Power Usage Monitor directly from breaker panel

Hello i live in Quebec Canada, since Hydro-Quebec have install the new Smart Meter, my electricity bill have skyrocketing!

I was looking for a solution to monitor power usage directly from the breaker panel. I have find some solution, like the eGauge and The Energy Detective,but  both are not in my budget range.

 

So i was wondering if your products, the OpenEneryMonitor can do this, monitor directly from breaker panel?

 

Thank you!

Robert Wall's picture

Re: Power Usage Monitor directly from breaker panel

A lot of people are monitoring, and some are controlling, their electricity consumption with OEM equipment and software. But as I'm not familiar with installation practice in Quebec, you'll have to do some reading and investigation yourself - or explain exactly what you mean by monitor directly from [the] breaker panel. You might also need to check up on what you're allowed to touch - a local competent electrician should be able to tell you.

Basically, our system was designed for UK practice where we have a single phase TNS or TNC-S system, 240 V, 50 Hz with a rating of either 80 or 100 A, and the primary monitor is on that incomer. But many people want to and do measure individual outgoing circuits.

So really, within the constraints of what you can safely and legally access, the choice is yours. You might like to read the article in Resources > Building Blocks about using the emonTx in N.America, as that might apply to you.

There's also a very long thread (that was started before that article was written!): http://openenergymonitor.org/emon/node/3265 that you might like to look at.

Modulo36's picture

Re: Power Usage Monitor directly from breaker panel

Thank, what i mean by directly monitor from the breaker panel is if i put a sensor CT directly around each wire of each breaker on my panel  like this:

If its possible,i will ask my electrician to help me out with the installation.

Thank for the forum thread , i will have look.

Robert Wall's picture

Re: Power Usage Monitor directly from breaker panel

I understand now. Yes, you can do that, but as the emonTx has only 4 current inputs, you will need a lot of emonTx's. A much less expensive solution will be, if your skills are up to it, to make a custom 'front-end' for a much higher powered Arduino variant that has a lot of analogue inputs. It has been done, so if you search the forums, you should find some references.

JD's picture

Re: Power Usage Monitor directly from breaker panel

Someone has already made a 32 input front end for emonCMS.  Take a look at this unit:

http://www.brultech.com/store/product.php?id_product=108

Modulo36's picture

Re: Power Usage Monitor directly from breaker panel

Great! Thank you for your answer, i will look at this and come back with my choice,

 

Have a nice day!

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