Huge Electricity Bill - Plot Thickens
Original thread here Thank you everyone for the feedback on that thread. I have some updates and the topic changes a bit so figured I would start a new thread... 1. We have tested every electric...
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If you have a smart meter, there is a way to read your own meter wirelessly. Smart meters are read via RF radios. Every smart meter has a 2nd radio channel for the home owner to use so he can read his meter and capture the data via the internet. The radio protocol is called Zigbee. To read the 2nd Zigbee channel, you need to activate the channel. This can usually be done from your utility web page that you log into. Log into your utility web page and search for how to activate the 2nd Zigbee channel. But before you do, you need a Zigbee radio receiver. These wireless radios have an Ethernet port on them so you can connect to the internet. The radio comes with a free account from the radio provider.
I use a Zigbee radio gateway called a Rainforest EAGLE Ethernet ZigBee Gateway.
I bought it off Amazon for under $100. Once I had the EAGLE, I plugged in the power, connected the Ethernet cable to my Comcast Router, and activated the channel on my Smart Meter from the utility web page. Within a few minutes, connection was made.
I then logged onto the Rainforest website, set up a free account using the info on the bottom of the EAGLE and I was in business.
The neatest thing is that it is near-realtime. A delay of a few seconds is all you see when you turn on and off appliances and such for the meter reading. For example, I can turn on my TV and see the electric use go up by 332 watts. I know then that my TV uses 332 watts. By going around and checking electric devices, I know what everything is supposed to use. After several days of data gathering, you will know what your 'phantom' power is as well as your normal usage. (Phantom power is the power used when 'everything' is turned off. Things like cordless phones, refrigerators, etc. always are on so those are phantom loads.)
The Rainforest EAGLE can also be used as a gateway for other Zigbee protocol devices in your home. The most familiar are Smart thermostats, where you can access your thermostat using your smart phone, laptop or computer while away from home. Like the Smart Meter, your thermostat puts out a Zigbee radio signal that is gatwayed to your router and off to the internet where you can log in and control it.
Here is a screenshot of my Rainforest account. Notice my electric use is a negative number. That is because I have solar. I can log my solar that is going back to the utility company to be sure they are being square with me on my billing.
I use a Zigbee radio gateway called a Rainforest EAGLE Ethernet ZigBee Gateway.
I bought it off Amazon for under $100. Once I had the EAGLE, I plugged in the power, connected the Ethernet cable to my Comcast Router, and activated the channel on my Smart Meter from the utility web page. Within a few minutes, connection was made.
I then logged onto the Rainforest website, set up a free account using the info on the bottom of the EAGLE and I was in business.
The neatest thing is that it is near-realtime. A delay of a few seconds is all you see when you turn on and off appliances and such for the meter reading. For example, I can turn on my TV and see the electric use go up by 332 watts. I know then that my TV uses 332 watts. By going around and checking electric devices, I know what everything is supposed to use. After several days of data gathering, you will know what your 'phantom' power is as well as your normal usage. (Phantom power is the power used when 'everything' is turned off. Things like cordless phones, refrigerators, etc. always are on so those are phantom loads.)
The Rainforest EAGLE can also be used as a gateway for other Zigbee protocol devices in your home. The most familiar are Smart thermostats, where you can access your thermostat using your smart phone, laptop or computer while away from home. Like the Smart Meter, your thermostat puts out a Zigbee radio signal that is gatwayed to your router and off to the internet where you can log in and control it.
Here is a screenshot of my Rainforest account. Notice my electric use is a negative number. That is because I have solar. I can log my solar that is going back to the utility company to be sure they are being square with me on my billing.
