Power Monitoring

[chris_j_hunter]

the Current Cost device has expanded its capabilities since last we looked - can deal with multiple inputs, read the pulses on a smart meter, connect to the 'net, etc ... there's also an analogue development board - at a quick glance, not sure what it can do, exactly, in terms of what it produces being displayed, but it's tempting to think it might provide a / another way of linking to IdraNet :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=A1F83G8C2ARO7P&me=A1UZ5FQNG739UE

http://www.currentcost.com/products.html

http://currentcost.posterous.com/how-can-i-use-a-dev-board

http://currentcost.posterous.com/

http://www.currentcost.com/download/CurrentCost%20EnviR%20Man-Singles.pdf

ie: if the board could be paired as Appliance 0, then maybe an EnviR (& satellite displays) could be used as an energy display, using data supplied by Cortex, via IdraNet & a QAO ... (???)

[Paul_B]

Chris,

Certainly looks like this has come quite a long way since the early days and is continuing to evolve. I certainlly like the appliance monitoring device it is something I have wanted from Idratek for a long time. The closest I have come to this is placing DIN mounted power usgae units with pulse output on each ring circuit of the house

Paul

[chris_j_hunter]

yep, we've installed some of those ...

but we're still looking for a simple way to display data to improve awareness, and the CC approach might be as good as any ...

not sure the Analogue 'Board can be paired as Appliance 0, though ...

[Geps]

Not sure if it's just me thinking this.....but what use do I have for being able to check my home electricity usage through the internet?

I'm a big fan of 'why not!?' but not quite sure it's going to have a massive appeal to the wider market.....?

[chris_j_hunter]

the Internet aspects of the CC approach were peripheral for us, quite minor - it's the display / displays in & around the house that looked interesting, through their potential for modifying people's behaviour & their demands for power ... ie: given the information, people might think twice (even once) !

[Geps]

Slightly OT have you found an internet connected thermostat?

[chris_j_hunter]

no, but an Idratek set-up can talk with the 'net ...

[toscal]

A client of mine has a network enabled thermostat, which he can look at via the internet. He does live in the middle of no where and switching the heating on an hour earlier if he wants can make the difference between a warm house and a cold one. In December it can fall to -7 through the night. Also he has the odd late night at work so being able to adjust the temp via his phone office pc or to postpone the on time by an hour or so is quite useful.
Being able to look at your power consumption via the internet is useful if you think you have left something on. But then if you have you also need a way to turn it off remotely.

[chris_j_hunter]

ditto if the house is occupied by people who won't / don't touch the controls, or perhaps are barred from doing so ...

in our case, controls will be within the Idratek set-up ...

OTOH, button modules could be programmed to provide up & down facilities ...

OTOOH, high thermal mass situations (eg: many UFH set-ups) are perhaps best left on 24/7 & left alone - plus, adjusting up & down can be bad for efficiencies (not only in itself, but also because people tend to exaggerated their demands)