Cheap Onzo Energy meter - £8
Discussion
Condi said:
Why not just your electric supplier to install a smart meter?
Its not only free, but also tells you gas and electric costings.
Because very few suppliers can provide second generation smart meters yet & if you have a first generation one it reverts to being a dumb meter if you change supplier. Until the new type are available the Onzo unit is a useful guide to consumption.Its not only free, but also tells you gas and electric costings.
Smart meters are a concern to some as it gives the supplier the ability to disconnect your supply by remote control. Given the number of billing errors that occur that's a prospect many are not happy with.
^^^^
There's a lot of concern about user profiling from smart meters, when you're in or out, doing the ironing or having a shower.
One of the directors of Onzo, a data analytics company, did a classic 'Ratner' in disclosing the extent of user profiling by smart meters and the re-selling of that data.
There's also the 'disconnection' issue. Energy companies make mistakes, Allowing them to turn off your fridge freezer by accident or in the event of a billing dispute would not be useful.
Every year I have to double check the tariff I'm on as prices keep increasing. I spreadsheeted all of the tariffs from my last supplier, and found out that they all averaged out at the same annual cost when daily standing charges were accounted for, to the nearest £10. Few people bother, and just go by the 'recommendations' of energy switching websites.
So there's a lot of customer manipulation and devious practices in energy companies, obfusticated by baffling, nonsensical tariifs few people bother to double check. Smart meters, the cynical might say, don't benefit the user at all, other than for the 'honeymoon period of turning stuff off. The national cost of fitting them comes from increased consumer prices.
Also, it's a giant hammer to crack a small nut. Sticking Bluetooth into a meter would allow a user to check readings with a phone app and upload them, (or even use a clip-on Onzo-type device to upload them as was the original intent) but having compulsory national 24/7 close monitoring of data and the ability of the supplier to change tariffs at will, or disconnect, is a step too far for many.
As this thread shows, people do use energy monitors to track down background use, or check for a faulty meter, which is useful.
The Guardian view:
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jun/24/smar...
There's a lot of concern about user profiling from smart meters, when you're in or out, doing the ironing or having a shower.
One of the directors of Onzo, a data analytics company, did a classic 'Ratner' in disclosing the extent of user profiling by smart meters and the re-selling of that data.
There's also the 'disconnection' issue. Energy companies make mistakes, Allowing them to turn off your fridge freezer by accident or in the event of a billing dispute would not be useful.
Every year I have to double check the tariff I'm on as prices keep increasing. I spreadsheeted all of the tariffs from my last supplier, and found out that they all averaged out at the same annual cost when daily standing charges were accounted for, to the nearest £10. Few people bother, and just go by the 'recommendations' of energy switching websites.
So there's a lot of customer manipulation and devious practices in energy companies, obfusticated by baffling, nonsensical tariifs few people bother to double check. Smart meters, the cynical might say, don't benefit the user at all, other than for the 'honeymoon period of turning stuff off. The national cost of fitting them comes from increased consumer prices.
Also, it's a giant hammer to crack a small nut. Sticking Bluetooth into a meter would allow a user to check readings with a phone app and upload them, (or even use a clip-on Onzo-type device to upload them as was the original intent) but having compulsory national 24/7 close monitoring of data and the ability of the supplier to change tariffs at will, or disconnect, is a step too far for many.
As this thread shows, people do use energy monitors to track down background use, or check for a faulty meter, which is useful.
The Guardian view:
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jun/24/smar...
A little help if anyone can assist please.... I am unsure on how to sync the supplied units , both have power, but still the display module shows the units require sync.
I'm assuming it's maybe on the blue buttons, but as I have no paperwork, , I really would appreciate some guidance.
Thanks in advance ;}
freddytin said:
A little help if anyone can assist please.... I am unsure on how to sync the supplied units , both have power, but still the display module shows the units require sync.
I'm assuming it's maybe on the blue buttons, but as I have no paperwork, , I really would appreciate some guidance.
Thanks in advance ;}
I'm assuming it's maybe on the blue buttons, but as I have no paperwork, , I really would appreciate some guidance.
Thanks in advance ;}
megaphone said:
If any one wants a link to the user manual it's here https://www.manualslib.com/manual/932716/Southern-...
Thats What She Said said:
freddytin said:
A little help if anyone can assist please.... I am unsure on how to sync the supplied units , both have power, but still the display module shows the units require sync.
I'm assuming it's maybe on the blue buttons, but as I have no paperwork, , I really would appreciate some guidance.
Thanks in advance ;}
I'm assuming it's maybe on the blue buttons, but as I have no paperwork, , I really would appreciate some guidance.
Thanks in advance ;}
megaphone said:
If any one wants a link to the user manual it's here https://www.manualslib.com/manual/932716/Southern-...
