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General: |
1. Does the ECM-1220.H
measure "true RMS" power?
Yes. Also called true power or real
power, this is what kilowatt-hour (KWh) is based on and what you pay
for. You must beware of
cheap energy monitors
displaying KWh based on "apparent power" or current measurements only
instead of "true power".
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2. What is the difference between the
ECM-1220 and the ECM-1220.H
They are basically the same unit.
The ECM-1220 is tailored for field
monitoring of various types of loads. It is portable and may be used
with various optional CTs and adaptors. The preferred choice among
professional energy auditors. Black in color.
The ECM-1220.H has been designed for
permanent installation with wall-mount capability. It comes with two
CTs and the choice of plug-in CT connections such as the ECM-1220, or
wire leads for permanent connection using wire nuts. Bone color.
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3. What is the advantage of the ECM-1220.H over other similar types of energy monitor?
First of
all, there are some monitors out there fraudulently displaying KWh,
using only electrical current measurements which provides a false value
of energy and energy consumption. I won't even bother to include these
in the comparison ..
more
For those energy monitors
measuring "true" power for their calculations:
The ECM-1220.H overcomes the
shortfall of those monitors and will discover problems others monitors
can't.
Trust me when I say that most
likely, the ECM-1220.H will save you a lot more energy dollars than little
bit extra you will pay for the ECM-1220.H, if used properly. Read the
success stories and
ask yourself if some of the other types of monitors would have been
successful in solving some of the example problems, given their limited
features and capabilities.
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4. Do I lose the data if a power outage occurs or does the ECM-1220.H have
backup batteries?
The ECM-1220.H has no batteries
and doesn't require them. The ECM-1220.H circuit monitors the line voltage and
if detects a sags, all of the accumulated data gets stored in non-volatile
memory. When power is re-established the values are re-loaded and normal
operation resumes.
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5. Can you
plug the ECM-1220 unit into a computer?
Absolutely. This is one of the great
features of this energy consumption monitor. Not only can you view
data in real-time, you can also download recorded energy consumption
data.
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6. How long can I monitor with the ECM-1220?
The ECM-1220 unit itself can monitor
for 255 days or up to 16,777 KWh.
The "data-logger" section is restricted
by the amount of memory available and is dependant on the storage
interval. The standard ECM-1220 units come with enough memory to
record 13,080 records. The memory is optionally available for up to
52,400 records.
The amount of data-logger monitoring
time can be calculated by the following formula:
Number of "data-logging" days
= "Storage Interval Setting" x 9.08 (based on standard unit with no
memory expansion; 13,080 records).
Number of "data-logging" days
= "Storage Interval Setting" x 9.08 (based on unit with full memory
expansion; 52,400 records).
NOTE: The data logger places no
time restriction on the function of the ECM-1220.
See also....
20. How does the data-logger sample
data. If it is set to log every 5 minutes, does it take a reading
every 5 minutes and store it?
21. What happens when the data-logger
memory is full?
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7. How much memory does the ECM-1220 have?
The standard ECM-1220 units come with
enough memory to record 13,080 records. The memory is optionally
available for up to 52,400 records.
The amount of data-logger monitoring
time can be calculated by the following formula:
Number of "data-logging" days
= "Storage Interval Setting" x 9.08 (based on standard unit with no
memory expansion; 13,080 records).
Number of "data-logging" days
= "Storage Interval Setting" x 9.08 (based on unit with full memory
expansion; 52,400 records).
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8. My panel is a 120V/208V panel powered from a three phase system. Can the
ECM-1220.H be used with 3-phase systems?
Until recently, the answer to
this would have been no. But with the latest firmware version, the
ECM-1220.H is now capable of doing this. As for the three phase loads, the
ECM-1220 series can monitor certain 3-phase loads. Contact support@brultech.com
for more information.
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9. What's the difference between a 120V/240V panel and a 120V/208V panel?
It is very rare to find
120V/208V service panel in a residence, but it can happen. This is a panel
which is supplied from two phases of a three-phase service. Three phase
services are pretty much standard for commercial and industrial
applications.
Almost all homes are equipped
with a 120V/240V split phase panel. What the percentage is, I'm not sure.
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10. How can I tell if my
panel is 120V/208V?
