In fact...the smart grid can help eliminate rolling brownouts/blackouts by carefully managing the power delivered to customers on the end of the lines by controlling the delivered voltage. Basically, these meters give power companies the ability to measure the voltage delivered to meet the minimum requirements at the end of each feed... Substation transformers can then be set to deliver lower voltage (= lower power usage) thus avoiding brownouts...of course, load control (turning off your A/C) doesn't hurt either.
Pre-smart grid, the main way the power company knew about lines going down (storms, trees, etc) was when they got a phone call. These meters will tell them where they have issues so they can route around much much much faster; other parts of the smart grid can allow power to be rerouted from a control panel rather than a power company truck and a guy with an insulated stick throwing a switch in the rain. It is a fascinating topic... Chuck On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 11:48 AM, That One Guy via Af <af@afmug.com> wrote: > The smartgrid does have the benefit off allowing essential services to > stay up in the event of rolling black/brownouts > > I watched a PBS show about the power situation over in India or one of > those places, its crazy, people steal power left and right just tying onto > the wires. The transformers are always catching fire and people dump water > on them. As much as I hate US power companies, I cant imagine living over > there. Linemen get beat up alot > > You could tell the show was geared at it being a humanitarian issue, these > poor people losing their power... how will they survive, but the majority > of the background images were of people powering consumer electronics... > not a justifiable theft IMHO... I did not know TV was a basic human right > > On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 11:37 AM, Chuck Macenski via Af <af@afmug.com> > wrote: > >> Smart meters certainly can shut you off remotely. That is a huge safety >> benefit to the power companies - it turns out that turning the power off to >> a customer that has not paid their bill is not always a pleasant >> experience. >> >> Chuck >> >> >> On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 11:18 AM, Ken Hohhof via Af <af@afmug.com> wrote: >> >>> From ComEd smartmeter FAQ: >>> >>> "Smart meters for residential customers will have remote switching >>> capabilities that can be used when a customer closes an account, then >>> reconnects when the customer starts a new account." >>> >>> "One of the benefits of this remote switching capability is that ComEd >>> can provide electrical service to customers more quickly, after the >>> customer has contacted ComEd to initiate service. ComEd can also expedite >>> the transfer of electrical service when a customer moves from one location >>> to another within the ComEd service territory." >>> >>> I see a post on the Mike Holt electrician forum about whether calling >>> the electric company and having them remotely shut off the power makes it >>> safe to work on, as opposed to pulling the meter. (hell no) >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- From: Bill Prince via Af >>> Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2014 11:06 AM >>> >>> To: af@afmug.com >>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Wifi for large houses >>> >>> Well, maybe some of them. I don't think the ones around here have that >>> capability. Wouldn't they have to have some large contactors and a >>> relay? I think that alone occupies a lot more space than the >>> smartmeters occupy. >>> >>> For now I think they are mostly big brother watching. >>> >>> bp >>> >>> On 11/5/2014 8:50 AM, Ken Hohhof via Af wrote: >>> >>>> What do you think a smartmeter is? >>>> >>>> I compare it to cable. With analog cable, they had to send a guy in a >>>> truck to shut off your service, but with digital cable a computer can do it >>>> any time. I assume smartmeters have a remote shutoff capability. >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- From: Caleb Knauer via Af >>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2014 10:38 AM >>>> To: af@afmug.com >>>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Wifi for large houses >>>> >>>> One day the circuit breakers will all be connected and automated and >>>> we'll all be doooooooooommmmmdddd! >>>> >>>> On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 9:34 AM, Chuck McCown via Af <af@afmug.