Caution: PV Panels and electromechanic ESB meter

rolion · 20-10-2016 10:07AM #1

Hi All,

I want to share /advise everyone thinking in getting PV panels installed ,one of the main priority should be to replace the ESB meter if you have one of the older tpyes with the rotating disk !!!

Mine,doubled the consumption with the generation.Got a bill for more than €250 !
The wheel was rotating backwards,ESB techie said is illegal but peculliar !
Cannot blame or fault anyone,my error !

I had it replaced with a standard electronic type,without the generation functionality,as I hope to have it installed next year,when FiT may be introduced. That cost me €340 today,the replacement old - new was free of charge .

Enjoy it !

KCross · 20-10-2016 11:10AM

There was a suggestion in other posts that if you got the old style analog meter to run backwards(during generation) that it would reduce your bill. How did it reversing cause your bill to go up?

And to clarify.... the new meter you show above was free... yes?
To get an import/export meter will cost you €340... correct?

If you know you are going to use a FiT (whenever that comes in) and you were getting the meter replaced why didnt you just get the import/export meter now and be done with it? I know its €340 but you will have to pay it anyway... one less thing to organise when FiT does comes in?

rolion · 20-10-2016 04:56PM

KCross wrote: »

There was a suggestion in other posts that if you got the old style analog meter to run backwards(during generation) that it would reduce your bill. How did it reversing cause your bill to go up?

I have a video recording on my phone that shows the wheel spinning backward.Consumption is double compared with last September AND with the panels i was expecting to be less.

And to clarify.... the new meter you show above was free... yes?

Yes,i called my energy supplier,they logged a call with ESB that called out and replaced the meter.

To get an import/export meter will cost you €340... correct?

Today,is €340,please see my other posts for a scanned copy of the orginal ESB letter.

If you know you are going to use a FiT (whenever that comes in) and you were getting the meter replaced why didnt you just get the import/export meter now and be done with it? I know its €340 but you will have to pay it anyway... one less thing to organise when FiT does comes in?

Why pay €340 today if i get no value !? I'm saving €400 to buy a iBuddy solar diverter for my electric immersion !
When FIT will be announced,i will do it AND not lastly,what if they separate "new" installations VERSUS older customer / installations with diferent preferential tarrifs !?

Thanks

aliveandkicking · 20-10-2016 06:30PM

rolion wrote: »

I have a video recording on my phone that shows the wheel spinning backward.Consumption is double compared with last September AND with the panels i was expecting to be less.

I'm fascinated by this. If the wheel was spinning backwards it should logically follow that the numbers were also rolling back, that is the reading would go from for example 008000 to 007999 and so on. How could this possibly lead to an increase in the bill? Was your meter read or was it an estimated bill? Any chance you could upload the video you have?

rolion · 20-10-2016 08:16PM

aliveandkicking wrote: »

I'm fascinated by this. If the wheel was spinning backwards it should logically follow that the numbers were also rolling back, that is the reading would go from for example 008000 to 007999 and so on. How could this possibly lead to an increase in the bill? Was your meter read or was it an estimated bill? Any chance you could upload the video you have?

Hi,

ESB techie said is peculliar and ... illegal.
I can upload it in private only !

Anyway,it's history,lesson learned.

ted1 · 20-10-2016 08:21PM

aliveandkicking wrote: »

I'm fascinated by this. If the wheel was spinning backwards it should logically follow that the numbers were also rolling back, that is the reading would go from for example 008000 to 007999 and so on. How could this possibly lead to an increase in the bill? Was your meter read or was it an estimated bill? Any chance you could upload the video you have?

Depends on how it works, if it's a magpie reader or reed switch or similar on the disc then the direction is irrelevant as it'll just trigger an increment when it passes

I'd also say it's by design as if you could get the counts to decrease it'd be easy to fit a switch that allows you to swap the incoming cables with outgoing and thus manipulate your bill

20-10-2016 10:18PM

The analogue ones with the odometers deduct units.
Afaik cables are bi-directional.

quentingargan · 21-10-2016 01:03AM

I have heard of other people who are discreetly allowing their meters to run backwards. I think I would have put an OWL monitoring unit in for a day or two to compare readings. I wonder if something else is consuming power. Or if you have changed from estimated readings to an actual one?

I forget your system size, but a 2kw system could be expected to produce a total of 1800 units per year. Assuming worst case you use 1/4 of that, this is an average of 112 units per month, so if you were pushing that the wrong direction through your meter, the most it could cost is an extra €20 for the month.

Are you sure you weren't switching from Estimate readings to Read ones? Unless you have a 10kw system on your roof, it can't have doubled your bill.

21-10-2016 10:24AM

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

The analogue ones with the odometers deduct units.
Afaik cables are bi-directional.

This is what I believe too. Units will be deducted or with some models just stay the same. A bill for €250 would not be exceptional in my house, without a proper log of readings it does not tell much.

21-10-2016 06:34PM

..and some models add units with reverse current.
Easy check; just turn off all the loads while the sun is out on the panel and observe if the meter is adding or subtracting. Waiting for a bill is not the most scientific way.

Caution: PV Panels and electromechanic ESB meter

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