Smart Meters, a good idea?

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SleeperService
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Smart Meters, a good idea?

Post by SleeperService »

My elderly neighbour is in my front room warming up as her smart meter has just cut off her power for the third time in as many months.

Are they known to be as volatile as this?

Does this suggest that they might not be reliable in the event of TEOTWASKI ie you'd be the first to loose your mains?

Good thing is that I've learnt a thing or two about wool :)
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adam2
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Post by adam2 »

Are you certain that it is the smart meter that has cut the power off ?
The ones that I have seen do not contain any means of cutting off the power, to do so would require that the meter contains some variety of remote controlled switch, relay or contactor able to handle 100 amps.
This would add appreiciably to the cost and bulk and is not the norm.

Other reasons for the power interuptions could include
A localised power failure affecting only a small number of properties
The blowing of the supply companies cut out fuse due to fault or overload
The tripping of an RCD that supplies the household
Loose connections to the new meter
And of course running out of credit if a key meter.

More information needed.
Does the power come back on its own ?
If not, who does what in order to restore power ? what is replaced, reset, altered or adjusted, and by whom in order to restore power.
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DominicJ
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Post by DominicJ »

I didnt think smart meters even existed yet?
Or is she on some sort of super low disconectable tarrif?

Usualy when the power trips its the RCD, horrible things, or a poor MCB that cuts out when a bulb blows.
Or both, in the case of my mothers house.
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adam2
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Post by adam2 »

Some smart meter exist, but they are not that smart and the ones that I have seen do not have any remote cutting off facility.

Smart meters mean different things to different people, but usually incoroporate some or all of the following.
Can be read remotely.
Have the facility for numerous different tarrifs at different times of the day or week.
Have a display that can show not just a running total in KWH but also the load at the time, the total money spent per day and in total etc.
May have a remote display.
Can tell the supplier if it is tampered with.

I doubt that the meter cut the power off, but we need more information to give reliable advice or comments.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
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RenewableCandy
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Post by RenewableCandy »

It sounds like a bundle of cheap unreliable electronics. Why has your neighbour got one? If she volunteered to trial it, can she get rid of it?
Soyez réaliste. Demandez l'impossible.
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SleeperService
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Post by SleeperService »

Sorry for the delay in replying but Thanks for all the help so far.

After two different sets of engineers the third has just swopped the meter and the power is back on, He was a subbie for the supply company EON. So I think RC may be on the right track. Don't know about the tamper bit but it does everything else you've listed in your latest post. It was flashing up 'system fault' and the backlit display flashed as well. Decided not to break the seal to check connections but there was definately voltage at the input side and nothing on the way out. The meter is the same size as my digital meter fitted last year which has a built in isolator.

I'd checked all the suggested alternatives before I brought her round here (I used to be an electrician and kept all the gear).

Her son is behind the change apparently (he only visits to make sure she doesn't write him out of the will). I'm going round tomorrow when she's settled and we'll go through the paperwork over a cup of tea.

She's 85 and diabetic so definately doesn't need the hassle.

I've also been promised cake :D
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RenewableCandy
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Post by RenewableCandy »

If she's diabetic I'm afraid you're going to have to eat all the cake :D
Soyez réaliste. Demandez l'impossible.
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SleeperService
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Post by SleeperService »

I'm now the pround, if short term owner of 3/4 of a moist banana cake.

The meter she has at the moment is the item on the left in the picture here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16565100

We both spoke to EON this morning and, after getting a supervisor involved, the offending item is to be removed on Thursday. Apparently she was in a trial programme but her son's details had been entered. She doesn't meet the criteria to be on the trial.

She has specifically asked me to Thank all my friends on the internet for their help and advice. So Thank You from Joyce :P :P :D

I think her son will be giving her a good listening to this evening, and he deserves it!!
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RenewableCandy
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Post by RenewableCandy »

Joyce, 'twas a pleasure and a privilege :)

We have 2 smart meters here at Chateau Renewable: one of them tells us the total and instantaneous outputs of The Roof, the other one consists of RenewableCandy looking at the flasher under the stairs last thing at night and saying "Who's left stuff not switched off??"
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