How do you Monitor your Electricity Usage?

After my electricity supplier provided one of the 'smart meters' and I discovered that it outputs XML over the RJ45 serial connection, I've been looking at ways to disseminate and use this data, not to mention store it. I wondered what other people are using/doing, or if people just don't bother and rely solely on their bills?

I also suspect a device like this won't be the best way to monitor electricity usage in a 3 phase warehouse setup.

Top Comments

gadget.iom over 8 years ago +2

Monitoring electricity in Gadget Towers is easy... The meter runs out of credit and I'm plunged into darkness.
dougw over 8 years ago +2

I don't monitor electricity, I actively try to save power, have switched to LED lights, design low power circuits, etc. But when I need electricity I don't begrudge the cost. Fortunately, there is a lot…
the-dubster over 8 years ago +2

Just got a VERY cheap Scottish Power device - almost identical to the pictured one. (My wife works in a charity shop, and some stuff no-one else but me will buy, that equals cheap random electronics and…

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tonyboubady over 8 years ago

We have electric meters with optical port here, some people say they do have RS232 port, but, I have the one with optical port...and the problem is that it's sealed by company...so i can't do anything about it to get connected or read data out...
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tonyboubady over 8 years ago

We have electric meters with optical port here, some people say they do have RS232 port, but, I have the one with optical port...and the problem is that it's sealed by company...so i can't do anything about it to get connected or read data out...
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cstanton over 8 years ago in reply to tonyboubady

Huh, interesting, what meter is that?

I'm thinking if it's optical, you might be able to capture it with an infrared receiver?
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tonyboubady over 8 years ago in reply to cstanton

It's some Indian company I think...

I need to learn how to retrieve data from optical, that's another story...but the problem is, it's sealed by company and government...i have to ask the officials here if i can break that...
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