteamyTea]

7 minutes ago, ToughButterCup said:

I'll start another thread

Yes do

[ProDave]

7 hours ago, SteamyTea said:

I think a normal digital meter has the LED light up permanently if exporting.

Link that in with the generation meter flashing, via a Raspberry Pi or two, job done.

Yes it does, and my own meter now alternates it's display between the consumption reading and reD  standing for Reverse Energy Detected, which was a feature originally meant to detect anyone trying to wind back the meter, but a feature that does not sit well with solar PV generation.

 

Edit to say, the meter at our last house still flashed the red light even when exporting though the export did not count up on the display.

[Russell griffiths]

Ok, I’m going to come back to this with the wife in tow and a bill to hand, as we have two meters one for night storage heaters and one for the rest of the stuff. 

Will get back to you later in the week when I have warmed up. 

[Oz07]

I have one provided with original meter supplier here and it's in a cupboard somewhere unplugged. Might bin it next time I have a clear out

[ToughButterCup]

3 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

Ok, I’m going to come back to this with the wife in tow and a bill to hand,....

 

Stand by your beds lads! Wimmin involved.  Getting serious now. I want a front row seat.

[Gav_P]

12 hours ago, SteamyTea said:

I had a letter from EDF saying that the radio signal that controls my E7 is being switched off (2023 I think), so I will benefit from one come the day.

Shall drag it out mind you.  They were meant to swap it out with the radio switch glitched a few weeks back, they never did and the switch started to work correctly again.

Radio switch can be switched with a magnet... smart meter can’t. 
 

also when the did the role out of 1st gen I don’t think the meters could deal with eco7.

Edited December 7, 2020 by Gav_P

[SteamyTea]

41 minutes ago, Gav_P said:

Radio switch can be switched with a magnet... smart meter can’t. 

That is how I fixed it when it got stuck, wish I could get it to stick in the night position, any idea if that can happen?

[SuperJohnG]

This thread seems to jump quite far ahead fir a simple question. 

 

I have a gen 2. It works fine, it benefits me in now I can see all my consumption historical and live. Hence can switch things off. 

 

It hasn't affected my tariff and it isn't variable. I am on the same rate I would have if I didnt have one. I don't see why there is so much contempt for a wee device that automatically sends away your figures...

[SteamyTea]

7 hours ago, SuperJohnG said:

I don't see why there is so much contempt for a wee device that automatically sends away your figures

I am not so keen of the remote disconnection facility.

I also don't know if I will be able to use my data logger with a new one.