Diy gadget to count revolution of electricity meter

[mpooley]

Hi
I would like to interface my computer to my electric meter!

I think i can do the interface ok but counting the revolutions is a bit tricky.

any ideas?

My meter is a bog standard one with a disk with a black and yellow mark on it so I suppose i need something to recognise the mark as it comes round?


mike

[guydewdney]

Buy a Current Cost - that has all the data you need. Easier and probably cheaper in the long run.

I have some software that will graph three clamp meters attached to the transmitter 'real time' - I can forward that to you if you are conversant with scripts and that sort of programming (I aint - so I have no idea what it is - but it works on 2K etc - but not on 7 for some reason)

[EccentricAnomaly]

I've seen various blog entries about doing this but can't quite remember where.  Here's the first relevant entry Bing finds:

http://community.pachube.com/?q=node/65

Edited to add: including the word "homecamp" in your search might help.  E.g., this one for gas meters also came up:

http://blog.richard.parker.name/category/projects/

Still, Guy's probably right.

[JamesGreen]

If you can get the sensor part sorted then the microcontroller code should be fairly easy.
If the Micro Language you use supports counter or timer interrupts then you should get good results.

I am a worry guts.
If I was the Leccy Meter Man and saw that pile of wires done by PACHUBE then I'd have him cut off
(I've seen similar spaghetti on some of the proposed Gas Meter sensors too. Frightening.  Mmm... gas + bare wires... lovely).
I'm sure a neatified version would be fine.

I haven't heard of Current Cost, but as a general comment, if you want fairly accurate figures you CANNOT rely on clamp metering alone.

[StBarnabas]

Look at my one-wire thread. We are still progressing on this....

[mpooley]

Thanks to everyone 
I think i'll try the reflective sensor and the arduino


Mike

[JamesGreen]

Why arduino?
Why not save money and use PIC or PICAXE?

[Greenbeast]

arduinos can be had for £14 and are dead simple to start using.

i don't know about the cost or difficulty of using PIC/PICAXE

[JamesGreen]

PICAXE start at under 2 quid and programmed in easy-peasy BASIC - though you'd really need a 3 quid version for a decent programe.
Cheaper to blow up. Download cables start at under 3 quid. Editor free. You need 20p worth of extra bits.

[mpooley]

PICAXE start at under 2 quid and programmed in easy-peasy BASIC - though you'd really need a 3 quid version for a decent programe.
Cheaper to blow up. Download cables start at under 3 quid. Editor free. You need 20p worth of extra bits.

James
Can you point me to a beginners guide please ? i have read a few bits but i need a very basic starter as I havn't got a clue?

mike
 

[dhaslam]

I just had a quick look at picaxe.   However it does seem to be  aimed at a slightly different function.   The program is downloaded to devices which are then stand alone.   The one wire system  enables networked  communication  which is more suited to monitoring and control.        The programming for the PIC system does look easy but then the capability is fairly  restricted. 

http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/