Originally posted by sandyman
View Post
The irony is that it looks like it has hidden away low voltage switch contacts that would allow direct connection to a monitoring system but only "approved" devices could be connected, no doubt only devices supplied by the gas supplier
It looks like light would get in through the side of the plastic casing over the readout, so hopefully that wouldn't be sensed erroneously by the sensor as the cupboard is dark until the door is opened.
the electric one is less accurate, due to inductive coupling it over-reads when the usage is low (I have tried to calibrate, but gave up, too damn hard).
I suspect one reason for inaccuracies is going to be that if it is only a simple current clamp and doesn't measure the voltage (and I don't see how it can without any direct electrical connection) then it must be assuming a nominal mains supply voltage. Power is Voltage x Current after all, so if you measure current but only assume voltage there will be errors that depend on voltage fluctuations for the time of the day and based on local voltage drop from items such as an electric shower.
They might have a voltage drop heuristic in the software that assumes a certain amount of voltage drop for a certain amount of current draw (for example if your shower draws 40 amps, the voltage might drop by 5 volts in a "typical" installation - that's a guess, I haven't measured it) but that wouldn't account for fluctuations caused by the trends of your neighbours etc.
So absolute accuracy is impossible with a simple current clamp but its still a damn sight better than a bill (and potentially bill shock) every 3 months with no way to go back and work out what the cause was. A relative reading is all you really need there as long as absolute accuracy is in the ball park. For me the real time feedback is much more important than absolute accuracy.
as others say, when it comes to switching your provider, take their monetary and tariff stuff on their site with a pinch of salt.
take your own meter readings periodically to check the accuracy, dump their data into your choice of format and do your own thing via all the comparison sites.
take your own meter readings periodically to check the accuracy, dump their data into your choice of format and do your own thing via all the comparison sites.
Comment