Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

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traveler2100
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 7:53 pm

Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

Post by traveler2100 » Thu Jun 02, 2016 3:01 pm

I have a panel with 6 double pole breakers with neutral. 2 100, 3 40 and 1 30. How many CTs will I need and on which wires will they need to be installed? Should I use a GEM or an ECM 1240? I plan to use a Dashbox. I like the temperature ability of the GEM but that is an added bonus. Thanks in advance.

Traveler
Teken
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Re: Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

Post by Teken » Thu Jun 02, 2016 4:21 pm

traveler2100 wrote:I have a panel with 6 double pole breakers with neutral. 2 100, 3 40 and 1 30. How many CTs will I need and on which wires will they need to be installed? Should I use a GEM or an ECM 1240? I plan to use a Dashbox. I like the temperature ability of the GEM but that is an added bonus. Thanks in advance.

Traveler
There are a few things to consider here so lots of this is guessing. Worst case you need 12 CT's to measure both sides of the 120 VAC lines if they are not balanced loads. If they are balanced loads then you simply need 6 CT's and use the GEM's doubling feature.

I don't know anything about the ECM-1240 so can't comment on if it has a doubling feature. For the best long term value per CT hands down the Green Eye Monitor (GEM) is the preferred choice.

If initial price / finances is the main driver then the ECM-1240 is hard to beat. But keep in mind this isn't a toy or a short term investment. This is a long term investment that requires a single purchase that will offer years of service and insight just for a one time investment.

If you look at this way in six months time you won't even think about the initial costs for the GEM.

The fact you even considered the Dash Box (DB) tells me this isn't just a fad but someone who intends to monitor, track, and modify what you can to save energy and long term finances.

Spend your money once, right the first time . . .
Teken . . .

My ongoing projects thread: http://www.brultech.com/community/viewt ... ?f=2&t=929
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ben
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Re: Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

Post by ben » Fri Jun 03, 2016 12:23 pm

If you don't plan on expanding on your monitoring, the ECM-1240 has enough channels to cover your install.

For the best value you'd likely be best off purchasing one of our new bundles here, they'll have enough CTs for your install:

http://www.brultech.com/bundle-intro/

They aren't currently available in our store, they have to be ordered via email through sales(at)brultech.com. We're working on getting them in the store.
Ben
Brultech Research Inc.
E: ben(at)brultech.com
traveler2100
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 7:53 pm

Re: Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

Post by traveler2100 » Fri Jun 03, 2016 2:25 pm

Thanks all, I'll look into the bundles. This an initial install at the meter pan covering the main disconnects. I have three subpanels that will require at least 2 GEMs and a 1240. I am fully automated done to the window coverings with 2 autellis, 3 raspberry and an ISY. After careful consideration, I think Brueltech is the best solution as an addition to my system.

Teken, i looked over your energy page and saw your temperature setup. I have three inside temps and one outside but I am new to one wire. I think I can manage the software but how do you manage to place the hardware in the various rooms? I am in the southern US so I don't have a basement and I have not worked out how to manage the temperature hardware. Thanks again

Traveler
Teken
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Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2010 4:09 pm
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Re: Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

Post by Teken » Fri Jun 03, 2016 2:39 pm

traveler2100 wrote:Thanks all, I'll look into the bundles. This an initial install at the meter pan covering the main disconnects. I have three subpanels that will require at least 2 GEMs and a 1240. I am fully automated done to the window coverings with 2 autellis, 3 raspberry and an ISY. After careful consideration, I think Brueltech is the best solution as an addition to my system.

Teken, i looked over your energy page and saw your temperature setup. I have three inside temps and one outside but I am new to one wire. I think I can manage the software but how do you manage to place the hardware in the various rooms? I am in the southern US so I don't have a basement and I have not worked out how to manage the temperature hardware. Thanks again

Traveler
Hello Traveler,

If you reviewed the super long install thread you will notice all of the methods I used to affix the 1 wire sensors. Obviously this was much easier for me since I have a open basement and planned ahead knowing key areas would be used for such a use case.

