Do you have questions about the Watts Clever Home Energy Monitor (EW4008) or Watts Clever Solar Energy monitor (EW4009)? Read our frequently asked questions and answers below.
Will it work with 3 phase power?
Yes. To measure three-phase power you need a total of three sensor clamps. All you need to do is buy two extra clamps with your energy monitor (see purchase options on the two pages linked above).
Can I carry the monitor around my home?
Yes. Unlike other energy monitors which are only mains powered (and stay in one spot) or only battery powered (and run out of batteries all the time), the Watts Clever monitors are both mains powered and battery powered.
This means you can walk around your home with the monitor and observe changes in energy use as you flick appliances on and off. When you return it to mains power don’t forget to remove the batteries to prevent them from going flat. Running on battery power alone the screen will only last a few days.
Can I use the energy monitor to look at individual appliance usage?
Yes. You do this by observing the difference in consumption when the appliance is turned on and off. The screen updates every 10 seconds.
To monitor individual appliance consumption in detail we recommend using the Plug-in Power Meter.
Can I download the data?
Yes. You will need to buy a USB Data Cable from the home energy monitor page.
To download the driver and software for the monitors please refer to the support tab on these pages:
Can I enter three time-of-use tariffs from my smart meter?
Yes. These monitors can have three tariffs programmed into them (see manual for details).
Bear in mind that no energy monitor on the market can account for the true complexity of a three tariff system. This is because these tariffs change depending on what time it is, the day of the week and whether it is a public holiday (i.e. the monitor would need a complete calendar in it).
Can I monitor my solar power production using this monitor?
Yes. Make sure you order the Solar EW4009 model to do this. Please note that you will most likely require the assistance of an electrician to make sure you clamp the sensor over the correct cables.
This is a simplified diagram of how it works:
How far will the transmitter signal travel?
We have tested the signal to about 30 metres.
My meter box is over 30 metres away, can I still use the energy monitor?
Yes. You should be able to clamp over the incoming supply cable before it gets split off into individual circuits at your household switchboard. We recommend using an electrician to do this as it is often ‘behind the board’. If you have a circuit breaker at your switchboard, you may be able to do this yourself (clamp around the cable which goes into the breaker – if this is on the outside of the board).
What size are the sensor clamps?
The internal diameter of the sensor clamp is 25mm (red clamp pictured at the top of this page). This accommodates all cable sizes you are likely to encounter on a residential or small business meter board.
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Hi
Can I monitor say 2 circuits in a single phase installation from the same Wireless Display monitor? eg have one Clamp/Transmitter unit on the Hot Water Service circuit and another Clamp/Transmitter unit on another circuit such as the air conditioner?
Thanks
John
Hi John, Yes – this is possible.
The Watts Clever monitors can accept data in this way for up to 15 separate channels. To order additional transmitters please contact us by phone or email as you cannot buy individual transmitters directly off the website.
Ryan.
Hi, I wish to monitor my solar setup plus the three-phase grid supply. Is that possible?
Hi Peter, Yes – this is possible.
For your situation you will need to purchase:
1 x EW4009 Watts Clever Solar Energy Monitor
2 x Additional Sensor Clamps
From here: http://steplight.com.au/wireless
Ryan.
Am I correct in thinking I will need 2 additional sensors and the EW4009 system to monitor tariff 31, 33 and the normal tariff plus the solar input? Would the extra 2 sensors plug directly into the normal tariff wireless sender unit or are 2 extra wireless sender units required?
Thanks Eric
Hi Eric, you should only need to buy extra sensor clamps if you have 3 phase. The software on the display screen works out the tariffs once you have entered them in for different times of the day.
However, if you wanted to completely isolate the monitoring of different circuits then you would need 2 extra wireless sender units as you have suggested. You will need to call us to order those as separate items.
Ryan.