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Does the sensor see any IR source (i.e. can you detect any voltage change on the output (pin 3) )?

100 k pull-up resistor present?

Seen this? http://openenergymonitor.org/emon/node/626

"Any suggestions for debugging would be highly appreciated as infra red is hard to see, especially with my eyes :=)  !!"   You could call the fire brigade - and see if their thermal imaging camera can see it

Hi Robert,

I had seen the OEM link but didn't realise that a 100K pull up is required. The schematic has a 10K to ground so, presumably, the 100K goes between the data line and the chosen power supply node?

The fire brigade aren't available this evening because they are getting a cat down from a neighbours tree.

I did contemplate trying to read the output from the thing using my Logitech Harmony One remote control... but I didn't fancy the thought of having to reprogram the remote control again afterwards :=)

I think the data sheet is your starting point (http://www.ams.com/eng/content/download/250428/976477/142384).

I'd start with just the sensor, pull-up and power. If the output pin shows a response, you know the sensor itself is working. From the data sheet, it would appear that you shouldn't have the 10 k pulldown. The pulse input is an ordinary analogue input, so you should be able to read the voltage there with a one-line read-the-analogue-port sketch. When you can do that, you should be pretty much there, and I'd go straight for Dave Lloyd's sketch and see what you get <disclaimer: I've not tested it>.

Ian,

have you selected the voltage jumper on the tx? from the build guide it states:

"pulse counting voltage selection jumper (pictured) above must be connected to either 3.3V/5V."

I did a few checks earlier (before we got the wine out) and decided that there is no VCC supply. I need to take a look in the morning as I suspect that, as you have suggested Nigel, I haven't selected a jumper position.

Watch this space.

You can use a phone camera to see the IR from an Elster meter.  I doubt that's your problem though.

Have you read the blog post Trystan wrote on doing this: http://openenergymonitor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/reading-watt-hour-data-from-elster.html

The code as now been made into an Arduino library with examples: https://github.com/openenergymonitor/ElsterMeterReader

It was a daft error in the end, I had simply crossed over the VCC and data connections on the plug. 

I've been using the blogs and the sketches as a guide and have been able to make the Elster communicate quite nicely with the emonTX.

I now have the issue of wanting to only poll the meter very occasionally and haven't, so far at least, been successful with detaching and reattaching the ISR to the interrupt pin as and when I need it.

It looks pretty straight forward in principle but, when added to the sketches I get no data coming back on the serial monitor. I'll keep playing ... if anybody has any suggestions, they are very welcome.

thanks again

Ian