My Brultech ECM-1220

[beelzerob]

Well, since I now have the Brultech ECM-1220 up and running and I'm now reading data into my CQC driver, I figured I'd post a few pics of what I've got. It's not much, but hey.

Here's the package contents.

I have the package where the plugs are on the outside (top) of the monitor. So, on the top there are 4 plugs....2 for the CT's, 1 for the transformer, and 1 for the USB cable.

Here is the pic of the CT's after they were installed by someone much braver than me.

The installation document says to make sure they're installed on a straight section of wire, and I noticed that he put it kinda on the bend. Paul, if you're skulking around...will that matter enough to fix it?

So far, I'm quite pleased with the whole package. The display responds VERY fast to changes in power....essentially instantaneous. I grabbed my power drill laying nearby and watched the current display while I revved it a few times. The amps changed accordingly.

I installed and fired up the free Lite software, and I just looked at it long enough to see that it was sending data, but I'll be honest, I've not done a very detailed inspection of what this unit is capable of. That's because I'm solely focused on getting it to work fully in CQC first. Then I can play around with it. However, my panel is planned to remain in the basement near the power panel, so CQC will be my primary interface to the data provided.

 

[upstatemike]

I am still concerned that the usb connector is on the top o the unit. I am planning to use the the display that wires from the back for a neater on wall appearance but I don't see how I can get data back to my PC. Does the wireless dongle sit on top of the display somehow? Do I need some sort of USB to cat-5 adapter tucked in the box behind the wall display? Anybody install a wired-in display yet?

 

[personalt]

Crap... the USB is out of the top even if you buy the hardwired model?

I dont think there is a wireless dongle on the unit if you get the wireless version.

I could be wrong but I think the wireless is inside, the dongle is for the PC side. someone should correct me on that.

My plan was to just get a wired one but not if USB goes out the top...

My guess is USB is part of the motherboard which means you are f'd if you easily want to move it... I am good with a solder iron though, how many connections are on a usb adapter?

I am still concerned that the usb connector is on the top o the unit. I am planning to use the the display that wires from the back for a neater on wall appearance but I don't see how I can get data back to my PC. Does the wireless dongle sit on top of the display somehow? Do I need some sort of USB to cat-5 adapter tucked in the box behind the wall display? Anybody install a wired-in display yet?

 

[upstatemike]

Crap... the USB is out of the top even if you buy the hardwired model?

I dont think there is a wireless dongle on the unit if you get the wireless version.

I could be wrong but I think the wireless is inside, the dongle is for the PC side. someone should correct me on that.

My plan was to just get a wired one but not if USB goes out the top...

My guess is USB is part of the motherboard which means you are f'd if you easily want to move it... I am good with a solder iron though, how many connections are on a usb adapter?

Maybe you are right about the dongle being for the PC side only. I think I may be confused about the wired version/wireless option in general. I'll take another look at the website to see if I can figure it out.

 

[Steve]

I don't have one yet but I believe it works like this:

CT's: Either plug in the top of the unit or hard wire via the rear
USB port: On the top
Wirless/Zigbee: The transmitter is in the ECM and the dongle goes on the pc

So, if you hardwired the CT's and did wireless, there would be nothing plugged into the top.

 

[upstatemike]

I don't have one yet but I believe it works like this:

CT's: Either plug in the top of the unit or hard wire via the rear
USB port: On the top
Wirless/Zigbee: The transmitter is in the ECM and the dongle goes on the pc

So, if you hardwired the CT's and did wireless, there would be nothing plugged into the top.

OK, that makes sense. So the only potential issue is if the PC is too far from the ECM in whch case I could use a Cat-5 usb extender off the PC to get the receiver dongle closer to the ECM, right?

So I just need to figure out how to order the correct version of the ECM plus PC dongle.

 

[Btech]

Crap... the USB is out of the top even if you buy the hardwired model?

I dont think there is a wireless dongle on the unit if you get the wireless version.

I could be wrong but I think the wireless is inside, the dongle is for the PC side. someone should correct me on that.

My plan was to just get a wired one but not if USB goes out the top...

