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Tracking Your Energy Use: Page 5 of 5
With Home Monitoring Systems
Issue Date:
February / March 2013
Last Updated:
12/16/12
Intermediate
- Intermediate
No display comes with the unit—the real-time data is viewed via computer or smartphone. Data can be downloaded to Excel or other data management software for further analysis.
One unique twist on Wattvision’s approach to energy monitoring is the ability to “share and compare” your use with the electricity consumption of other Wattvision users. This has the opportunity to encourage engagement about energy consumption. The Wattvision unit is available on the company’s website.
Happy Metering!
Although it falls outside of the scope of single-residence monitoring, one group of products in particular is worth mentioning—The E-Mon D-Mon (emon.com), which has been a workhorse of the electrical monitoring industry. The E-Mon products are targeted at commercial, industrial, multi-tenant facilities. Many electricians are familiar with these robust revenue-grade metering products, which start at $400.
But for monitoring a single source, the Blueline, OWL, or Wattvision products are good candidates. For monitoring a few circuits with some optional features, the EnviR and TED will probably do the trick. With more rigorous monitoring requirements, the eGauge, eMonitor, or LGate are the meters worth considering.
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Erika Weliczko lives in Cleveland, Ohio, where she operates REpower Solutions. Erika is a licensed electrical contractor, and is a NABCEP Certified Solar PV and Small Wind Installer.
Comments (6)
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We have a solution that listens to Cent-a-meter and OWL wireless meters every 60 seconds (and a growing list of solar grid-connect inverters) and charts it on the web. This is all using open-source software, so anyone can set up a system. It's all at: http://www.solarnetwork.net/
Hi John,
Thanks for your comment and the correction. Indeed the display does need to be plugged in, and we will adjust that text.
Justine Sanchez
Home Power Magazine
I did buy the EnviR. The transmitter comes with batteries but the display uses no batteries at all and runs only on the wall wart supplied. The HP article erroneously states that the display runs on batteries. The transmitter is made to install in a breaker box if outside and I would think it would diminish the signal strength. My breaker box is inside so I installed the transmitter on the wall bringing the CT leads through a knockout hole.
The transmitter sends out a data pulse every 10 seconds so if you have an appliance that cycles on/off the synchrony of the data pulse and on time of the appliance could be out of wack so that a long observation would be required to notice the on effect of the appliance.
John Nelson Nucla, CO
After reading the article, I was interested in "The Owl" monitoring system. Upon going to there website ( in the UK ) I find that the pictured Owl ( CM119) is not listed and replaced by the Owl micro
+. However, they list having in the package only one CT which to me would allow only monitoring of one phase of a 240 volt ( read half your circuits ), or monitor only one branch circuit. You need two CT's to monitor both hot 240v lines and get the full picture of the power going through your breaker box. HP article is misleading in saying the ".......incoming wires to the main electrical panel"
John Nelson, Nucla, CO
Hello, John, Thanks for your comment.
The description for the OWL products mentions that "The OWL devices are designed to monitor only one circuit..." If you're planning on monitoring more than one circuit, there are several good options covered in the article.
Joe, editor
Hi John,
thanks for your comment. And yes this manufacturer is based out of the UK, however if you go to their website they list their USA distributor as Precision Data Systems: http://www.pdsmn.com/
Then if you go to their website and click on Products and Buy Now...you are lead to Amazon, who does offer the version with 2 CTs. Hope this helps!
Best,
Justine Sanchez
Home Power Magazine