PowerCost Monitor TM: Digital-Cameras-Photo.com

PowerCost Monitor TM

PowerCost Monitor TM
by Blue Line Innovations

Our Price: $119.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $49.95 (click here)
Category: CE
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Customers in the UK, buy this product at amazon.co.uk for British Pounds

Digital Photo Product Details

Manufacturer: Blue Line Innovations
Model: BLI-24000
Product features:

Wireless system provides real-time feedback of whole house electricity usage.
Studies have demonstrated that real-time feedback yields energy savings anywhere between 10 and 20 percent.
Compatible with all electromechanical and digital meters (inc, AMR, AMI, and Smart Meters).
Easy installation by average homeowner in approximately 20 minutes.
Toll Free manufacturer customer phone support and limited one year warranty.

Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of PowerCost Monitor TM

Customer Review: It does work
Summary: 5 Stars

When I first tried to set up the PowerCost Monitor I had some difficulty. But with the OUTSTANDING support from Blue Line Innovations it is finally working. I can see where some folks have given less than glowing reviews. Without understanding how the system works, it would have been easy to give up.

First of all, I had a hybrid meter, the m200 or something, which has a digital display and an infrared eye which reflect an actual internal old-fashioned wheel. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get it to work. I tried reading the infrared as well as reading the actual wheel from the top. Nothing.

So I emailed BlueLine, received almost an immediate reply . . . and they went out of their way to help. They had me send a photo of my meter. And they helped me try everything in the book to get it to work. Still nothing. We were both about to give up.

And then a thought occurred (a rare event for me). The plastic housing on my PG&E meter was decades old and showed it. The years of weathering had made it difficult to read even the big digital numbers through the housing. I suggested I call PG&E to have it replaced. Three days later I had a shiny new PG&E meter, but a different model. This one only had the digital readout and an infrared eye. The wheel was completely enclosed. And the worst part -- it was bigger around, soo big that the metal strap on the sending unit could no longer reach all the way around it to fasten the unit to the meter.

A trip to the hardware store fixed the size problem. And then when I set up the sending unit to read the infrared readout, lo and behold, it worked. And the wheel simulator on the receiving display matched time with the wheel simulator on the meter.

The monitor has now been working for 24 hours and accurately shows rises and falls as expected when appliances are turned on and off, but with about a 30 second delay due to the communication protocol of the system. And my wifi indicator bars read a constant 5 bars at about 60 feet from the sender, through 3 walls.

I have to say I would have given up on the system had it not been for the helpful guidance of BlueLine support. I had some misconceptions of how I thought the mechanism worked which were cleared up by understanding. I would say that some of theses tidbits of information might have been spelled out more clearly in the documentation. But the helpful folks at BlueLine more than overshadowed this.

I am listing my misconceptions and enlightenments here in case they are helpful to anyone.

1) Just because a meter has a digital readout does not guarantee it is a digital meter. Mine was a hybrid. This is important when setting the multiplication factor of the system. Mechanical meters typically have a 7.2 multiplication factor which is indicated on the front of the meter. Pure digital meters have a factor of 1. When in doubt use the factor marked on the actual meter.

2) If at first the wifi indicator shows little or no strength, don't panic. If the ID process worked, the sender and receiver are linked. After I brought my display unit inside, it read 0 bars. It took about 3 minutes before the strength gradually increased to 5 bars. I don't know if it helps or not, but I set my display on a table and did not move it for those initial minutes. This delay is due to the communication protocol of the system.

3) The system's wifi protocol is limited by the FCC to a periodic burst. It does not continually broadcast like a computer wifi or cellphone. This is why it takes a while for the signal strength indicator to show full strength. This is also why it does not seem to respond immediately when you turn on the oven. Every 30 seconds or so (i think) it broadcasts the accumulated stats it has collected over the preceding period. Once everything is stable, it works fine. But without understanding this delay, it is easy to conclude the thing isn't working, has bad reception, and doesn't display accurately.

4) Make sure your meter housing is clean and not worn by years of weathering. Make sure the infrared eye is clean on meters where the signal is brought out to the outside of the housing.

I admit I have only had it working for a day now, and I may change my tune after a month or a year. And I can understand where some would be ready to send the thing back after tinkering for a few hours. But with understanding of how it works, and patience, it does work and is very revealing of how much energy we are wasting. I hope my experience can help.

Mike Jalkut

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Description of PowerCost Monitor TM

As unobtrusive as a small electric clock, the PowerCost MonitorTM is a powerful real-time direct feedback display device that measures home electricity usage. It tells at a glance, in real-time, how much electricity your home is using in dollars and cents and in kW. Domestic energy use studies have demonstrated that real-time feedback yields energy savings anywhere between 10 and 20 percent. The savings at the high end of this range are realized when a tabletop energy display device, such as the PowerCost MonitorTM, is used. The PowerCost MonitorTM technology consists of two discrete functional units: A detection unit, known as the sensor unit, is affixed to an existing household utility meter with a simple ring clamp. The sensor unit is compatible with standard North American digital and electromechanical meter types. This is the only component of the PowerCost MonitorTM that will be in direct physical contact with the utility's meter and the clamp mechanism allows it to be attached to the outside of the meter glass. It can also be quickly attached and detached without making any changes to the existing meter. The display unit, located inside the home, receives a wireless signal from the transmitter and displays the consumption information in real time and in dollars and cents. Other information is also displayed such as time and outside temperature. Considerations before you order: The PowerCost MonitorTM uses a wireless signal (433 MHz) to read the information on your utility meter. This means that your utility meter must be located next to your home or within 30 meters (100 ft) of your home. The PowerCost MonitorTM can be easily used in a single detached dwelling, a duplex dwelling, or a row or town house. Thie PowerCost Monitor will not work with net metering applications such as wind and solar, or on a business meter that uses demand pricing.

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