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Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

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Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#11

Post by tomharrisonjr »

wesley wrote: post #7

Something like http://www.currentcost.com is much cheaper, has a one time cost, includes a display, and can send statistics to several user contributed apps as well. A new version is due soon which will _probably_ introduce wireless transfer to the pc and compatibility with google powermeter..

I have tested the currentcost and it's a different thing in some ways -- WattVision has the distinct advantage of not requiring you to open the electrical box, for one, but also doesn't have a display (yet). CurrentCost is all about the monitor, similar to Owl. I think everyone is working towards some sort of online feed; TED 5000 has one that hooks to Google PowerMeter, but WattVision is a somewhat simpler and more extensible design IMHO. Honestly, I like them all -- monitoring electricity has helped me identify innumerable little ways to use less; the big picture is that I now use about 1/2 the electricity I did a few years ago.

Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#12

Post by axod »

pkulak wrote: post #4
gcb wrote: post #3

You actually have to install something to get this graph? In Brazil you get a graph of your consumption for the last 12 months. printed with the bill every month. http://www.eletropaulo.com.br/portal/download.cfm?pasta_id=3... (page 3, item 18)

I get a simple graph on my bill too. But this is real-time and instantaneous measurement. There's a bit of a difference.

In the UK you can get this from your supplier. They send you out a little unit that shows your current usage, cost etc etc.

Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#13

Post by jws »

If your meter looks like a spinning disk, you're out of luck—for now.

I have read where a fellow used an LED and a photodetector to watch his spinning disc and measure how long it takes to go around. Sadly I can't find the web page anymore. Still, it is possible.

Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#14

Post by ShabbyDoo »

jws wrote: post #13

If your meter looks like a spinning disk, you're out of luck—for now. I have read where a fellow used an LED and a photodetector to watch his spinning disc and measure how long it takes to go around. Sadly I can't find the web page anymore. Still, it is possible.

I wonder if one can ask his electric company to upgrade his meter?

Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#15

Post by easyfrag »

jws wrote: post #13

If your meter looks like a spinning disk, you're out of luck—for now. I have read where a fellow used an LED and a photodetector to watch his spinning disc and measure how long it takes to go around. Sadly I can't find the web page anymore. Still, it is possible.

You're only out of luck if you want a detailed history or to view it on the web, plenty of monitoring devices exist that are compatible with the analog models. http://blackanddecker.com/Energy/PowerMonitor.aspx?WT.mc_id=...

Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#16

Post by jodrellblank »

wesley wrote: post #10
jodrellblank wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"real-time" ish. I like the way they switch a light off, then stare at the iPhone for a few seconds to tell them it's gone dark. ;) Joking aside, I didn't know meters had "LED ports on them(IR?) and assumed these sorts of devices would have to be complex and measure current somehow. It's another place where I think "great, but I don't want it streaming to the cloud, can't I host it myself?". Follow up thought: I'll b…

For this particular device it would mean that they would loose their monthly subscription (as I don't think people would accept to pay a monthly fee for a clientside app). This is their business model.

It seems terrible to have a device in my house measuring electricity (the meter), then put a reader on it, stream the data over wifi, over the internet, to a company with a bank of servers and several full time employees then process it then stream it back over the mobile phone network, all in the interest of saving energy.

Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#17

Post by jodrellblank »

tomharrisonjr wrote: post #11
wesley wrote: post #7

Something like http://www.currentcost.com is much cheaper, has a one time cost, includes a display, and can send statistics to several user contributed apps as well. A new version is due soon which will _probably_ introduce wireless transfer to the pc and compatibility with google powermeter..

I have tested the currentcost and it's a different thing in some ways -- WattVision has the distinct advantage of not requiring you to open the electrical box, for one, but also doesn't have a display (yet). CurrentCost is all about the monitor, similar to Owl. I think everyone is working towards some sort of online feed; TED 5000 has one that hooks to Google PowerMeter, but WattVision is a somewhat simpler and more…

Are you using less electricity to do the same things, or are you living differently in order to lower your electricity use because electricity use is in your focus?

If so, would those changes be annoying to live with if you weren't so interested in your electricity use - if you tried to get a random person to reduce their electricity use in the same ways, would they say "sod that, it sounds too hard/stupid/cheap/complex"?

Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#18

Post by dandelany »

wesley wrote: post #8
breck wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> graph of your consumption for the last 12 months Monthly graphs would be somewhat helpful. For example, you could decipher that the AC uses a lot of power if the graph spikes in summer. Daily graphs would be way more helpful. For example, you can see how much you saved on a day where you were out and used no power. Hourly graphs would be still more helpful. If you knew you watched TV from 8-9, you could see the cos…

I don't need this device to tell me that standby devices waste power. Just install some power strips and turn it off completely. I don't see much other use for a device like this if you've already eliminated standby devices. Sure, it can tell you that your fridge is wasting alot of electricity, but that's what the energy labels are for (A++ etc)

If you're already very energy-conscious, I can see your point. However, most people probably don't think about how much power their standby (and operational, but unnecessary) devices consume.

An analogy: I don't need Mint to tell me I waste money. Of course, I try to minimize the amount of money that I waste, but some is inevitably spend on stupid things. However, Mint is a tool that helps me identify exactly when and where I'm wasting the most money, which informs the financial decisions I make.

Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#19

Post by covercash »

wesley wrote: post #7

Something like http://www.currentcost.com is much cheaper, has a one time cost, includes a display, and can send statistics to several user contributed apps as well. A new version is due soon which will _probably_ introduce wireless transfer to the pc and compatibility with google powermeter..

Does the CurrentCost unit have to be attached at the meter or can it be hooked up to the breaker box?

Re: Tom has a new crush. It's called the WattVision Energy Monitor.

#20

Post by wesley »

dandelany wrote: post #18
wesley wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't need this device to tell me that standby devices waste power. Just install some power strips and turn it off completely. I don't see much other use for a device like this if you've already eliminated standby devices. Sure, it can tell you that your fridge is wasting alot of electricity, but that's what the energy labels are for (A++ etc)

If you're already very energy-conscious, I can see your point. However, most people probably don't think about how much power their standby (and operational, but unnecessary) devices consume. An analogy: I don't need Mint to tell me I waste money. Of course, I try to minimize the amount of money that I waste, but some is inevitably spend on stupid things. However, Mint is a tool that helps me identify exactly when an…

Well, I don't think those people would even buy such a device. Only people that are aware of their energy usage and actively want to reduce it would want a device like this.

Of course if they got a deal with an energy supplier and got this installed for free in all houses it'd be a different matter entirely.

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