On Jun 13, 2008, at 3:24 PM, Eric Lemmon wrote: > The latest solid-state kilowatthour meters being installed by some > utility > companies use the same four-quadrant multiplier technique to measure > energy > usage. Such meters have the additional capability of recording > power factor > and energy demand, and can document the time-of-use for billing > purposes. > One very interesting revenue meter, trade-marked as "The Turtle" > uses a > low-speed carrier current data stream to transmit meter readings > over the > power line to the utility. This eliminates the need to send a meter > reader > out to the boonies to read a few rural farmhouse meters. A major > benefit of > Turtle technology is that the data stream stops when the power fails > at the > meter location, so the utility knows within seconds who has a power > outage. > Pretty neat!
Most of the examples I've seen aren't using low speeds on the carrier. They're basically BPL and therefore, evil... or at least a serious HF interference source... depending on where you fall in that continuum of thought. A Google search for "Smart Grid" and similar will find these new HF band threats. Xcel Energy has convinced the local government to spend hundreds of millions in taxpayer money on this infrastructure (which benefits the power company far more than the consumer) in Boulder, CO. Trials (and lots of people watching for HF noise, and the resulting battles) to begin soon. -- Nate Duehr, WY0X [EMAIL PROTECTED]
