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  1. #1
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    May 2003
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    Default What is this thing in electricity meter box

    The white device on the left hand side in the photo below appeared suddenly in my mother in law’s electricity meter box. My sister in law thinks it’s a smart meter - but I’m not sure.

    Can someone tell me what it is please?

    Also, I note that it’s currently turned off. Can someone clarify why, and whether it should be?

    Thanks
    Arron


    D5A64AB4-3086-4AC0-A73D-166FDC8117B2.jpg
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

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  3. #2
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    Default

    i don't think it's a smart meter - ordinarily a meter would need to show you a readout, and from that pic I can't see any form of display. Plus, they'd need to connect it to the existing cabling so they'd replace the existing meters. It's possible that it's a "companion" device sending readings back to base, but I doubt it - don't even know if that is even a legit scenario.

    You say it's off? I was assuming the green visible meant it was on?

  4. #3
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    It may be a controller for the off peak water heater. If so, it has probably replaced the old style controller.

    Alan...

  5. #4
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    I'd contact Powercor or a local electrician and find out for sure.

  6. #5
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    May 2003
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    Quote Originally Posted by poundy View Post
    i don't think it's a smart meter - ordinarily a meter would need to show you a readout, and from that pic I can't see any form of display. Plus, they'd need to connect it to the existing cabling so they'd replace the existing meters. It's possible that it's a "companion" device sending readings back to base, but I doubt it - don't even know if that is even a legit scenario.

    You say it's off? I was assuming the green visible meant it was on?
    Yeah, I retract what I said about it being off. My wife told me it was off and I didn’t check - though I should have considered the source.
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

  7. #6
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    May 2011
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    Albury
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    Does your mil have off-peak hot water? Based on there being two meters on the board I would expect so. The instrument you're enquiring about switches the off-peak availability on and off. If you have a look at it at the right time it will be on and the off-peak meter will possibly be spinning dependent on whether the hot water system is up to temperature or not. It's nothing to concern you. That board is a pretty old installation.

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by PJM16 View Post
    I'd contact Powercor or a local electrician and find out for sure.
    Not as easy as it sounds, with a 90 year old paranoid with no English skills and no authority to act on her behalf.
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

  9. #8
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    Default

    Here’s a close up photo of the device.

    And yes, she has off peak meter but oddly no mention of off peak on the bills.
    C4E67A6F-EB37-46C6-B775-0B27894E5121.jpg
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by aldav View Post
    Does your mil have off-peak hot water? Based on there being two meters on the board I would expect so. The instrument you're enquiring about switches the off-peak availability on and off. If you have a look at it at the right time it will be on and the off-peak meter will possibly be spinning dependent on whether the hot water system is up to temperature or not. It's nothing to concern you. That board is a pretty old installation.
    Ok, didn’t notice your reply before my previous post. Does the close-up of the device I just posted change anything? And can I categorically tell my sister in law that it has nothing to do with smart metering or remote reading ?

    Doing anything in this situation is incredibly hard, as many forum members will know.
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

  11. #10
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    The front panel tells you that it is a ripple control receiver. It is a device that the energy company can turn devices on or off via signals sent over the power cables.
    It will be for control of the off peak hot water, the energy provider will control when it is turned on and off to best suit overall use and demand of power.

  12. #11
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    Default

    Post deleted due to trivia.

    DavidG. Moderator

  13. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by woodPixel View Post
    Post deleted due to trivia.

    DavidG. Moderator

    Hi,
    Today is Halloween, not all fool's day.

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    Hugh

    Enough is enough, more than enough is too much.

  14. #13
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    May 2011
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    Albury
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    Yes it is to activate the off-peak supply. If there's no mention on the bill of off-peak it may be recorded as 'controlled load'. If there's a 'supply charge' for the off-peak (controlled load) but no usage then there was previously an off peak appliance (hot water - most likely, or room heating - unlikely but possible) and she's paying the supply charge for nothing. If that's the case you can pay an electrician to remove the meter and switch gear, but it would cost a few hundred dollars. The fact that Endeavour Energy has gone to the trouble and expense of replacing the receiver would seem to indicate that there is some power usage.

    If your 90 year old is anything like mine she doesn't do a lot of surfing on the net so I wouldn't worry about woodPixels concerns.

  15. #14
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    Default

    Post deleted due to trivia.

    DavidG. Moderator

  16. #15
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    Definitely an off peak controller, looks like it’s been added/replaced recently. You can also see the labeling “off peak” for the meter partially hidden behind the service number.

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