Smart meters - the work of the devil

[rudebhoy]

Got one installed yesterday and hate it already.

Shows you what you are spending in near enough real time. Every time you look at it, the total has gone up. Guaranteed to get you wound up over nothing. Can see me turning into one of those cantankerous old buggers who go around switching lights off constantly.

 

[robinthehood]

Got one installed yesterday and hate it already.

Shows you what you are spending in near enough real time. Every time you look at it, the total has gone up. Guaranteed to get you wound up over nothing. Can see me turning into one of those cantankerous old buggers who go around switching lights off constantly.

I thinks that's the idea ...

 

[bobmac]

The unit that displays my usage went in the kitchen drawer the day after I got it.
The solution is LED light bulbs

 

[Wolf]

Got one installed yesterday and hate it already.

Shows you what you are spending in near enough real time. Every time you look at it, the total has gone up. Guaranteed to get you wound up over nothing. Can see me turning into one of those cantankerous old buggers who go around switching lights off constantly.

Careful you don't turn into my dad 😂

He always been one to go round after everyone turning lights and plugs off, once they had a smart meter that was it no heating either now go round you put and extra coat on when you go indoors😂

 

[rudebhoy]

The unit that displays my usage went in the kitchen drawer the day after I got it.
The solution is LED light bulbs

Think mine is in for the same fate. I like the idea of it sending accurate readings on a daily basis. i don't like the idea of me getting wound up and having a go at the wife or daughter because their 15 minute shower cost a quid.

 

[GreiginFife]

You quickly get in to the habit of ignoring it. Its an eyeopener initially though.
LED bulbs and making sure amplifiers and things like active subwoofers are either set to low power standby or switched off completely when not in use make a big difference.

Sadly though we got one of the early EDF meters that came with a slight flaw. A week after install it sent a reading saying that we had used £634.32 of electricity in one day!

Even trying to sort something as obvious as that was painful. The response of "well that's what the meter says..." was not well received by me.

Once sorted its handy to know what's costing you and surprising to find out what isn't (contrary to belief in my case).

 

[Orikoru]

You're lucky you don't live with my wife. Many times I come home from work to find the lounge lights have been on all day while nobody's home.

 

[Rooter]

The unit that displays my usage went in the kitchen drawer the day after I got it.
The solution is LED light bulbs

Especially bulbs like GU10 spotlights! The heat they omit and the power they draw is obscene! Screwfix do a really good range of 'basic' LED spots, ok they are twice the price of NON LED, but last longer and cost a fraction in running costs.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Especially bulbs like GU10 spotlights! The heat they omit and the power they draw is obscene! Screwfix do a really good range of 'basic' LED spots, ok they are twice the price of NON LED, but last longer and cost a fraction in running costs.

Do you need the light unit to be different or can I just remove the halogen version and put the led ones in their place? We currently have a light in our kitchen with 4 of these GU10 bulbs.

 

[need_my_wedge]

Do you need the light unit to be different or can I just remove the halogen version and put the led ones in their place? We currently have a light in our kitchen with 4 of these GU10 bulbs.

It depends, if it is a ceiling light, you should be able to replace like for like. I tried to replace two in the Cooker extractor, but the transformer in the hood wouldn't have any of it

 

[Lord Tyrion]

It depends, if it is a ceiling light, you should be able to replace like for like. I tried to replace two in the Cooker extractor, but the transformer in the hood wouldn't have any of it

I've googled it and it is called a spotlight bar. Approx 1m length stainless steel / silver with 4 bulbs pointing down. Sounds as though it could be okay to change

 

[need_my_wedge]

Got one installed yesterday and hate it already.

Shows you what you are spending in near enough real time. Every time you look at it, the total has gone up. Guaranteed to get you wound up over nothing. Can see me turning into one of those cantankerous old buggers who go around switching lights off constantly.

Had a smart meter for three or four years now, great addition to the home, no guesstimated bills. The extra little screen that plugs in and shows you usage can be a bit eye opening at first, stopped using mine after a while. Firmly in the camp of switching lights off when not needed though, and swapped all the lights for LED bulbs last year as well, not sure if it has made a massive difference, but bills have come down a few quid.

 

[Old Skier]

Had a smart meter for three or four years now, great addition to the home, no guesstimated bills. The extra little screen that plugs in and shows you usage can be a bit eye opening at first, stopped using mine after a while. Firmly in the camp of switching lights off when not needed though, and swapped all the lights for LED bulbs last year as well, not sure if it has made a massive difference, but bills have come down a few quid.

This, used properly it's a good addition to budgeting, my only complaint is there not standard across the industry.

 

[Beezerk]

Do you need the light unit to be different or can I just remove the halogen version and put the led ones in their place? We currently have a light in our kitchen with 4 of these GU10 bulbs.

Like for like mate as long as you haven’t got some funky 24v set up or something.

 

[need_my_wedge]

Got one installed yesterday and hate it already.

Shows you what you are spending in near enough real time. Every time you look at it, the total has gone up. Guaranteed to get you wound up over nothing. Can see me turning into one of those cantankerous old buggers who go around switching lights off constantly.

Not so much a smart meter, but still smart home, referring to Hive. Installing this was the best thing I have done for saving money on utilities. Allowed me to set independant on/off times for heating and water as opposed to the old setup that had them both on at the same time for the same period of time. My gas bill has dropped significantly in the last couple of years as a result. My gas bill last year was £100 down on the previous year, and £200 down on the year before that.

 

[Rooter]

Like for like mate as long as you haven’t got some funky 24v set up or something.

And if its not on a dimmer, LED's don't like dimmers...

 

[Beezerk]

And if its not on a dimmer, LED's don't like dimmers...

Doubt he’ll have a dimmer in the kitchen unless he’s mr sexy sexy smooth mover 😘 😂

 

[bobmac]

And if its not on a dimmer, LED's don't like dimmers...

I think that used to be the case but they do now

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-gu10-led-light-bulb-345lm-5w-10-pack/7303v

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Doubt he’ll have a dimmer in the kitchen unless he’s mr sexy sexy smooth mover 😘 😂

You've met me, obviously it's on a dimmer

(nah, straight on/off switch)

 

[jim8flog]

The one and only use I have for mine is that it saves me going outside of the house to get meter readings to put in the internet to the company I am signed up to.

It was put in by the previous supplier and it never worked on the gas side for sending in the readings which caused a very long bit of hassle when I switched.

I already do as much saving as I can without resorting to stupid.

Programmable/wireless heating thermostat and switching to a combi boiler made big savings for me.

The only disagreement I have with my daughter is that she thinks a thermostat setting of approx 70 degrees is too low and when she sits in the lounge with me she is wrapped up in a blanket.