TED the energy detective

[richard]

I have and am planning to install TED & its sensors (CT) on the feeds for my panel.

Here is my question.... Looks to be a pretty straight install but I am thinking about the fact that my panel does not have a disconnect at the point of the
220 connection to the circuit breaker panel. The Panel circuit breaker does have a 200 amp disconnect but the feeds do not. They are hot all the time.

Outside I see a main panel with only the meter in it but no disconnect or switch visable from the outside. The outside cover has a wire "security loop" on the open cover of the main panel.

On the TED the sensors "CT" current transformers are opened and circle the large feed cables. I will need to move or lift the cables an inch or so, to put the CT's on the feeds, is there any safety or special concerns that I need to be aware when moving and lifting the feed cables that are from this 200 amp panel?

I understand electrical safety but this one has made me think, since I can not disconnect the feeds in my panel/ meter setup.

It has made me think.

Once I have the CT in place the remainder install is clear.

Suggestions on this install?

Thanks in advance (no sparks in my future)

:huh:

 

[Skibum]

Trying to move those calbes when hot could be problematic.
My wires were within 1/3 of an inch of far enough out, so I used a long stick and leather gloves to move the wire ever so carefully.. (I hate to die)

Don't forget in most places you can simply cut the meter "lock" and pull it. (Then call the power company to relock it)

 

[Steve]

You should be thinking "Hmmm, what electrician do I know?" It's 1 thing to just snap them on when they are live, but having to actually touch them and move them live is another story. You also do not want to loosen or interfere with the main connection either. I would seriously consider hiring ol sparky on that one.

 

[Skibum]

Almost forgot.. If you do pull the meter make sure that you have already shut down your master or all of your individual circuits first.

 

[ano]

Almost forgot.. If you do pull the meter make sure that you have already shut down your master or all of your individual circuits first.

And be VERY careful here as well. Wear gloves, stand on a rubber mat and pull the meter straight out. And STILL act like the power is on, even if it probably isn't. 120V is usually not fatal, 240V is.

 

[nsisman]

Do not attempt this yourself under any circumstances !

Dangerous stuff !

Hire someone!

These feeder cables can be super stiff especially when old and may not go back where they belong.

Some things are better left to the pro's and this is near the top of the list !

You don't get a chance to do the job over if something happens (like a hex wrench touching ground through your hand ).

Pulling meters is also a job for the pro's and cutting security tags will get you in a pail of trouble !

 

[Skibum]

Pulling meters is also a job for the pro's and cutting security tags will get you in a pail of trouble !

I just got off of the phone from the power company. I requested the meter be re-sealed.
I specifically asked, and they had no issues with me removing the meter. (AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!!)

 

[richard]

Pulling meters is also a job for the pro's and cutting security tags will get you in a pail of trouble !

I just got off of the phone from the power company. I requested the meter be re-sealed.
I specifically asked, and they had no issues with me removing the meter. (AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!!)

Skibum and others,

Thanks so much for the info...... I am trying to know the issues and I understand they much better. I am thinking I will turn off the mains on 2 panels then pull the meter. That way I have little or no current around, just the meter.

Stand on rubber mat, and wear good rubber gloves might help even more..... I do not want to move live cables for my safety.

 

[beerguy]

Pulling meters is also a job for the pro's and cutting security tags will get you in a pail of trouble !

I just got off of the phone from the power company. I requested the meter be re-sealed.
I specifically asked, and they had no issues with me removing the meter. (AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!!)

Skibum and others,

Thanks so much for the info...... I am trying to know the issues and I understand they much better. I am thinking I will turn off the mains on 2 panels then pull the meter. That way I have little or no current around, just the meter.

Stand on rubber mat, and wear good rubber gloves might help even more..... I do not want to move live cables for my safety.

One more note of caution. I just did exactly what you are wanting to do at the beginning of this week. It sounds like I have the same meter and box as you do. Mine is a 200amp service with a 100amp sub-panel. The problem was that I had 2 pairs of wires that I had to get the CT's around and they just wouldn't fit. I ended up pulling the meter and finding a location where I could easily get the CTs around both pairs of wires. Still wasn't easy but it worked.

The note of caution is that even with the meter pulled you will still have power coming in the top part of the panel and on mine there were two solid bars that extended well past the bottom of the meter that were still hot even with the meter out. On older meters once you pulled the meter there was no power anywhere near the bottom of the meter location. Fortunately I took my volt meter and checked around before starting the work. I would have bet that there wouldn't have been any voltage down that low in the box, and I would have been wrong. One misplaced tool and it would have been ugly.

Please, please be very careful if you are going to try this yourself. The alternatives are to call an electrician or call your utility and make up a story that you need them to look at something on their service (non-urgently) that is upstream of the meter. In all likelihood if you ask nice the utility guy will do the work for you.

I'd be happy to take some pics if it helps.

Pat

 

[richard]

well...

I reviewed all the information and cautions and spoke to a good electrical / mechanical friend, and now I have the CT's installed in panel 1. Panel 2 is next. Yes ! The TED transmitting unit is sensitive to being on the same phase as the receiving unit.

I have phase couplers 1 panel based and on on the 220 dryer "with deluxe LED's", so I thought that I would have an anywhere signal reach, but that is not true. I have a few outlets that do not receive the 1 second pulse from the transmitter so that stinks.

The TED works well on the 1 panel when it is plugged into certain outlets and I will try to track down a noise problem or something that might be fouling up the signal transmission. TED's signal is at 132kHz so I am looking how to get that distrubuted around. The power outlet near my test PC does not receive the signal well, so that is going to mess up the monitor and Footprints graphing software.

Please feel free to suggest anything that you think might work. This is a new and potentially great monitoring energy tool if it becomes stable. I am searching for answers to getting this working.

To be Continued .....

 

[Skibum]

I had to run a dedicated outlet to the computer room and then I tied the TED transmitter directly to that breaker.
I also found the following big signal suckers:
LCD TV
Pioneer Amp.

 

[jwilson56]

well...

I reviewed all the information and cautions and spoke to a good electrical / mechanical friend, and now I have the CT's installed in panel 1. Panel 2 is next. Yes ! The TED transmitting unit is sensitive to being on the same phase as the receiving unit.

I have phase couplers 1 panel based and on on the 220 dryer "with deluxe LED's", so I thought that I would have an anywhere signal reach, but that is not true. I have a few outlets that do not receive the 1 second pulse from the transmitter so that stinks.

The TED works well on the 1 panel when it is plugged into certain outlets and I will try to track down a noise problem or something that might be fouling up the signal transmission. TED's signal is at 132kHz so I am looking how to get that distrubuted around. The power outlet near my test PC does not receive the signal well, so that is going to mess up the monitor and Footprints graphing software.

Please feel free to suggest anything that you think might work. This is a new and potentially great monitoring energy tool if it becomes stable. I am searching for answers to getting this working.

To be Continued .....

Thats why I am looking at the other unit with the wireless unit

http://www.cocoontech.com/index.php?showtopic=10985

 

[Skibum]

You mean the one with the display in the wrong place??

 

[jwilson56]

You mean the one with the display in the wrong place??

Thats what PC touchscreens with a nice GUI interface are for... displaying the data

 

[richard]

Got some tech support from TED company and tried to located the powerline transmission and path problems.

I have a 220 dryer coupler from Smarthome and I put ACT filters on 2 PC's (I do have a working X10 setup that I am actually pleased with) but can not get RDU units "the receivers" to see the 1 second pulse except at outlets that are not were I want to see or near the PC with Footprints software.

Fustrating. Tomorrow I will shut down all breakers and see if the transmission can be seen by the receivers.

TBC