It appears we don't need to sync after all 
freddytin said:
A little help if anyone can assist please.... I am unsure on how to sync the supplied units , both have power, but still the display module shows the units require sync.
I'm assuming it's maybe on the blue buttons, but as I have no paperwork, , I really would appreciate some guidance.
Thanks in advance ;}
That "Please Sync Me" message refers to the website they used to have where the display would sync its readings to, however the website no longer exists.I'm assuming it's maybe on the blue buttons, but as I have no paperwork, , I really would appreciate some guidance.
Thanks in advance ;}
saaby93 said:
Taken a punt on the £6.39 too
How long does it take to recoup the investment
Not long if you are married , after telling her to wash up instead of using the dishwasher and not to use the hairdryer because they cost to much, divorce will be pretty quick, then you will half your electricity use. How long does it take to recoup the investment
PRTVR said:
saaby93 said:
Taken a punt on the £6.39 too
How long does it take to recoup the investment
Not long if you are married , after telling her to wash up instead of using the dishwasher and not to use the hairdryer because they cost to much, divorce will be pretty quick, then you will half your electricity use. How long does it take to recoup the investment
Well mine was shortlived.
Worked fine up until yesterday, now it says the sensor wifi signal is low and no power usage is displayed ... and that's even with moving the display next to the sensor.
Batteries are new in both units and have checked the sensor is attached properly.
Still, having it for a short time has shown me that such a device would be useful, so off to find a better one.
Any suggestions would be welcome, especially if it's one you can download usage data to a PC for analysis etc.
Worked fine up until yesterday, now it says the sensor wifi signal is low and no power usage is displayed ... and that's even with moving the display next to the sensor.
Batteries are new in both units and have checked the sensor is attached properly.
Still, having it for a short time has shown me that such a device would be useful, so off to find a better one.
Any suggestions would be welcome, especially if it's one you can download usage data to a PC for analysis etc.
I'm 56 and had a spring in my step when I went to Argos to collect mine just now
Threw away rechargeable pack as it had burnt through and cleaned up the battery bay. New batteries, clipped sensor to wire and it all works.
Washing machine on at the mo so its jumping from 320w to 700w as it goes through it's cycle.
Turned on the microwave and it zoomed up to 1700w.
The display is up in my office now so I can keep a permanent eye on everyone's power usage
ETA
I have now put all my unit costs etc into the device.
Dammit! I have used 3pence of electrickery already. Must wash clothes in bath with cold water.
Threw away rechargeable pack as it had burnt through and cleaned up the battery bay. New batteries, clipped sensor to wire and it all works.
Washing machine on at the mo so its jumping from 320w to 700w as it goes through it's cycle.
Turned on the microwave and it zoomed up to 1700w.
The display is up in my office now so I can keep a permanent eye on everyone's power usage
ETA
I have now put all my unit costs etc into the device.
Dammit! I have used 3pence of electrickery already. Must wash clothes in bath with cold water.
Edited by croyde on Wednesday 7th November 13:20
sgrimshaw said:
Well mine was shortlived.
Worked fine up until yesterday, now it says the sensor wifi signal is low and no power usage is displayed ... and that's even with moving the display next to the sensor.
Batteries are new in both units and have checked the sensor is attached properly.
Still, having it for a short time has shown me that such a device would be useful, so off to find a better one.
Any suggestions would be welcome, especially if it's one you can download usage data to a PC for analysis etc.
Have you tried to 'pair' it again? Press the blue buttons.Worked fine up until yesterday, now it says the sensor wifi signal is low and no power usage is displayed ... and that's even with moving the display next to the sensor.
Batteries are new in both units and have checked the sensor is attached properly.
Still, having it for a short time has shown me that such a device would be useful, so off to find a better one.
Any suggestions would be welcome, especially if it's one you can download usage data to a PC for analysis etc.
croyde said:
Shouldn't the fridge be using more than that?
Am I getting obsessed?
No/Yes. Am I getting obsessed?
The fridge uses relatively little when just sat there. When the compressor kicks in it'll probably use a few hundred watts, but is only on for a short period of time and then off again. Averaged only an hour, it spends far more time doing nothing than cooling.
croyde said:
So with everything off I'm showing 50w.
Obviously router and fridge/freezer plugged in.
Shouldn't the fridge be using more than that?
Had a coffee earlier from my bean to cup, another PH influenced purchase, and boy that uses a lot of power.
Am I getting obsessed?
Yes we are. I now put less water in the kettle to reduce the time the display is up in four figures.Obviously router and fridge/freezer plugged in.
Shouldn't the fridge be using more than that?
Had a coffee earlier from my bean to cup, another PH influenced purchase, and boy that uses a lot of power.
Am I getting obsessed?
I suppose it works really as I'm actively thinking about how much I'm using & looking for ways to reduce it. I don't mean by having cold soup for lunch but for example by not switching on the bedside lamps in the evening when no-one is in the room.
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