measuring power used in each garage

[jake]

i have a customer that has a 4 unit apartment building which he sold as condos. The 4 car garage is detatched and on the "house meter". He wants to monitor how much power each owner uses and charge them accordingly. It it possible to run 4 tri-plexes overhead and feed separately but i want to see if anyone has any other easier and cheaper ideas.
Thank You, John

 

[ron]

Re: measuring power used in each garage

How about installing a cheapy kWH meter for each garage?
http://www.emon.com/html/econsingle_g.html

 

[jerryb]

Re: measuring power used in each garage

I would not recommend trying to meter each tenant and then billing them based on usage. This would be re-selling electricity and is probably illegal. The first step would be to contact the local utility and verify if this practice is acceptable with them.

Utility companies are a monolopy but are regulated by an energy commission that tries to control the cost of electricty so consumer do not get cheated.

A "check" meter can be used to monitor the usage of a tenant, but this would only be used to verify that the tenant uses what was agreed upon at the time of lease signing.

 

[sjaniga]

Re: measuring power used in each garage

Jake,

For a situation like this I would suggest a cost analysis for the past year on the house panel, break it down to each tenant and increase the rent to occomodate. This by far would be the cheapest solution.

I would not recommend trying to meter each tenant and then billing them based on usage. This would be re-selling electricity and is probably illegal.

Jerry,
This is called sub-metering and is done quite frequently. Just recently we installed 30 of these to an old 180,000 sq/ft building that is now being leased to tenants, many which have high draw equipment. For legality, I'am not sure how the tenants get billed for what they use.

Scott

 

[jim dungar]

Re: measuring power used in each garage

First, we are allowed to bill each tenant for the usage as long as we do not charge more than the utility (no profit allowed).

In our area sub-metering is often investigated, but almost never implemented. The cost of adding meters is too high for low KWHR circuits.

[ October 22, 2003, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: jim dungar ]

 

[iwire]

Re: measuring power used in each garage

In this area it is unusual for any newer and many older multi tenant buildings not to have sub metering.

As Ron pointed out E-Mon is a popular type, most commonly we install the E-MON D-MON Three Phase KWH Meter.

 

[ryan_618]

Re: measuring power used in each garage

Bob: Is that product the one that has the "doughnuts" that you route the branch circuits of each phase through?

 

[iwire]

Re: measuring power used in each garage

Yes you have to put donut CTs on the conductors for current measurement and A,B,C, N to the unit for voltage measurement.

They can be and often are put on a network and monitored remotely from the building services office. (Maintenance)

I recently saw another brand that had CTs that opened so you did not have to disconnect the feeders to install them, I do not know if E-Mon offers those.

 

[hurk27]

Re: measuring power used in each garage

Yes Bob E-Mon does have them now the last 5 I installed had the newer ones. These little meters are great when point of use metering needs to be done. Just dont put them after a disconect that will be shut off every nite (even though they have a backup battery) LOL it realy messes with it. and the cat-5 jack is right on the board to network them to a central computer to monitor or use as a billing center. We have a few camp grounds here that use them and truck bays that makes it easy for the owner to bill the right amount.

[ October 23, 2003, 01:23 AM: Message edited by: hurk27 ]

 

[frenchelectrican]

Re: measuring power used in each garage

hi bob: yes i did see both three and single phase verison of e-mon metering device and the single phase unit have "split doughnut" current transformer device and i install it and it work pretty slick and used in apartment complex for submetering for block heaters for car/ truck

as far for billing for each unit i really can't say too much for securety reason ( the apartmet complex manger say to me he charge what the poco rate and he don't make any profet with it at all per law statement)

and ditto with three phase units and they do come few diffrent verison with it


merci, marc