My guess is USB is part of the motherboard which means you are f'd if you easily want to move it... I am good with a solder iron though, how many connections are on a usb adapter?

I am still concerned that the usb connector is on the top o the unit. I am planning to use the the display that wires from the back for a neater on wall appearance but I don't see how I can get data back to my PC. Does the wireless dongle sit on top of the display somehow? Do I need some sort of USB to cat-5 adapter tucked in the box behind the wall display? Anybody install a wired-in display yet?

Unless you order the wireless model, the data communication access would be via USB port at the top of the unit. I anyone here on CT requires a USB pig-tail for the wired-connection style units, email me directly when you order. If someone has already received a unit and this is a problem, then email me and we can try to come up with a resolve.

Paul

 

[beelzerob]

I've now got amp, voltage, watts and kWh data available per channel into CQC. I added a simple widget to the interface my wife normally uses just to "wow" her. Fortunately, it worked. She even showed her folks. Heh.

I've got to find a clever way to display the kWh data, which is just a slowly increasing num. There are some spin dials I could maybe use....

 

[upstatemike]

Unless you order the wireless model, the data communication access would be via USB port at the top of the unit. I anyone here on CT requires a USB pig-tail for the wired-connection style units, email me directly when you order. If someone has already received a unit and this is a problem, then email me and we can try to come up with a resolve.

Paul

Looking at the Brultech website I only see a wireless option for the plugin model. In my application I want to put the monitor in the kitchen with power and CTs wired to the back using a single Cat-5 cable. I also want to get data to a PC for internet access etc. and was planning to use a wireless link to connect to a PC in the basement approximately 30 feet from the display. Is there a way to do this? If not, will a future model be available for this type of application?

 

[Btech]

Unless you order the wireless model, the data communication access would be via USB port at the top of the unit. I anyone here on CT requires a USB pig-tail for the wired-connection style units, email me directly when you order. If someone has already received a unit and this is a problem, then email me and we can try to come up with a resolve.

Paul

Looking at the Brultech website I only see a wireless option for the plugin model. In my application I want to put the monitor in the kitchen with power and CTs wired to the back using a single Cat-5 cable. I also want to get data to a PC for internet access etc. and was planning to use a wireless link to connect to a PC in the basement approximately 30 feet from the display. Is there a way to do this? If not, will a future model be available for this type of application?

Yes.. the wireless option is available for any model.... and Yes you can install as described using our Zigbee (wireless) equipped units.


Paul

 

[roussell]

I've got to find a clever way to display the kWh data, which is just a slowly increasing num. There are some spin dials I could maybe use....

Why not convert the kWh into $ and let here see how much the power bill is at that instant? That's what I'm planning. I think seeing an actual dollar amount will help drive the point home. I also thought about another field that shows "$ this time last month" to serve as a quick comparison or how well/poorly we're doing on conservation.

Terry

 

[beelzerob]

Well, ultimately I'll certainly convert kWh to $$$'s and display that...whether hourly, daily, or total this billing cycle (probably all 3!). But I just meant finding some neat way to display it other than just a text field. Those are kinda boring.

I was wrong, there's not a spin widget in CQC yet. There are volume knobs...but that's what it'd look like.

Some kind of circular dial with an arrow would be cool, and then I could just put the range from 0 to 99, and feed it the decimal portion of the kWh. That way it would circle around and I could see how fast it's going (as an indication of level of power consumption).

 

[IVB]

I was thinking about a digital VU meter, using green/yellow/red, with a yellow threshold of 85% of an average of 3 prior month's usage (manually calculated and set), and a red level of 100% usage. Meaning, anytime we're in the red, we're spending more than we did last month.

i.e., something like this. Plus I get to use VladStudio.com wallpaper to boot

 

[beelzerob]

besides all those, you'd probably want a "currently have used" meter, too. Projected will show you how much it WILL be, but you'd probably want to know how much it is so far.

 

[IVB]

yeh, perhaps if I had actually opened up the UPS box the Brultech came in I would have thought of that too.

Electrician is likely coming week after next, maybe by then i can be part of the fun. Assuming he doesn't look at me psychotically when I hand him the box and say "put these circle thingeys in the main panel, bossman"