Kill-a-Watt metering unit

[freeek]

I ordered me a http://more.take2.co.za/moreuk-plug-in-power-and-energy-monitor-meter-b000q7pjgw.html awaiting delivery and I am now also looking for the whole household monitor.

So far I am most impressed with the http://www.wattson.co.za It is R100 more than the efergy and seems more impressive. Has anybody used the wattson?

 

[ToxicBunny]

You could wait for the HomeBug (www.homebug.co.za) which should be being launched soonish....

Homegrown and a whole house monitoring system.

 

[freeek]

looked like an awesome system until I saw the big rip off, "The Home Bug is designed as an online electricity management and home control system."

There is absolutely no reason why as a normal home owner I have to be forced to pay R35pm / R348 pa to access information stored on the hardware that I paid for.

I do see its benefits with managing which lights are on / off etc online but I will not pay a monthly fee for such a thing. Feels like a massive rip off.

 

[noxibox]

That's my feeling on it.

 

[kayvee]

Agreed 100%. Rather invest that money in your own hardware.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I'm personally in 2 minds about the whole thing....

and when its finally launched, I do think I will be attempting to get the manufacturers to realease a completely standalone version... maybe at a slightly inflated cost.

 

[Messugga]

I doubt it'll be very difficult to emulate their services, unless they've encrypted communication properly, of course, which I somehow doubt they have done.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Oh from the point of view of emulating, very much doubt it will be all that difficult tbh...

But it might be another avenue for the producer to make "more" money if they're prepared to let owners have a completely standalone system...

 

[freeek]

If they had a completely standalone system I think their system would be one of the best on the market at the moment, I would of almost definitely bought one.

 

[ColinR]

Hi guys, the reason I initially posted on MyBB is for input from the community. We realise that MyBB users are influential in tech decisions in our individual circles of friends and family.
Let me know your thoughts & ideas on costing and versions - we're open to discussion!

 

[ToxicBunny]

Colin : I would possibly suggest, hardware costs being no different to what they are with the current system requiring it to be online.

But maybe a R300 charge for the web management system in a form that would allow ppl to run the web server on a local machine... or if the unit itself has the ability to run the webserver, then that would be an option for a slightly more expensive unit.. say R1000 instead of R800.

Not to delve too deeply into your business model, but I'm guessing you guys are making a small (very very small at that) profit on the web hosting end of the things?

 

[freeek]

Colin: I have spoken to a few people about the homebug we all love it, some of us feel there should be options available, not everybody wants a system that uploads to the internet. If a stand alone software could be purchased allowing you to download the information to your to get all the statistics that would be great.

The internet service is also great and I think quite a few people would want that since
they can access their data from anywhere (great for holiday houses, rented homes/flats etc),
turn on/off their lights remotely,
program modes such has holiday mode where the lights will go on automatically on their own.
security system, Alerts: I am not home yet somehow somebody learned the light switch in bed room. (great for normal homes / holiday homes)

The availability of being able to switch to an online account from a regular account will also be great such that, I have the home version of the system, I am happy with it and now I want it to be remote, while at work I can check on things etc.

 

[midnightcaller]

I ordered me a http://more.take2.co.za/moreuk-plug-in-power-and-energy-monitor-meter-b000q7pjgw.html awaiting delivery and I am now also looking for the whole household monitor.

So far I am most impressed with the http://www.wattson.co.za It is R100 more than the efergy and seems more impressive. Has anybody used the wattson?

Hi,
I got the efergy2 wireless 2 days ago. They system took 5 minutes to setup after reading the manual.
Its absolutely brilliant. It tells me how many kwh I am consuming as devices come on and go off.
I tested it by switching devices on/off while watching the display. I paid 699 for the efergy. Wattson appears overpriced to me in comparison to efergy.

 

[noxibox]

So far I am most impressed with the http://www.wattson.co.za It is R100 more than the efergy and seems more impressive. Has anybody used the wattson?

In what way is it more impressive?

 

[ColinR]

If they had a completely standalone system I think their system would be one of the best on the market at the moment, I would of almost definitely bought one.

While we already have a local usage report (see screenshot) without the need for an internet connection; it's only over a 10min time period. I am going to implement a current kw and Rand value usage on the local web as well. Due to the requests we are discussing adding the ability to make the local log data available so that you can download the data in raw format, and do your own local processing on it. (you could automate this with your own app/reporting framework)

 

[ToxicBunny]

Now we're starting to talk

letting me get the data out of the unit and I can pull it into a DB of my own and do stuff with it myself, and I'll be a happy camper... only thing that would be left is to setup rules etc on the local web....

 

[The_Assimilator]

If I buy a Kill-A-Watt (http://more.take2.co.za/moreusa-p3-...att-electricity-usage-monitor-b00009mdbu.html), will I need a special plug (not just an adapter) to use it with SA's 230V supply?

 

[Gnome]

If I buy a Kill-A-Watt (http://more.take2.co.za/moreusa-p3-...att-electricity-usage-monitor-b00009mdbu.html), will I need a special plug (not just an adapter) to use it with SA's 230V supply?

It is specced for 110VAC. It specifically says so in the product specifications (Max voltage 125 volts). Using it here would be a very bad idea.

If you did step the voltage down to 110VAC it would still be useless, @ 110VAC appliances are less efficient than @ 230VAC. So your measurements would be pointless. Except if you are trying to do calculations for US.

Also notice that you cannot just step the volage down, you need to do the following:
230VAC @ 50Hz -> 110VAC @ 60Hz.

Try UK products. eg: http://more.take2.co.za/uk?deptname=All&qsearch=Kill+A+Watt

 

[The_Assimilator]

It is specced for 110VAC. It specifically says so in the product specifications (Max voltage 125 volts). Using it here would be a very bad idea.

If you did step the voltage down to 110VAC it would still be useless, @ 110VAC appliances are less efficient than @ 230VAC. So your measurements would be pointless. Except if you are trying to do calculations for US.

Also notice that you cannot just step the volage down, you need to do the following:
230VAC @ 50Hz -> 110VAC @ 60Hz.

Try UK products. eg: http://more.take2.co.za/uk?deptname=All&qsearch=Kill+A+Watt

After I posted that I was thinking "hang on, that will never work..." Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

 

[freeek]

I must have linked the wrong one, I got the 220v one, the plug is working great.

CollinR thanks for the feedback, looks good. Happy that you willing to interact with the community.