ESEV Energy Monitor

[Coffee_Slurry]

I get my data straight from SDG&E's power meter.

Can you explain a bit what equipment are you using to do that? Through Wattvision? Blue Line?

The only equipment required is an optical data coupler (I'm using Tespro now, and a homebrew one) and some computer software.
More info in this thread:
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=403&p=28127&hilit=tespro#p28127

 

[greenleaf]

The only equipment required is an optical data coupler (I'm using Tespro now, and a homebrew one) and some computer software.
More info in this thread:
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=403&p=28127&hilit=tespro#p28127

Ah I see. Thanks for the link.

The Blue Line and WattVision products are essentially the same thing. They are strapped onto the meter:

http://www.wattvision.com/info/sensors
http://www.bluelineinnovations.com/Products/PowerCost-Monitor/How-It-Works/

Each one costs $200+ though.

 

[garygid]

I suspect that TED's MTU needs both L1 and L2 voltages to properly measure power: needs current and voltage and their phase on both the L1 leg and the L2 leg, right?

 

[greenleaf]

I suspect that TED's MTU needs both L1 and L2 voltages to properly measure power: needs current and voltage and their phase on both the L1 leg and the L2 leg, right?

I only have one leg connected due to a lack of breaker space. The techs on their forum said its OK.

I think for my PV array output, it is fine since the power factor is very close to 1 anyway.

 

[walterbays]

I've been searching for equipment that would allow me to monitor power generation and consumption of solar panels, EVSE, etc. TED looks promising as does Eyedro EHWEM1 and a few other systems. However those systems for which manufacturers disclose detailed installation information all appear to require a 120VAC outlet for a transformer to supply DC power to the sensor/transmitter.

My breaker box where the sensors would be placed is on an outside wall with no outlet nearby. If fact I don't ever remember seeing a breaker box with an outlet nearby. Yet everyone who is using these systems manages to power them somehow. The question isn't addressed in any of the manufacturers web sites, installation manuals, nor support forums.

So my questions to those of you who are monitoring your power are, how do you power your sensors? Do systems which send data via power line signaling take their power from those power lines? If so, did you make electrical connections inside the breaker box or do they take power inductively? Do systems which send data via Wifi have an option of being powered by AA batteries? For how long? Did you have to run a long outdoor extension cord around to your breaker box? If you have transformers outside the breaker box, how do you weather proof those (indoor) transformers? How do you get the DC wires from the transformers into the breaker box without drilling a hole or violating electrical code?

And finally, what brand of equipment are you using and how satisfied are you with it. Thanks for any help!

 

[NeilBlanchard]

The Electric Motor Werks JuiceBox Premium has data logging, and they offer a wireless module that connect into your network. The caveat is that your wireless router needs a WPS button, which my Verizon FIOS unit lacks; so I have not gotten it connected, yet.

 

[swaltner]

My breaker box where the sensors would be placed is on an outside wall with no outlet nearby. If fact I don't ever remember seeing a breaker box with an outlet nearby. Yet everyone who is using these systems manages to power them somehow. The question isn't addressed in any of the manufacturers web sites, installation manuals, nor support forums.

Regarding the installation of a TED system. I have a three sensor TED 5000 system installed. Two sensors are installed inside the breaker panel located in the basement (measure power consumed by the house and the EVSE recharging the Leaf). I have a third sensor mounted inside a breaker panel on the outside of the house to measure the power draw/supply of the detached garage with solar panels. All three sensors send their information to a single gateway box powered by a 120V outlet fed off the main breaker panel in the basement. On a TED 5000 system, you don't need to have your sensors and the gateway on the same breaker panel.

http://www.theenergydetective.com/downloads/QuickStartInstallation%20v110711.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.theenergydetective.com/downloads/InstallationPictorial5000.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[srl99]

I don't know your router, but some routers (Apple Airport Extreme for instance), can add a wireless client using the configuration app.

The Electric Motor Werks JuiceBox Premium has data logging, and they offer a wireless module that connect into your network. The caveat is that your wireless router needs a WPS button, which my Verizon FIOS unit lacks; so I have not gotten it connected, yet.

 

[NeilBlanchard]

Thanks - I looked in the setup for our Verizon FIOS router, and I did not see a WPS function there. I will probably be buying a new router or access point / repeater that does have the WPS support.

