Monitor real time energy usage with Google
 

This is still in the testing phase, but real time power useage will soon become a reality for those that have electronic power meters.
It has been shown that people drastically reduce their energy consumption when they have a way to measure what consumes the most energy.

( Something that those of us that have Kill-A-Watt meters know well :) )


Google PowerMeter

( Be sure to check out the link to the YouTube video on their page - it is to the far right of the page. )

Wow 117 views !
Is the link not working or something ?

The link is working...cool stuff. Kind of like a scanguage for home energy use...like it!

I've been interested in this, but I think it'll have to wait until I have my own place since my mother is picky about modifying things :p

Wow - I was begining to think I was on peoples 'ignore' list .:)

SVO, what would you have to modify ? If your power company is one of those listed on the site, they come out and install the new digital meters ( for free I think )

The power companies want to replace the old meters with new ones not because they are such 'nice guys', but because of the fact that old meters tend to stick a lot and not give the full reading. ( Go figure right ? )

I've put ants in the meter before... they build their nest and it makes it stick. I've also put honey bees in there. Now they don't punch out extra holes on them.

This is great! I think? How about you explain exactly how it works instead of making us go through all the "google is great" stuff.

Apparently I've had a "smart meter" for about 12 years. No one from the electric company comes in to the yard to read the meter. I think they do it from a vehicle driving by. So how is this supposed to work? We buy a receiver from you or google? There is all ready a lot if info available on your electric bill or on your providers web site. Are you talking about daily peak kW? Hourly peak kW? More info please.

Sorry for posting. I didn't think. :(

I have no idea how that it works.
From what I think I understood from reading about it though, homes with electronic meters ( versus the old dial style ) can check their meters online in real time.
Electric companies will supposedly begin phasing out the old dial style meters.
Once you get yours, you would be able to use the Google power meter feature.
Of course you could also just walk outside and get a real time reading as well, but I posted because I think a lot of folks would rather just check it alongside their e-mail.

Don't mind me Cd, I'm just a grouchy old man. You might be too if your kWh usage from 23 Jun to 25 Jul was 1385. Not a record btw.

It's a great idea and if I can figure it out I just might make it part of my wife's desktop.

My utility is not listed as a partner. That doesn't mean the info is not available. If I figure it out I will post it.

Smile cd:), don't be sorry and it was not personal.

...here in Arizona it's APS (Arizona Public Service) but the "service" HERE is more accutately related to what Bulls provide to Cows.

Pinnacle West Capital Corp.
 

Oh come on, they only ask for rate increases about twice a year. They love us!

And that ain't no bull.

Well said OTM.

You're on to something here. Apparently, most modern meters provides data when "PINGed". It has to be a wireless output of sorts. If someone can hack something like a "cent-a-meter" device, you've got it in real time. Develop an output of sorts for a computer log and you have the Google product without the need to purchase their product, service, or broadcast to the Net.

Any electronic gurus out there to develop your own?

RH77

Hafta see if my local utility works with this...

Interesting idea, but I was thinking of getting something that isn't dependent on teh Internets.

Has anyone used one of the real-time home energy monitors - like these?

TED 1001 The Energy Detective | TerraPass: fight global warming, reduce your carbon footprint

Home Energy PowerCost Monitor - free shipping | TerraPass: fight global warming, reduce your carbon footprint

They seem to be a level above the basic Kill-A-Watt.

Buddy of mine has a TED; works very well; any questions?

Hard to hook up? Did he get any flack from meter readers for connecting something from the meter?

Well; the CT's (pickups) are not split, so you do have to pass the feed lines through them. which in his case required pulling the meeter to do safely (would have to do live otherwise). We called the power company; cost $100 for them to allow you (licensed electrician) to pull the meter, or if the tag is cut they charge you a $100 electricity misuse fee; however the lady told us that if the tag looks ok then they don't care. We carefully took the tag apart, did our job, and re-installed the tag no problems. if you have a disconnect/ main breaker this might not be an issue . . ..

Cliffs, have to pass feed wires through a loop may require lots of trouble.

Hmm. Sounds a bit more involved than I was hoping. I mean, I'm only paying a flat $0.085/kWh and I don't think there's any major power losses going on, just wanted it because I like having numbers to enter into a spreadsheet. :) Don't want the final price tag to crack $200, that's for sure. Would take quite a while to recoup that.

I might go with the cheaper one I listed above, it says it is not necessary to have an electrician install it....

Wouldn't an open source meter based on Hall effect current sensors be more accurate than inductive pickups with nonlinear loads?