Here are some standard clues:
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the panel's nameplate
indicates "120V/208V"
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one of the line feed wires
(where the CT is clamped on) has blue insulation
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you are located very near or
inside a commercial or industrial building. This would only be a clue that
would give you cause to investigate further.
The fool-proof method would be
to have a qualified person measure the voltage from neutral to line (approx
120V) and from line to line. The line to line voltage will be roughly twice
the line to neutral voltage for standard 120V/240V panels or 1.73 times the
line to neutral for 120V.208V panels.
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11. Can I install the ECM-1220.H myself?
The installation of the current
transformers (CT) must be installed by an electrician or qualified
individual and all local codes must be complied with.
Once the CTs have been installed
in the panel with the CT cables exiting the panel and secured, and the panel
cover re-installed, the remainder of the installation may be performed by
the homeowner.
The remainder deals with low voltage signals and isolated
from the line side.
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12. Do I need to have an electrician install the ECM-1220.H?
The installation of the current
transformers (CT) must be installed by an electrician or qualified
individual and all local codes must be complied with.
Once the CTs have been installed
in the panel with the CT cables exiting the panel and secured, and the panel
cover re-installed, the remainder of the installation may be performed by
the homeowner.
The remainder deals with low
voltage signals and isolated from the line side.
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13. I have a main panel and a sub-panel can I monitor both or do I need two
monitors?
Since the ECM-1220.H is a two channel energy
monitor with the power measured and calculated individually for each channel, both panels may be monitored,
one by
each channel. This is assuming the second panel is fed from the main panel.
Additional CTs plus two "Y" adaptors are required for this type of
application. This cannot be done if your panel is 120V/208V supplied from a
three phase source.
more..
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14.
I purchased my ECM-1220 several months ago. Now I see that it has new
features that I wish mine had. Is there a trade-in cost for me to upgrade to
the newer one?
There no need to trade in. It's
simply a matter of downloading the latest version of the ECM-1220.H's
firmware and reprogramming it. This will give you the same features as units
coming off the factory line.
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15. What's the cost of the firmware upgrade and do I need to take it to an
electronic shop for programming?
Firmware is free to all
customers. As new versions are available they are posted on our
site for download. The ECM-1220.H will self program
itself via the USB port by carefully following the procedure provided. If
you didn't purchase the software and have no data cable, you can buy one
locally or order one from our
online store.
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16.
I'm a contractor and would like to install the ECM-1220.H in the new homes
we build. I feel this would be a great little feature when selling these
homes. Do you have discounts for contractors or for quantities? Is there
wiring or anything that should be installed when the electrical system is
put in?
There are a couple of factors
that will reduce the cost:
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Using "donut" type CTs will
lower the cost because of their lower cost. Although they are lower cost,
they are restricted to applications where the power feed to the panel is
removed. If installed at the same time as your electric system, they may
be used.
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We do offer special pricing
for contractors, based on the number of units required.
It is a good idea to have the
CTs and its extending cable installed at the same time the electrical system
is installed. CAT-5 cable (LAN cable) works great and should be ran from the
panel location to the ECM-1220.H mounting location.
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17.
What is the
difference between the ECM-1220 and the EML-2020.
The ECM-1220 and
EML-2020 are the same units with the same features. The EML-2020 is
custom branded for Optimum Energy. The package inclusions and options
may differ.
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18.
When you set the "SEL"
mode to read watts and Kwh produced only, will it retain the setting in
the event of a power failure?
Yes, it remembers
what the display was set to in the event of a power failure. When
power is restored, the ECM-1220 resumes with the last state the
display was set to.
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19. Can I connect the ECM-1220 to my home
network?
We are currently exploring various
options for this. It is currently possible using third party software
which we are currently looking into. We are looking at various
hardware options also.
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20. How does the data-logger sample data.
The ECM-1220 data-logger continually
samples the power at more than 2,000 times per second and when the
storage interval period has elapsed, it averages all samples taken
during this period and stores the average. This ensures that any power
surges or sags are taken into account.
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21. What happens when the data-logger memory
is full?
Once the ECM-1220 data-logger memory is
full, no additional data gets stored and the ECM-1220 continues normal
operation. The recorded data does not get written over until the
ECM-1220 is "reset".
