Monitoring power consumption: RFXmeter or else?

[JaapK]

For a while now i've been trying to make sense of the RFXcom stuff. I must say the many options are rather confusing (hey, i'm blond you know [:)]).
I was planning to install a number of smokedetectors via an RFXcom receiver to my home control box. Using a 868.95 MHz receiver with a USB interface that should work (i think).

I live in an appartment, and once in a while someone reads the meters, prints the results and puts it in my mailbox. For years now my usage has been considerably higher than the rest of my floor. I didn't give it too much thought (big tv, some computers), until recently i realised how much it actually was. On average i use 14 kWh per day, or an average continuous load of 600W! Either the meter is wrong (small chance), or i seriously need to consider my energy consumption.
Back to RFXcom, or more specifically RFXmeter. Seems like just the thing to monitor my powerconsumption, but ...
It works on a different frequency from the Visonic stuff, so i can't use the receiver for the smoke detectors. Buy another receiver. To monitor the powerconsumption i need to buy additional software like homeseer or indigo (which if i understand correctly basically does the same thing as the hcb), running on an extra computer. [:(]

The meter is and old type meter, no pulse outputs, no blinking leds. Besides, it's three floors down, so pretty much out of reach. A clamp type solution, like RFXmeter, seems like the way to go.
The hcb has a number of digital inputs. It's easy enough to program a counter that increments on the state change of one of those inputs. That way i can avoid an extra computer and extra software.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to implement this, hardware wise? Either RFXcom or an alternative.

[b_weijenberg]

For smoke detectors you have 2 options:
Visonic at 868.95MHz or the X10 SD90 at 433.92MHz.

I would advice this configuration:
- a low power PC (~15W) with Homeseer, the RFXCOM plug-in and RFX Charts.
- For a 1 phase power network: an RFXMeter + 1 RFXPwr
For a 3 phase power network: an RFXMeter + 3 RFXPwr
- a 433.92MHz receiver and optional a slave 868.95MHz receiver for Visonic sensors.

Bert

[JaapK]

Hi Bert,

Thanks for the quick answer. The Visonic detectors and the 868.95 Mhz USB receiver are a done deal since they directly interface with the home control box, no adaptations required.

The trouble with the second part of your solution is not that i don't want to spend the money (although this way it is somewhat of a pricey solution), but the fact that in order to try and conserve some energy i would install another energy consuming pc (alright low power, but ...). And that while the home control box that's already hanging there should be perfectly capable of monitoring the powerconsumption.
The 'nice' solution that i'm looking for is an interface between an RFXmeter (or similar style powermeter with an electromagnetic pickup) that has an output that generates a pulse per unit of power consumed.

I didnt' say it was an easy question. [;)]

Jaap

[b_weijenberg]

OK Jaap,

In that case add a 433.92MHz slave to the USB interface and you are able to receive the RFXMeter. Simply add some coding (don't ask me how) to the HCB to receive the RFXMeter and create the charts.

Bert

[JaapK]

Thanks Bert.

[Redneck24]

Dear all,

I just moved to a new apartment.
In the meter closet i have a double meter plus a TF receiver which consists of a LED.

I heard that it is possible to calculate the power consumption by counting how many time the LED is on.
My TF receiver has such an LED. Is it possible to supply a sensor on this LED and calculate the consumption?

thanks in advance.

regards

Anouar

[b_weijenberg]

You can use the RFXMeter+RFXPulse http://www.rfxcom.com/sensors.htm#70095
with a photo sensor http://www.rfxcom.com/sensors.htm#70093

If your gas and water meters have a reflective area on the counter or a turning wheel with a reflective area you add up to 2 RFXPulse modules and use the reflective optical sensor to read those meters.