[Info-vax] VMS and the Internet of Things (IoT)

[Chris]

On 09/12/16 22:06, Jan-Erik Soderholm wrote:

>
> We have had "smart" electricy meters for well over 10 years (Sweden).
>
> It was only a switch of the meter itself. The remote reading is
> done through signaling using a carrier over the power line itself.
>
> I think there are also models using the cellular network directly.
> Still only a meter switch (payed by the power company, of course,
> since they save a lot on people (not) doing the readings).
>
> In no case is there any requirement on home networks or even an
> internet connection from the home.
>
> What you describe sounds really weird...

I used the word creepy intentionally :-)...

>
> The benefits is that you can login to the power company and get
> nice statistics and graphs of your electricity use.
>
> Jan-Erik.
>

There are privacy issues here as well. To calculate real
power, you need include power factor in the calculations,
measuring voltage and current in real time to calculate
phase angle. From the spec, it will be possible to measure
all this a at subsecond rates. Thus, it's quite easy, over time
to get a fair amount of info on the type of loads and timescales
for every home. This info will be used for marketing and who
knows what other purpose in the future. Personally, I don't want
any of this junk in my house. Right now, we can refuse to have
it installed, but there's a cutoff date beyond which there will
be no choice.

Power line or umts style reporting is the sensible way to do it,
with all the infrastructure already in place, so one can only
ask why such an expensive solution ?. Sounds like some business
interest or other persuaded clueless civil servants that it was
a good idea. of course, trebles all round for the businesses
concerned, with all the hardware built in the far east to
minimise cost and maximise profit...

Chris