 

[walterbays]

Can anyone say how they manage to get power to the sensor units?

 

[GlennD]

The TED sensor box runs on 120V. For 240 the software just doubles the reading. I have been pleased with my TED unit. The second power lead ( red) is ignored on later units.

 

[walterbays]

I searched some more and here are what I think are answers to my original question of how the sensor units get their power. If anyone has these units and knows otherwise, I'd be happy to learn from your real world experience.

With a TED 5000 power is tapped from inside the breaker box. To install TED you must have a spare slot in your breaker box to dedicate a circuit breaker to the TED. If you do not then you will need an electrician to expand your breaker box. http://www.theenergydetective.com/install5000

With an Eyedro EHWEM1 power is provided from a power supply you plug into a 120VAC outlet. To install Eyedro you must have an electrical outlet in a weatherproof location in close proximity to your breaker box. If you do not then you might run an outdoor extension cord to a waterproof box installed next to your breaker box, in which to plug the power supply transformer. http://eyedro.com/media/docs/quick-start-ehwem1.pdf

With an Efergy power is provided to the transmitter and receiver by 1.5V alkaline batteries. The monitors may either use batteries or optionally, a 6VDC power supply. http://efergy.com/us/instructionvideos/ , http://efergy.com/us/faq/

 

[GlennD]

The TED sensor box runs on 120V. For 240 the software just doubles the reading. I have been pleased with my TED unit. The second power lead ( red) is ignored on later units.

The TED sensor box runs on 120V. For 240 the software just doubles the reading. I have been pleased with my TED unit. The second power lead ( red) is ignored on later units.

I searched some more and here are what I think are answers to my original question of how the sensor units get their power. If anyone has these units and knows otherwise, I'd be happy to learn from your real world experience.

With a TED 5000 power is tapped from inside the breaker box. To install TED you must have a spare slot in your breaker box to dedicate a circuit breaker to the TED. If you do not then you will need an electrician to expand your breaker box. http://www.theenergydetective.com/install5000

With an Eyedro EHWEM1 power is provided from a power supply you plug into a 120VAC outlet. To install Eyedro you must have an electrical outlet in a weatherproof location in close proximity to your breaker box. If you do not then you might run an outdoor extension cord to a waterproof box installed next to your breaker box, in which to plug the power supply transformer. http://eyedro.com/media/docs/quick-start-ehwem1.pdf

With an Efergy power is provided to the transmitter and receiver by 1.5V alkaline batteries. The monitors may either use batteries or optionally, a 6VDC power supply. http://efergy.com/us/instructionvideos/ , http://efergy.com/us/faq/

The TED allowe you to connect a single wire to a breaker and wirenut the existing load and the TED. This is also NEC approved.

 

[dsinned]

I'm not sure about the others but Efergy offers a power factor corrected "TPM" home energy monitor based on two current transformers and the sensor you mentioned, plus an additional AC voltage sensor. The latter can be wired to a spare breaker in your main panel if you are interested in a "whole house" power consumption measurement.

I have two Efergy TPMs and find them to be fairly accurate for true power meaurements of "dedicated" 240V load circuits. I use mine to measure the PV output of my grid-tied solar system and the other to measure the output of my JuiceBox EVSE.

The nice thing about the Efergy TPM monitor is that it can be optionally battery powered (internally), so that you can move it around to be in close proximity to the sensor unit (for e.g. my EVSE) or other On/Off loads circuits for studying power measurements within about 150' of the sensor.

One remote monitoring application for it is to verify my EVSE has activated at the proper time for a scheduled charge of my EV after midnight, I can put in on a nightstand next to my bed. Without getting out of bed, I can simply do a quick check to insure the scheduled charge is working properly at the time it should be, starting at midnight and typically ending sometime over the next several hours.

The Efergy TPM is a bit pricey (over $100 each, including two CTs and one ACV sensor) for what it does, because there is currently no PC software interface for it like there is for the non-TPM version. Nevertheless, I recommend it if all you want to do is measure the power outputs of things like an EVSE and PV solar system. The TPM also provides built-in non-volatile memory display modes for cumulative energy consumption measurements with a sample rate of every 10 seconds.

I also have a JuiceBox Basic upgraded to "premium" version functionality and it too has a built-in data logger capability. The LCD has a readout for real time and cumulative energy measurements.