in-line electricity meter

[Just Heaven]

Does anyone know of a good place to get an inline meter for electric hookup, similar to a "metermaid" ?

Thanks

Steve

[by'eck]

MailSpeed Marine sell them new. I have seen a couple of used ones on eBay as well but they sold for not much under £100. Haven't seen anything else for external use.

[Justme]

You could soon fit a used household meter to you in coming power feed. No need for it to be outside.

 

Last time I bought one they were less than £10.

 

You could even modify a plug in one but get one with battery back up or it looses its readings when the power goes off.

Edited September 20, 2013 by Justme

[blackrose]

I think measurements from the clip-on type indoor household meters are based on estimates because they don't actually measure the voltages.

[DHutch]

We have a domestic one in the boat, im not sure I've ever looked at it or used it...

I think just-me is referring to the plug-through types.

http://images.maplin.co.uk/full/l61aq.jpg

[George94]

I think measurements from the clip-on type indoor household meters are based on estimates because they don't actually measure the voltages.

 

Surely it's the amps that have to be measured.

[by'eck]

 

Surely it's the amps that have to be measured.

 

Household mechanical meters drive a rotating disc you have probably seen, in turn clocking the various dials. The disc rotates according to the instantaneous product of voltage and current and distortion of these by power factor of inductive/capacitive loads is accounted for by design. The voltage and current coils driving the disc use a modest amount of power themselves, but this is ignored by the meter.

 

Not sure how electronic ones work but they can also record max demands, power factor and reactive power.

Edited September 21, 2013 by by'eck

[Justme]

I was not talking about the clip on types.

 

You can get proper mains meters that have been removed from houses.

 

They measure kWh.

[smileypete]

Does it have to be outdoor?

 

There are also DIN rail meters that should fit in a normal MCB slot in a consumer unit, cost from £10ish upwards.

 

My supply is metered with the top one on this page, but with normal dials not LCD:

 

http://www.stephenpwales.co.uk/Product/single_phase/sprail.htm

 

Cheap one on Ebay, looks strikingly similar though:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290976434776

 

cheers, Pete.

~smpt~

Edited September 21, 2013 by smileypete

[Just Heaven]

Yes it has to be outdoor. Our marina requires us to have one in the hook up line.

[smileypete]

How about putting a DIN one in a weatherproof consumer unit box that fits on the outside of the boat or near the bollard?

 

Look for something like an 'IP 65 consumer unit' eg:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Branded-5-Way-Consumer-Unit-IP65-Suitable-for-Garage-Shed-Fuse-Board-/190855497187?pt=UK_BOI_Materials_Supplies_Electrical_ET&var=490158585517&hash=item2c6fdfc5e3

 

IP codes if you're curious:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code

 

cheers, Pete.

~smpt~

Edited September 27, 2013 by smileypete

[Shaz Ormerod]

does anybody know what the cheap version of the metermaid is called please? does anybody know where i could get a secondhand metermaid from

[Alan de Enfield]

does anybody know what the cheap version of the metermaid is called please? does anybody know where i could get a secondhand metermaid from

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metermaid-/111343455250?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item19ec964c12

 

It really doesnt seem worthwhile to try and bodge something up with fly-leads, domestic meters and waterproof boxes when you can get the 'proper job'. Is it worth the risk with the proximity of water, electricity and enthusiatic DIYers ?

 

I would expect that a marina would want to be able to easily get at / view your meter for taking readings.

 

Alledgedly the old 'spinning disc' ones could be slowed down with a magnet ?

[Paul C]

I'd go for a DIN rail mounted one inside the boat, for cost reasons if nothing else. I think a marina operator would have a hard time requiring the meter to be outside, or read from outside the boat, given the prevalence of household meters which are located inside a home.

[magnetman]

Is the supply not coming from a meter anyway?

Oh missed a couple of posts. Sorry

[Alan de Enfield]

I'd go for a DIN rail mounted one inside the boat, for cost reasons if nothing else.

 

It doent really matter what you'd 'go for' when the Marina Operator insists that it is inline 'in the hook-up' line.

 

Some Marinas actually MAKE you buy/rent a metermaid type (in line) from them. Its their bat & ball so they make the rules.

[Paul C]

 

It doent really matter what you'd 'go for' when the Marina Operator insists that it is inline 'in the hook-up' line.

 

Some Marinas actually MAKE you buy/rent a metermaid type (in line) from them. Its their bat & ball so they make the rules.

 

A contract can't have unfair terms and conditions in it - but I see where you're coming from, its the marina who sets the rules etc.