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Metering sub panel / circuits to measure power consumption

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Heavy Metal Doctor

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To expand on the title: I have a 100 AMP sub panel installed for an in-law suite we added which I now want to monitor the power used in that space. I didn't realize they ran power to the central air / heating system on it's own 60 AMP breaker off the house main panel, so I have 2 lines to monitor.

I've looked around a bit and found a large number off sub-metering options around the web, but being a very basic electrical guy and not really concerned about computer program monitoring with a gazillion little features, I'm getting analysis-paralysis trying to figure out what to buy.

To simplify: I just want to track the kWh being used through these add-ons to the house to compare to our electric bill and be able to judge how much of that bill is cost generated by the addition.

Thanks in advance for any advice!:beer:
 
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Norcal

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With the change to smart meters there are a lot of used meters out there, buy a couple used KWH meters and a couple of meter cans for them and then you can measure consumption after installing them.
 
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Bert_

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I'd use a CT (current transformer) so you can measure both lines with one meter.
 
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Norcal

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I had seen decommissioned KWH meters for as little as $15, even new they are not terribly expensive, certainly less then the above link, or a Emon Dmon.
 
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H

Heavy Metal Doctor

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ddawg16 said:
Basically, you want to monitor how much power your renters use?
Click to expand...

yeah...except it really is an "in-law suite", so not much "rent" being collected...which is why I wanted to be sure the electric gets tracked and paid for....

The EKM stuff seemed to be the best all around with tons of technical advice on their site. I got more features than I need, but it was the least complicated set up to put in place with what I have to work with. I'm sure a used utility company meter would be a lot cheaper, but I wanted this setup fast and easy on my own. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of disconnecting the load wires and routing them through a pass-through meter (not sure there's enough excess wire to even do that), so I ended up with 2 of their Omnimeters and 4 split core CT's I can clip around the load wires, wire up the line connections / neutral to each meter and it should count...seems easy enough even for a amateur like me....and buying direct from their site was cheaper than Amazon.
 
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