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22. If the data-logger is set to store data
every 5 minutes, does it take a single power reading every 5 minutes and
store it?
No. The ECM-1220 data-logger
continually samples the power at more than 2,000 times per second and
when the storage interval period has elapsed, it averages all samples
taken during this period and stores the average. This ensures that any
power surges or sags are taken into account.
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23.
Why do you
have the option of 60A, 100A or 200A CTs for the ECM-1220.H? Why don't
you only sell the 200A version which would accommodate all options?
Using the 200A version on a 60A panel
will work however, since the CT/monitor will only be working at a
fraction of its dynamic range, accuracy will suffer. Maybe think of it
as having an analog speedometer (gauge with indicator needle) which
goes from 0 - 500 MPH. It would be difficult to distinguish between
speeds of 32 or 34 MPH.
Another reason is that using a 200A CT
with small values of current will produce a very small signal of a few
millivolt for the ECM-1220 to read. This could become a problem if the
CT cables are extended and noise interference get coupled with the
signal. Think of this as speaking softly in a noisy environment.
Finally, the size becomes a factor. A
200A CT is larger and may not fit properly in a 60A panel.
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24.
If I buy
the 60A version, can I upgrade to 200A later by obtaining 200A CTs?
Yes. All of our monitors are designed
to be able to change the "CT Setting".
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Wireless: |
1. What is the range of the ECM-1220.H-X
wireless transmission?
They are rated to have a range of 133
FT indoors and 400 FT outdoors (line of sight). The indoor range may
vary depending on the number of wall the signal must travel through,
the wall density, and other interferences. Since the Zigbee
communication is on a mesh network, a router may be placed midway
between the ECM-1220 and the PC to increase the range.
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2. Is the U2Z dongle, which connects to the
PC included when purchasing a wireless ECM-1220?
Absolutely.
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3. What frequency does the ECM-1220.H with
the wireless option operate at?
The wireless transceivers occupy the
ISM 2.4GHz band. It uses "self-healing", "self-routing" Mesh
Networking.
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4. How dependable is the wireless
communication used with the ECM-1220.H-X ?
The communication is robust since it is
"Self-Healing", "Self-Routing" and "Fault Tolerant". It automatically
searches for the most quiet frequency channel and selects it for
operation. Should there be a range problem, a Zigbee router may be
inserted midway.
The method used by the ECM-1220 to
convey energy use data to the computer utilises a technique which will
not affect the KWh value even with communication data momentarily
dropping out completely.
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5. I see that another company uses the
power-line to send the data. What method is best?
We had developed an energy monitor
using X-10 power-line technology back in the mid 1990's. We sold a few
of these but decided not to put it into production due to the
undependability of the data transmission.
Typically, power-line carrier technique
superimposes a high frequency (usually in the range of 200 KHz,
sometimes higher) on to the power-line. This high frequency is the
carrier by which the data travels over the power-line. Many
modern appliances, power strips, etc, have built in noise suppression
which attempts to remove and shunt any frequency higher than 60Hz.
Should this appliance be located in the path of power-line carrier
travel, the carrier signal may be attenuated (shunted) to the point
that it does not reach its destination. In our experience, we found
that the communication would fail if certain appliances or devices
were operating.
The other drawback of this technology
has to do with requiring the purchase and installation of a "bridge"
device to couple the carrier to the opposite panel phase, otherwise
the communication may only be accomplished on one phase (50% of the
house). This device usually requires to be hardwired by an
electrician. Although this technology has come a long way since the
1990's, it still suffers from this problem. You may check the
Wikipedia which discusses the drawbacks of power-line carrier.
The ECM-1220 uses Zigbee protocol and
"MESH" networking technology. Mesh networking technology is now
becoming extremely popular because of its dependability. It is much
like the internet technology where the signal can hop from node to
node. Loosing one node doesn't inhibit the network. Although the
standard ECM-1220 application would only have two nodes, a third node
may be inserted to allow a signal hop for extended distances. This
third node (or more) is planned to be an appliance control or sensor
in the future.
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Application: |
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1.
Can the ECM-1220 do
Net metering?