This is where I installed conduit or empty blank cover plates for that future use. If you have access to the attic that would be the most logical path to fish wire for the system.

Worst case scenario you hire a contractor that does low voltage wiring to get the areas, zones, floors, you want to be monitored. The money spent may very well be the best investment of your time and finances as its done right the first time and you won't have to worry about breaking anything. :lol:

I was fortunate my planning allowed all of the miles of wiring to be done easily. Having said that the amount of sweat equity was pretty high and more than likely would have hired some of it out as I got older.

Hard work doesn't scare me nor does wiring but sometimes you have to balance value over your own time. :mrgreen:

Remember when running your 1 wire network to use thick cable, short runs, and if required shielded cable. Keep the cables away from 120 / 240 VAC power lines and if they must be run by them they should be running perpendicular and not in parallel.
Teken . . .

My ongoing projects thread: http://www.brultech.com/community/viewt ... ?f=2&t=929
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traveler2100
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 7:53 pm

Re: Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

Post by traveler2100 » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:20 pm

Thanks Teken. Your setup is probably more than I want to tackle, at least now. I don't really like running wire and the expense of hiring it out is probably more than the benefit. I will run a few, attic temp, air intakes and maybe some ducts. I am away a lot and I like to monitor temps and humidity...and weather in general for that matter, being in hurricane country. Thanks again.

Traveler
Teken
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Location: The Bad Lands

Re: Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

Post by Teken » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:32 pm

traveler2100 wrote:Thanks Teken. Your setup is probably more than I want to tackle, at least now. I don't really like running wire and the expense of hiring it out is probably more than the benefit. I will run a few, attic temp, air intakes and maybe some ducts. I am away a lot and I like to monitor temps and humidity...and weather in general for that matter, being in hurricane country. Thanks again.

Traveler
For sure start with the simple places you can run wire and just think about ways to do the more difficult places later.

Rome wasn't built in a day you know! :lol:

For me the wiring was done in stages and literally some portions took me months to complete because I got lazy and frustrated in the long pulls. :cry: After some rest and (beer) I just did each wire run when time permitted.

Its your home so there's really no time line, right! :mrgreen:

All told most of what you see in my install thread took many summers / winters to complete. My objective was to find one easy (yeah I know lazy) project and knock it off the list. When I looked back on the *To Do List* it was pretty shocking to see dozens of small projects completed and when I looked back.

It essentially was that one big project I wanted done all along.

Small steps my friend . . .
Teken . . .

My ongoing projects thread: http://www.brultech.com/community/viewt ... ?f=2&t=929
Buy me a cup of coffee: https://www.paypal.me/Teken https://gfinotify.com/ Discount Code: PC10
ben
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Re: Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

Post by ben » Mon Jun 06, 2016 9:22 am

traveler2100 wrote:Thanks all, I'll look into the bundles. This an initial install at the meter pan covering the main disconnects. I have three subpanels that will require at least 2 GEMs and a 1240. I am fully automated done to the window coverings with 2 autellis, 3 raspberry and an ISY. After careful consideration, I think Brueltech is the best solution as an addition to my system.
We ordered a Pi recently to create some guides for, started working on one here for a basic energy monitoring setup if you want to integrate with those:

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=1567
Ben
Brultech Research Inc.
E: ben(at)brultech.com
traveler2100
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 7:53 pm

Re: Question to monitor 6 220 circuts

Post by traveler2100 » Tue Jun 07, 2016 2:39 pm

Thanks Ben. I didn't know about emoncms or btmon. I collect data from the ISY, autellis, nest etc and store in MySQL tables which I then use to create charts and pages for screens in my home. I can't wait to start incorporating power data as soon as I get the Brueltech hardware sorted.

Traveler
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