Hi all

I’m looking at installing a solar system (panels, inverter, batteries….in stages) but first I want to determine what my actual consumption is. I don’t trust the readings from City power. What energy consumption meters can you recommend I buy and what prices am I expected to pay? Additionally, do I need to get an electrician to connect it to my DB board or is there a meter I can in one of my plug points?

1 hour ago, Chetan Chiba said:

Hi all

I’m looking at installing a solar system (panels, inverter, batteries….in stages) but first I want to determine what my actual consumption is. I don’t trust the readings from City power. What energy consumption meters can you recommend I buy and what prices am I expected to pay? Additionally, do I need to get an electrician to connect it to my DB board or is there a meter I can in one of my plug points?

Google for Kill-a-watt that is made for a plug point. 

12 hours ago, Scorp007 said:

Google for Kill-a-watt that is made for a plug point. 

Thanks. But this measure consumption per appliance. Is there an energy meter that I can use to monitor overall consumption?

1 hour ago, Chetan Chiba said:

Thanks. But this measure consumption per appliance. Is there an energy meter that I can use to monitor overall consumption?

Yes. Just Google power consumption meter and you will find all shapes and sizes. The type with volts amps kw instant readings and kwh normally accumulate the kwh readings over time and have a reset button to zero the kwh reading. Easy to install. Price at R500 upwards. Some look like a geyser timer with electronic display and you also get a mechanical did it display. 

Appliances like a fridge that is off a number of hours per day you want to know the power used per day and not only when it is running. 

I have been using this unit for 4 years. 

Edited January 9, 20232 yr by Scorp007

3 hours ago, Scorp007 said:

Yes. Just Google power consumption meter and you will find all shapes and sizes. The type with volts amps kw instant readings and kwh normally accumulate the kwh readings over time and have a reset button to zero the kwh reading. Easy to install. Price at R500 upwards. Some look like a geyser timer with electronic display and you also get a mechanical did it display. 

Appliances like a fridge that is off a number of hours per day you want to know the power used per day and not only when it is running. 

I have been using this unit for 4 years. 

Thank you so much for the info.  

19 hours ago, Chetan Chiba said:

Hi all

I’m looking at installing a solar system (panels, inverter, batteries….in stages) but first I want to determine what my actual consumption is. I don’t trust the readings from City power. What energy consumption meters can you recommend I buy and what prices am I expected to pay? Additionally, do I need to get an electrician to connect it to my DB board or is there a meter I can in one of my plug points?

City Power don't read meters every month. You will often find an indication on your statement that the reading is an estimate. Over 4 to 6 months you should get a fairly good average.

Also read your own meter at the same time each month. You are very unlikely to read it at the exact same moment as the meter reader, but your two sets of figures should align. Anyway, do this for a couple of months and you will get a rough average for summer months. But the more readings you have, the more reliable your average will be.

The catch with all of the above is that with the current stages of load shedding, nobody's meter reflects the actual consumption you will have to backup, because the grid supply to your home is out minimum 6 hours a day.  So unless there's been some significant change, maybe check statements from a couple of years back. Rands & cents will be very different, but consumption should be in the ball park.

 

Edited January 9, 20232 yr by Bobster.

Efergy Energy Meter works very well for this requirement.

20 hours ago, Scorp007 said:

Yes. Just Google power consumption meter and you will find all shapes and sizes. The type with volts amps kw instant readings and kwh normally accumulate the kwh readings over time and have a reset button to zero the kwh reading. Easy to install. Price at R500 upwards. Some look like a geyser timer with electronic display and you also get a mechanical did it display. 

Appliances like a fridge that is off a number of hours per day you want to know the power used per day and not only when it is running. 

I have been using this unit for 4 years. 

Thank you so much for the info.  I will look into it

16 hours ago, Bobster. said:

City Power don't read meters every month. You will often find an indication on your statement that the reading is an estimate. Over 4 to 6 months you should get a fairly good average.

Also read your own meter at the same time each month. You are very unlikely to read it at the exact same moment as the meter reader, but your two sets of figures should align. Anyway, do this for a couple of months and you will get a rough average for summer months. But the more readings you have, the more reliable your average will be.

The catch with all of the above is that with the current stages of load shedding, nobody's meter reflects the actual consumption you will have to backup, because the grid supply to your home is out minimum 6 hours a day.  So unless there's been some significant change, maybe check statements from a couple of years back. Rands & cents will be very different, but consumption should be in the ball park.

 

Makes sense. According to my statement, My average daily consumption is 19kwh (summer months) and 25kwh (winter). Will take your suggestion. Thank you very much 

26 minutes ago, Chetan Chiba said:

Makes sense. According to my statement, My average daily consumption is 19kwh (summer months) and 25kwh (winter). Will take your suggestion. Thank you very much 

Those figures, especially the summer one, are not outlandish. In my home, prior to going solar, two of us were averaging about 13kwh per day. I've long been in the habit of checking my own meter, so I could verify that figure.

I purchased one of these

Works like a dream and I use it to work out when to switch my geysers on to get the max out of my solar.