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> circuit breaker... >>>>> >>>>> From: Ken Hohhof via Af >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 5:15 PM >>>>> To: af@afmug.com >>>>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Wifi for large houses >>>>> >>>>> Have you unplugged your fridge lately? You have to roll it out. That >>>>> involves taking off the grill at the bottom and figuring out what kind >>>>> of >>>>> wrench you need to crank up the leveling screws. Then your wife makes >>>>> you >>>>> pick up the dead mice and pet turtles and get out the vacuum and sweep >>>>> up >>>>> all the dog hair and dried up vegetables that are back there. Then you >>>>> climb back there and unplug it, count one Mississippi two Mississippi, >>>>> plug >>>>> it back in, climb back out, roll the fridge back, re-level it, and put >>>>> the >>>>> grill back on. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> From: Bill Prince via Af >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 4:18 PM >>>>> To: af@afmug.com >>>>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Wifi for large houses >>>>> >>>>> Unplug it/plug it back in is cheaper than putting in an on/off switch >>>>> (or >>>>> re-init switch). >>>>> >>>>> bp >>>>> >>>>> On 11/4/2014 1:46 PM, Adam Moffett via Af wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I'd be happy to share in that job. >>>>> >>>>> My big beef with our brave new world is that you have to reboot >>>>> everything. >>>>> >>>>> Microwave display is screwed up....unplug it and plug it back in. >>>>> Washing machine digital display is not responding.....unplug it and >>>>> plug it >>>>> back in. >>>>> DVD Player frozen.....unplug it and plug it back in. >>>>> Dodge Intrepid won't shift gears......turn it off and turn it back on. >>>>> >>>>> These are all true stories. >>>>> >>>>> The internet of things will be a network of crap that doesn't work >>>>> unless >>>>> you reboot it regularly. When they are up, the "things" will all be >>>>> participating in a botnet. >>>>> >>>>> finally someone took over Doug's job of letting us all know the sky is >>>>> falling!?!? >>>>> >>>>> hip hip hooray...long live Ken the prognosticator! >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 1:14 PM, Bill Prince via Af <af@afmug.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> The apocalypse is coming!!!!! >>>>>> >>>>>> bp >>>>>> >>>>>> On 11/4/2014 11:58 AM, Ken Hohhof via Af wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Soon, when your Internet goes out, you won’t even be able to open your >>>>>> garage door or flush your toilet, because it will all be in the cloud. >>>>>> >>>>>> And as ISPs, we’ll be getting angry calls like “Is the tower down? I >>>>>> can’t flush my toilet.” >>>>>> >>>>>> You think I’m joking? Remember the thread about LED bulbs interfering >>>>>> with garage door openers? One of the suggested fixes is a garage door >>>>>> opener app on your smartphone. I assume that only works if your >>>>>> smarthouse >>>>>> has working Internet. Our hives will cease to operate if you cut the >>>>>> connection to the collective. >>>>>> >>>>>> I’m imagining that something goes wrong with the cloud controller, >>>>>> and now >>>>>> I can’t even use WiFi within my house, like printing to my wireless >>>>>> printer >>>>>> or using Chromecast to my TV. Yes, I know, Unifi should continue to >>>>>> operate >>>>>> without the controller once set up, but do some features stop >>>>>> working? Like >>>>>> handoff between APs? >>>>>> >>>>>> From: Josh Baird via Af >>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 1:47 PM >>>>>> To: af@afmug.com >>>>>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Wifi for large houses >>>>>> >>>>>> You can host them all on a single controller in your datacenter. >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>> >>>>>> On Nov 4, 2014, at 2:24 PM, TJ Trout via Af <af@afmug.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Can't stand unifi, have them came up with a way to do it without a >>>>>> controller? What do you do if the customer doesn't have a windows >>>>>> machine? >>>>>> Install a unifi "server" ? >>>>>> >>>>>> On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 11:20 AM, Sean Heskett via Af <af@afmug.com> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> UBNT UniFi...one SSID >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 12:19 PM, TJ Trout via Af <af@afmug.com> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> What are you guys doing to cover large homes with good wifi >>>>>>>> coverage? >>>>>>>> Any options besides multiple routers with multiple ssid's? Does >>>>>>>> rukus or >>>>>>>> someone make something with true roaming? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> > > > -- > All parts should go together without forcing. You must remember that the > parts you are reassembling were disassembled by you. Therefore, if you > can't get them together again, there must be a reason. By all means, do not > use a hammer. -- IBM maintenance manual, 1925 >
