Energy monitor review – TED

Administrator — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:46:14 +0000

The Energy Detective (TED) is an energy monitoring device by Energy Inc. which I have recently inspected and tested. (visit www.theenergydetective.com) It is a useful device that can be used to monitor a single load or your total household electrical energy usage. It includes a small display that sits conveniently on your kitchen counter. A sensor and wireless transmitter (MTU) is installed in your main electrical service panel. The MTU sends wireless data to the display unit.
The TED can be installed easily by an electrician or homeowner if you are comfortable connecting wires and current transformers to a circuit in your electrical service panel. The unit includes two clamp-on current transformers that go around the circuit wires you wish to monitor (up to 1 inch wire cables and 200 amps). A spare circuit breaker is also needed to monitor voltage.
I found the monitor to be quite useful if you want to monitor a specific load (e.g. a hot tub or heating system). It also would be useful to monitor your total household use.
There are some limitations to the TED. You can only monitor 1 load. The watt measurement is not very accurate because it connects to only one phase of your service (most larger loads are two phase). Although the manufacturer specifies accuracy within 1 percent, voltage could be unbalanced, and a 10% error is possible.
If you have a PV system that may generate more energy than you use, the unit will not record negative power.
Overall, I think the TED provides an inexpensive (less than $200) energy monitor for limited applications.

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Energy monitor review – TED