Will Smart meter show export electricity from excess solar panel electricity

johncooper0502 · Sep 13, 2024

Ovo are refusing a smart meter installation, they are refusing to install one at my place saying we are to rural and it won't work, andI do not know much about them, but I am trying to push for an installation at any rate, as it will help monitor my solar panel and electric consumption, I think. So does the indoor display of the smart meter show you how much you export even if you not getting paid for it or signed up to export elec? if it does show excess production from the solar panel, Then I could increase possible my usage to reduce elec cost.

binky · Sep 13, 2024

Not sure about smart netersxas I haven't got one, but you can get various monitors for the solar that will show what you want.

Richard-the-Ninth · Sep 13, 2024

johncooper0502, any supply company will only install a smart meter if it is beneficial to them, not to you.
Smart meters work by sending the current reading (It can even send a reading every 30 minutes if they want it to.) via the cellular network, so if the cellular network map for where you live says no or flaky coverage then like I said, no smart meter for you. There are some more things about SM's but that is for another time.
If you want to know how much your solar panels are generating, and how much you are importing, you don't need a SM to tell you that, so long as you have a smart phone, you can buy a device that will tell your smartphone via an app. I found this one Click here that costs £33 that tells you what you want to know, and will always work no matter who your supplier is.
I have a similar device, that I ignore, but it does show how much energy I am using. (I don't have solar or a SM)

johncooper0502 · Sep 14, 2024

Richard-the-Ninth said:
johncooper0502, any supply company will only install a smart meter if it is beneficial to them, not to you.
Smart meters work by sending the current reading (It can even send a reading every 30 minutes if they want it to.) via the cellular network, so if the cellular network map for where you live says no or flaky coverage then like I said, no smart meter for you. There are some more things about SM's but that is for another time.
If you want to know how much your solar panels are generating, and how much you are importing, you don't need a SM to tell you that, so long as you have a smart phone, you can buy a device that will tell your smartphone via an app. I found this one Click here that costs £33 that tells you what you want to know, and will always work no matter who your supplier is.
I have a similar device, that I ignore, but it does show how much energy I am using. (I don't have solar or a SM)
View attachment 17057

Ok, but according to Ofgem and smartenergygb you can insist

I just want to know when my panels are producing am i using all of it or am i exporting some, i got a monitor on the inverter that tells me how much i am producing, but not if i am using all. Apparently, smart meters tell you when you export so can use more electricity like cook dinner early use a washing machine have a shower etc.

Badger · Sep 14, 2024

johncooper0502 said:
Ovo are refusing a smart meter installation, they are refusing to install one at my place saying we are to rural and it won't work, andI do not know much about them, but I am trying to push for an installation at any rate, as it will help monitor my solar panel and electric consumption, I think. So does the indoor display of the smart meter show you how much you export even if you not getting paid for it or signed up to export elec? if it does show excess production from the solar panel, Then I could increase possible my usage to reduce elec cost.

Have you still got an old style rotary meter with dial or a digital version newer style

johncooper0502 · Sep 14, 2024

Badger said:
Have you still got an old style rotary meter with dial or a digital version newer style

a newer style digital

Tim Howard · Sep 15, 2024

Really you want a cheap dual channel monitor as advised above. They can be had for under £30. Most require putting in a suitable box and need a power supply providing and then have two CT clamps, which can be used for import and export.

Bob Minchin · Sep 15, 2024

If you get hold of a refurb digital dumb meter and wire it in backwards then that will register how much is escaping to the grid. That type of meter will not count down when you take power from the grid but will put up an R E D warning when it sees import from the grid. Just ignore that.

fourtytwo · Sep 15, 2024

I wouldn't bother with a smart meter! Mine an L&G E470 is useless for the consumer, it is very very hard to read and often resets the display to all dots on for several minutes before finally giving you what you asked for. It is possible on the meter only if you have the patience to find exported power BUT the indoor unit definitely does not display that. Don't ask for one, you will forever be kicking yourself...........

David R Connell · Sep 16, 2024

Richard-the-Ninth said:
johncooper0502, any supply company will only install a smart meter if it is beneficial to them, not to you.
Smart meters work by sending the current reading (It can even send a reading every 30 minutes if they want it to.) via the cellular network, so if the cellular network map for where you live says no or flaky coverage then like I said, no smart meter for you. There are some more things about SM's but that is for another time.
If you want to know how much your solar panels are generating, and how much you are importing, you don't need a SM to tell you that, so long as you have a smart phone, you can buy a device that will tell your smartphone via an app. I found this one Click here that costs £33 that tells you what you want to know, and will always work no matter who your supplier is.
I have a similar device, that I ignore, but it does show how much energy I am using. (I don't have solar or a SM)
View attachment 17057

I use a simple method to get an idea of what is happening PEV, on my PC. I use Owl software and hardware not too expensive and very reliable.

Badger · Sep 16, 2024

David R Connell said:
I use a simple method to get an idea of what is happening PEV, on my PC. I use Owl software and hardware not too expensive and very reliable.

What is the owl software you use

johncooper0502 · Sep 23, 2024

Richard-the-Ninth said:
johncooper0502, any supply company will only install a smart meter if it is beneficial to them, not to you.
Smart meters work by sending the current reading (It can even send a reading every 30 minutes if they want it to.) via the cellular network, so if the cellular network map for where you live says no or flaky coverage then like I said, no smart meter for you. There are some more things about SM's but that is for another time.
If you want to know how much your solar panels are generating, and how much you are importing, you don't need a SM to tell you that, so long as you have a smart phone, you can buy a device that will tell your smartphone via an app. I found this one Click here that costs £33 that tells you what you want to know, and will always work no matter who your supplier is.
I have a similar device, that I ignore, but it does show how much energy I am using. (I don't have solar or a SM)
View attachment 17057

Just a follow up one clamp would go on the lead/tail coming in from the supplier elec, but the arrow facing the incoming direction, eg towards their meter?

Will Smart meter show export electricity from excess solar panel electricity

Help Support Talk Electrician Forum:

johncooper0502

Active member

binky

retired and loving it!

Richard-the-Ninth

Moderator

johncooper0502

Active member

Badger

Gold Member

johncooper0502

Active member

Tim Howard

Well-known member

Bob Minchin

Active member

fourtytwo

Active member

David R Connell

Active member

Badger

Gold Member

johncooper0502

Active member

Similar threads

Latest posts

Will Smart meter show export electricity from excess solar panel electricity

Help Support Talk Electrician Forum:

Active member

retired and loving it!

Moderator

Active member

Gold Member

Active member

Well-known member

Active member

Active member

Active member

Gold Member

Active member

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!