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Default wireless reading of electric meter

I have one of the digital meters outside that the electric company
reads while driving by.

Is there any way I can read it from inside my house?

I've been tempted to go old school and just mount a couple mirrors so
I can read it inside- but a digital reader would be handy- and
something that plugs into a computer & records usage would be
outstanding.

I'm going to call the electric company [National Grid] later today-
but thought I'd ask here so I know a little bit about it when
I call.

Thanks,
Jim
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Default wireless reading of electric meter


Jim Elbrecht wrote:

I have one of the digital meters outside that the electric company
reads while driving by.

Is there any way I can read it from inside my house?

I've been tempted to go old school and just mount a couple mirrors so
I can read it inside- but a digital reader would be handy- and
something that plugs into a computer & records usage would be
outstanding.

I'm going to call the electric company [National Grid] later today-
but thought I'd ask here so I know a little bit about it when
I call.

Thanks,
Jim


The electric company won't have a clue about it, and the brain dead CSR
you're likely to get will think you're trying to steal power.

There is at least one commercial product that does what you want:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...3109_200343109

It appears the monitor the mark on the spinning disk, so your meter
needs to have that disk visible from some location on the case. I've
seen a few meters where that was not very visible.

As for the actual data link with the meter, your only source would be
the meter manufacturer, and they most likely aren't going to release
that information.
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Default wireless reading of electric meter

Jim Elbrecht wrote:
I have one of the digital meters outside that the electric company
reads while driving by.

Is there any way I can read it from inside my house?

I've been tempted to go old school and just mount a couple mirrors so
I can read it inside- but a digital reader would be handy- and
something that plugs into a computer & records usage would be
outstanding.

I'm going to call the electric company [National Grid] later today-
but thought I'd ask here so I know a little bit about it when
I call.

Thanks,
Jim



They tend to be pretty secretive for obvious reasons about such things
and likely no customer service person will know. However you may want to
ask if there are any ways to access the information on line. The
electric utility here recently finished swapping out the old meters.
They installed meters that are read over the power line. They also
announced that they will have a web portal so that customers can log in
and see the updated meter readings. They already have a portal where if
you have a need to know you can see lots of realtime info on their system.
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Default wireless reading of electric meter

Pete C. wrote:
....
The electric company won't have a clue about it, ...


I'm quite sure there are a number of individuals in "the electric
company" that will and do have quite a significant "clue about it"...

As someone else noted, they're not going to provide individuals w/ the
software/hardware to read them but there's at least a reasonable chance
the usage data might be made available via web portal.

--
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Default wireless reading of electric meter

Jim Elbrecht wrote:

I have one of the digital meters outside that the electric company
reads while driving by.

Is there any way I can read it from inside my house?

I've been tempted to go old school and just mount a couple mirrors so
I can read it inside- but a digital reader would be handy- and
something that plugs into a computer & records usage would be
outstanding.

I'm going to call the electric company [National Grid] later today-
but thought I'd ask here so I know a little bit about it when
I call.

Thanks,
Jim


My guess as to how it works: The drive by sends a radio signal asking
nearby meters to respond. Each sends back its meter number and current
KWH reading along with a checksum, probably encrypted. Some of the
responses interfere with each other and are missed, but picked up a bit
later as the vehicle continues down the road.

You would need a radio transceiver tuned to the right frequency (likely
in the GHz range) and knowledge of what to send and how to decode what
comes back. Assuming you could actually get a real person to speak to
you on the phone, it's very unlikely they would or could tell you what
you need to know. The utility buys this gear from a specialist. Neither
party wants you to know the nitty-gritty ... it invites mischief. They
might be willing to sell you the electronics package. Big bucks.


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Default wireless reading of electric meter

FYI, they don't even have to drive by. They get the signal through the
line back to the office. No, don't ask me how it works, i have no clue.
All's I know is that when i had a question about my bill, they were able to
tell me the reading over the phone that very minute.

steve


"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
I have one of the digital meters outside that the electric company
reads while driving by.

Is there any way I can read it from inside my house?

I've been tempted to go old school and just mount a couple mirrors so
I can read it inside- but a digital reader would be handy- and
something that plugs into a computer & records usage would be
outstanding.

I'm going to call the electric company [National Grid] later today-
but thought I'd ask here so I know a little bit about it when
I call.

