The Energy Detective for Power Monitoring

[tom baker]

Here is an interesting device http://www.theenergydetective.com/what/overview.html

Its called the TED and is designed for a homeowner to track energy useage. The TED series have CTS and voltage connections that go in a electrical panel.
(I don't know if its UL listed)
The TED 5000 has a gateway and connects to the internet to allow monitoring with Google Power Meter. Google Power Meter is a free software program developed by Google. One of the uses of TED would be to monitor the electrical power for sizing a generator.

Many users would be interested in this new product, with all the emphasis on green power.

 

[wireguru]

its going to be pretty scary as this stuff becomes prevalant, and everyone who soldered a new battery into their iphone thinks they can work in a panelboard.

from the TED site:
"Installation is very simple and quick. A technically-savvy homeowner, neighbor, friend or electrician can install TED in 10-15 minutes." :roll:

 

[yucan2]

I rather like it. Contacted them with interest in becoming a distributor. We'll see.

BTW if you click on their support link for installation it also states this:

"The reason a technically-savvy person or an electrician should perform the MTU (transmitter) installation is that the cover of the electric panel is removed. Serious injury/death could occur if you are not familiar with electrical components and operation of the circuit breaker panel. It is a very simple installation for an electrician."

 

[SAC]

I'm an admitted DIY'er with respect to installing my TED-5000. Though what kind of scares me is that I think that my understanding of electricity makes me more cautions than an average homeowner might be. You get pretty close to some live terminals (even with the main off) when putting the CT clamps on the service conductors.

 

[e57]

The reason a technically-savvy person or an electrician should perform the MTU (transmitter) installation is that the cover of the electric panel is removed. Serious injury/death could occur if you are not familiar with electrical components and operation of the circuit breaker panel. It is a very simple installation for an electrician.

I'm sure the non-sales based literature that comes with the unit has a stronger warning....

 

[mayanees]

.... sold!

 

[mayanees]

great little unit

great little unit

As followup to this thread... I bought a TED-5000 about the time I replied "sold" in this thread... about 3 months ago!
I think I spent about $225. it came in a week or so. Then it sat on the shelf for two months.
I finally hooked it up last week, and it's really a great little unit.
It monitors wattage, and can display levels as small as a 15 watt desk lamp.
There's a remote display for immediate update and awareness of what the house conusmption is, and there's also a computer screen that lets you do data logging, tracking, trending, etc.
I think my household will save enough for payback within short order, just from the awareness of what we're consuming. I've never been able to get my daughter to trun lights off, but now the screen is in full view, and she's as dilligent as I am about keeping the hourly consumption as low as possible! We idle at about 10 cents per hour. It's fun because it gets my non-electrical family members involved!
Installation was real simple, with the only exposure coming when the CTs were clamped over each 120 Volt leg.
Highly recommended.
John M

 

[Ruff-N]

Quote: By David Glover "Hack your electric meter and save the world"

Nice I hope he means in the line of #7

hack    /h?k/
?verb (used with object)
1. to cut, notch, slice, chop, or sever (something) with or as with heavy, irregular blows (often fol. by up or down ): to hack meat; to hack down trees.
2. to break up the surface of (the ground).
3. to clear (a road, path, etc.) by cutting away vines, trees, brush, or the like: They hacked a trail through the jungle.
4. to damage or injure by crude, harsh, or insensitive treatment; mutilate; mangle: The editor hacked the story to bits.
5. to reduce or cut ruthlessly; trim: The Senate hacked the budget severely before returning it to the House.
6. Slang . to deal or cope with; handle: He can't hack all this commuting.
7. Computers . to devise or modify (a computer program), usually skillfully.
8. Basketball . to strike the arm of (an opposing ball handler): He got a penalty for hacking the shooter.
9. British . to kick or kick at the shins of (an opposing player) in Rugby football.
10. South Midland and Southern U.S. to embarrass, annoy, or disconcert.

 

[suemarkp]

Our local power company sent a flyer in the bill for this http://www.bluelineinnovations.com/Products/PowerCost-Monitor/How-It-Works/

I bought one and it seems to work. Anyone can install, since it optically tracks the power meter wheel. No electrical connections required. But it doesn't have any network access either.

I'm not totally sure of its accuracy. I may have a power leak, or it just can't distinguish much when dealing with load changed under 50 watts. It is also a bit sluggish -- must have some dampening in it as you won't instantly see changes when a load goes on or off. It also doesn't seem to be able to read accurately when the load is over 20 KW. My heat pump on defrost would cause readings that didn't seem right (20 KW strips + 5 KW heat pump). Didn't get higher when 5500W water heater was added to that.