In this post we will do a basic comparison between smart metering plugs/switches and Thingslog smart metering combo.
Smart plugs and smart switches have gain a great amount of popularity. Companies like SONOFF made them really affordable and easy to use. They integrate well with your home WIFI and provide not only smart metering but also remotely triggered ON/OFF functionality. Where they fail short is the ability to control the whole home and ability to work with higher currents. They also have some shortage in terms of CE certification (even if you look for and ask there isn’t provided CE for some of the models). Finally they don’t comply to the MID directive (Measuring Instruments Directive) which is a bit weird since most of what they claim to do is “measurements” of either electricity or humidity and temperature.
Compared to that ThingsLog smart metering combos offers a data logger together with a power-meter MID certified power meters that comply to EU regulations have the same classes of accuracy as the meters used by the utility companies and that could monitor and profile the consumption of your whole home.
The combo comes with ThingsLog power metering app which easily allows us to distinguish between the consumption of a fridge compared to our home cooker or clima.
The combos comes with preconfigured data logger. The default configuration is 1 Wat = 1 pulse, data transmission every 12 hours.
Each combo could be used for monitoring up to two meters simultaneously. They come with various size of power meters – smallest are single phase 45A (compared to SONOFF 15A max current), larger are single phase 100A. There is also a 3 phases 100A model suitable for small manufactures or family hotels.
Finally our meters could measure forward and reverse energy so they are suitable for smart grid customers that not only consume but also provide energy to the grid.
Each combo include also two ON/OFF inputs that could be used for perimeter security – for example for attaching ON/OFF door/window sensors to the data logger and achieving low-power security on places where it could not be so easy to get power supply.
Finally if you need a plug to control and measure single units with some accuracy use smart switches and smart plugs.
If you need professional sub-metering and would like to measure, monitor and profile the consumption of your home, house or property get a ThingsLog combo.