Thanks,
Jim



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Default wireless reading of electric meter


dpb wrote:

Pete C. wrote:
...
The electric company won't have a clue about it, ...


I'm quite sure there are a number of individuals in "the electric
company" that will and do have quite a significant "clue about it"...


Let's try not misquoting people eh? The actual quote was "The electric
company won't have a clue about it, and the brain dead CSR you're likely
to get will think you're trying to steal power.". Yes, someone in the
meter department probably has access to the remote read link
documentation, however my $5 is that there will not be a single CSR who
will know who to contact.


As someone else noted, they're not going to provide individuals w/ the
software/hardware to read them


Which is why I suggested researching the meter manufacturer, not the
utility.

but there's at least a reasonable chance
the usage data might be made available via web portal.


That is certainly a possibility in some areas.
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Default wireless reading of electric meter

the digitals don't even have the disk, so that won't work.

s


"Pete C." wrote in message
ster.com...


It appears the monitor the mark on the spinning disk, so your meter
needs to have that disk visible from some location on the case. I've
seen a few meters where that was not very visible.

As for the actual data link with the meter, your only source would be
the meter manufacturer, and they most likely aren't going to release
that information.



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Default wireless reading of electric meter

BzzzzzzzzzzzzT! wrong. they don't drive by.


s


"Bryce" wrote in message
...


My guess as to how it works: The drive by sends a radio signal asking
nearby meters to respond. Each sends back its meter number and current
KWH reading along with a checksum, probably encrypted. Some of the
responses interfere with each other and are missed, but picked up a bit
later as the vehicle continues down the road.



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Default wireless reading of electric meter

Steve Barker DLT wrote:
BzzzzzzzzzzzzT! wrong. they don't drive by.


s


"Bryce" wrote in message
...

My guess as to how it works: The drive by sends a radio signal asking
nearby meters to respond. Each sends back its meter number and current
KWH reading along with a checksum, probably encrypted. Some of the
responses interfere with each other and are missed, but picked up a bit
later as the vehicle continues down the road.



It totally depends on what AMR method the utility chose. Some do a drive
by where equipment in the vehicle sends an interrogation to the
transponders which then respond with their S/N and the meter reading.
Before our local utility went to PLC AMR they actually had walk by
meters. The meter reader had a hand held reader and there was an
inductive coupler in the meter. That way the reader just had to place
the reader close to the meter which greatly minimized misreads.


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Default wireless reading of electric meter

On Oct 28, 4:17*pm, "Pete C." wrote:
wrote:

On Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:59:53 -0500, "Steve Barker DLT"
wrote:


BzzzzzzzzzzzzT! *wrong. *they don't drive by.


They do if you dont pay the bill.


They do a drive by shooting, killing the guy who didn't pay the bill,
or shooting holes in his transformer.......


(Oh, wait, that's only in Texas, and they dont drive by, they come on
horseback, or riding a bull. *The rider is always wearing a BIG cowboy
hat.........) *


On a more serious note, they drive by, then they stop an pull your
meter or the fuses at your pole transformer.


Actually they're working on remote controlled meters so they can remote
connect / disconnect in addition to remote reading.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


AIUI there are various methods.
Ranging from;
a) Replacing the mechanical spinning disk meter by a digital one;
still read manually.
b) A digital meter that can be read wirelessly from a hand-held or
vehicle mounted interrogation device.
c) A digital meter that can send or be interrogated by wireless/
digitally; either via the power line itself, by an attachment to a
phone line or via cell/phone mobile service etc. etc.
In some other countries gas supply and water supply meters can/are
also read in a similar manner.
To what extent these systems would be/are forward or backward
compatible would depend on design.
For example our digital meter has a display. (It alternately flashes
all '8's and then the cumulative kw.hr reading on an LCD display. But
it does not appear to have any capability to be read remotely! Nor
have I seen any power utility activity or billing info that suggests
they yet do any 'remote' reading!
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Default wireless reading of electric meter

Jim Elbrecht wrote:
I have one of the digital meters outside that the electric company
reads while driving by.

Is there any way I can read it from inside my house?


Yes with a wireless camera.
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Default wireless reading of electric meter

On Tue 28 Oct 2008 06:58:47a, Steve Barker DLT told us...

the digitals don't even have the disk, so that won't work.


Some do. Ours has an electronic digital readout, but it also has a disk.

--
Wayne Boatwright
(correct the spelling of "geemail" to reply)

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