Aclara Power Meter // Solar Energy
December 7, 2021 1:06 PM   Subscribe

I want to better understand the display of the Aclara I-210+c Power meter. Here is a sequence of displayed information.

I just got Solar panels installed and today is the first day with actual sunlight. The Aclara power meter cycles through a set of numbers. It got reset to 0 yesterday when the programming got changed. Now I am marveling at the information displayed.

I understand that the little arrow pointing to the left means that I am delivering energy to the grid, correct? (I am producing more than I am consuming?)
Somewhere is my peak demand of the last 15 min?
And what is the deal with all the other numbers?
Can the meter not go into negative if I am delivering more than I am using, since it is so close to 0?

Thank you so much for any hints to satisfy my curiosity as a new energy producer.
posted by nostrada to Technology (3 answers total)
 
Did your installer/utility not explain these to you? Without a key it may be hard.

Some places don't allow the "meter go negative" situation, even when your exporting more than you're using.

The "8888" screen is the universal sign in metering that the meter has one or more status pages that your setup doesn't use. That one will be forever 8888.
posted by scruss at 2:05 PM on December 7, 2021


It's one of these? Looks like sections 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 might be helpful.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 4:31 PM on December 7, 2021


Best answer: The arrows pointing left and right do indeed indicate whether you are pulling from or pushing to the grid. The easiest way to figure out which is which is to wait until sunset (when you will definitely by pulling from the grid) and see which way the arrow points.

One of the kWh numbers will be energy pulled from grid, and the other will be pushed to.

However, you will also see multiple kWh buckets if you were on a time of use (TOU) plan. Was your meter reprogrammed to be aware that you had a solar power system? You installer should have requested that from the power company. If it hasn't been reprogrammed, it may actually be charging you for power you push to grid, because the meter doesn't know to count it differently!

The kW numbers ... could be 15-minute peak, could be one-month peak, dunno. Under 2 kW seems like a low peak to me, but I guess in cooler weather (with no air conditioning) it's possible. Run a microwave and electric heater for a minute and see what it does.
posted by intermod at 5:50 PM on December 7, 2021


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