In short, net metering
has to do with metering the energy received from the grid (power
company) and subtracting the energy returned to the grid from the
consumer's solar, wind or other source. The ECM-1220 displays power in
one direction only, however, the real-time data has provisions which
indicate the direction of energy thereby allowing software to calculate
the net value. See the next FAQ for more information.
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2.
Can I use the
ECM-1220 with my solar system which returns power to the grid using an
inverter?
Currently, it is
possible to track "negative power" (power returned to the grid from
solar or wind generation) using the real-time communication only. We
have provided this option for those wanting to interface their software
with our ECM-1220. A fine example of this may be seen at:
www.solarissystems.biz where
solar energy is sold back to Florida Power & Light.
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3.
Will the ECM-1220
work in Countries using 220V 50Hz power?
Although the ECM-1220 is capable of doing so
using a special firmware version and wall transformer, we have not had
time to pursue this avenue yet.
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4.
Can I get CTs. that
fit on 3/0 or 4/0 wire so I can use this on a 200 amp service.
The maximum conductor
size the SPLIT-200 will fit on is 0.63" diameter. We expect to have
new CTs which will accommodate larger conductor sizes by early April/08.
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5.
What is the length
of wire on the Plug version?
The CT wires are 3 ft.
Once again, they can be extended by inserting a male-female extension,
3.5mm phone plug type available at any electronics store (headphone or
audio cable extension).
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Installation: |
1.
Can I use stereo
headphone cables to extend the SPLIT-200 cables?
Yes
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2.
How long can I
extend the CT cables?
The ECM-1220.H has been
tested successfully 100ft of CAT5 Lan cable.
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3. Can the SPLIT-200
CTs be installed outdoor?
They cannot be
exposed to the weather (humidity and UV). They can operate from -20C
to 70C.
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4.
Can the ECM-1220 be
installed outdoors?
Only if it is enclosed
in a watertight cabinet and not exposed to temperature extremes.
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5.
Can a splitter be
used – i.e. two clamps connected to a single channel?
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6.
Can I get CTs. that
fit on 3/0 or 4/0 wire so I can use this on a 200 amp service.
The maximum conductor
size the SPLIT-200 will fit on is 0.63" diameter.
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7.
Is it permissible to
connect both transformers using one CAT 5 cable run?
Yes
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8.
What is the maximum
permitted length of wire between the Monitor Unit and the Current
Transformers?
Because of its low
impedance balanced inputs, the ECM-1220 CTs may be extended up to 100
ft successfully using CAT 5 cable. The acceptable range may be
greater. It just has not been tested at any length greater than 100
ft.
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Operation: |
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1.
How do I get rid of
the “Peak” power value displayed on the ECM-1220?
Press and hold the "SEL"
button for 6 seconds while the "Peak" power is displayed on the LCD.
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2.
I'm connected to a
240V load and the ECM-1220 reads 120V. What's wrong?
Answer coming soon |
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3.
What should the P.T.
value be I have 120volt system and a 12volt transformer
PT type 230 range: 3
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4.
What should the C.T.
vale be for Split 200 CT's
CT type 167 range 4
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5.
I am monitoring my
pool pump. The ECM-1220 displays 1160 Watt. I measure the current and
voltage with my Fluke multimeter and measure 237V and 6.2A. If I
multiply the VxA, I get 1469 Watt. Is there a problem with the ECM-1220
accuracy?
Answer coming soon |
6. What is "Proj"?
"Proj" stands for "Projection", such as
Projected KWh or Projected Cost. This projection is based on the
average rate of consumption and the projection is for the number of
days the unit has been set for. For example if the projection period
is set to 7 days, the monitor's projection value will represent the
energy used in one week based on the average consumption rate of the
entire monitoring session.
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7. How are the projected values calculated?
Projected KWh = (number of
accumulated KWh) / (number of elapsed minutes) * (1440 min-per-day *
projected period)
Projected Cost = Projected KWh * rate $
Also, see question 6 above.
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Software: |
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1.
I want to write
custom software. Do you supply the communications protocol for
communications with the ECM-1220 ?
Yes
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2.
I have
home-automation software that I would like to interface to the
ECM-1220.H. Do you supply information required for communications with
the ECM-1220.h?
Yes
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©Brultech Research Inc