So is the main deal with a smart electric meter that the provider can turn off power remotely?
Talk about a misinformation rabbit hole trying to look this up. 🤦♀️
@yogapaddlerun no, the main reason is so they can just drive by & get a meter reading without stopping at every house, walking to the meter & writing the reading in a notebook.
even with an old fashioned meter they can cut off your power remotely
@redenigma They can read mine remotely with the meter I have. But they do have to drive by.
@yogapaddlerun @redenigma Some can send the data back on the power line, and some can send via loRaWAN, saves the driving.
@b4cks4w @redenigma I’m imagining these devices can tell what kinds of devices are drawing power at any given interval. But not seeing documentation anywhere.
@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!