@b4cks4w @redenigma So they could see how many grow lights I’m using, for example.

@yogapaddlerun @b4cks4w they see that by the amount of power being used anyway. the intelligent choice would be LED growlights...

@redenigma @b4cks4w I’m all LED already 🤣

@yogapaddlerun @b4cks4w i have a florescent over the sink & one set of florescent plant lights left. oh, and the UVB bulbs for the reptiles... if anyone can point me at good UVB LEDs i'd be happy to switch (assuming they aren't $80 & need changing every 6 months)

@redenigma @b4cks4w I don’t think there are good UVB LEDs yet.

@yogapaddlerun @b4cks4w @redenigma

Nah. That's like thinking your water meter can tell when you're running the bath rather than the washing machine.

Electricity doesn't come in flavors.

@mcfate @b4cks4w @redenigma I remember seeing some device that could tell the device by draw and would give you a report. Back when I was looking to reduce my electricity usage.

@yogapaddlerun @mcfate @b4cks4w we have a couple Kill-A-Watts, but you have to plug whatever you're checking draw on through them...

@redenigma @mcfate @b4cks4w This was what I was remembering https://sense.com/technology

@yogapaddlerun so something you'd install when building or remodeling, not anything the electric co has

@redenigma @yogapaddlerun
It's expensive but relatively easy to install ammeters on breaker circuits. They're gonna run $100+ each. Have done this for commercial buildings with stuff like:
https://www.monnit.com/products/sensors/current-meters/

DIY is possible but do know what you're doing!

@redenigma I’m not understanding what benefit the electric company has to pay all this money for new “smart” meters. They already can read my meter remotely. Their materials are vague. I’m a technophile so was expecting something neat and instead am finding nothing. Odd.

@yogapaddlerun @b4cks4w @redenigma

That's an extra you need to install yourself, the meter won't do that FOR you. It just feed power to the breaker panel, the panel distributes it.

@mcfate @b4cks4w @redenigma I get that. But when the promo materials for this “smart” meter makes claims about saving me money with a usage breakdown I’m curious HOW they will generate that for me.

@yogapaddlerun probably day/night. it's much cheaper to use off peak electricity

@redenigma Extra for me with the Solar too.

@mcfate I already get data like this, what’s the upgrade?

All they say is I’ll get a usage breakdown that will save me money. Seems like an expensive nothing. So where is their motivation?

@yogapaddlerun

You'd get it per-outlet.

@mcfate Maybe they can figure out where the connections are in some of my outlets 🤣

Someday I want to map all my outlets because the breaker list makes no sense.

@yogapaddlerun @mcfate
Carefully very carefully...I have old cloth wrapped wires. I am okay not turning a heater on and blowdryer at the sametime...but not sure what breaker the dishwasher is on or time schedule. Every 5 or six cycles it decides it doesn't want to work for a couple days? I feel it though I too could use a rest.

@damselfly59 @mcfate I have a mix of everything. One outlet I opened up, closed back up and told the SO never to use it. Still have knob and tube mains in the attic.

Would love to have house re-wired. Someday.

@yogapaddlerun @mcfate
If I win the lottery you will. It is a little adventurous...

@yogapaddlerun @damselfly59 @mcfate you have knob & tube and i can't get homeowner's insurance because i have some cloth wrapped Romex? seems fair... (almost as fair as giving me 60days to repaint my house in December or they'd cancel... they cancelled. no one paints houses in winter in New England)

@redenigma @yogapaddlerun @mcfate
I will never let my insurance company in now...
But paint? How is that a danger? Would take decades to be a disaster?

@damselfly59 @yogapaddlerun @mcfate my opinion as well. i was planning to repaint, but since what was on the house was lead (it was latex over lead, but the lead was starting to peel), i needed to find a painter that was also licensed for lead removal and then save up the 10k to get it done.
also, your paint can be perfect & hiding termites or carpenter ants...

@damselfly59 @yogapaddlerun @mcfate the inspector they sent out was a woman in her mid-80s. i was terrified she'd fall or something.
she also reported i didn't have fire extinguishers in the barn. EVERY barn & shed here has fire extinguishers, the barn has two... they're right inside the door, you can't miss them but she did. makes me wonder if she actually went down to the barn.
she also cited an old grape arbor we were in the process of removing...

@redenigma @damselfly59 I was lucky and the inspector couldn’t fit in my attic, so they missed the knob and tube. A lot of the wiring is updated so the few outlets they checked were ok.

When the solar was installed they had a little guy who could fit in my attic…they told me about the knob and tube mains in the attic. 🤦‍♀️

@yogapaddlerun @redenigma
😂 note, make attic door smaller

@yogapaddlerun

Saving paying for gas and people to drive around checking meters every single month.

@mcfate @yogapaddlerun @redenigma
My electric co. sends a monthly home energy report with a histogram breaking out Heating, water heating, Kitchen, etc.

All guessed from the gross amperage and time of day. They would need to meter at the devices and/or breakers.

I could install wattbugs or pretty cheap amp meters to get a better sense of the power bill. But that's a different rabbit hole.

@b4cks4w I get that too. Both electric and natural gas.

@yogapaddlerun @b4cks4w @redenigma when I had it explained to me it was about draw, consistent and fluctuating. your phone charger for example it a much different draw than say, your air conditioner. They have a break down that "analyzes" your usage by comparing the draw to "types" of things. They have no accurate data on this and do not know what you are powering.

@Coffee_and_Salt Interesting!