It's time for me to finish installing my WattNode units and my current transformers in an NEC (code compliant) manner. It doesn't have to be perfect, but, at least generally so.

I use these to obtain all of the electrical related energy consumption measurements for my GSHP units.

Unfortunately I don't have the knowledge of what needs to be done, or what items I may need to purchase. I do have the skills though, to change / install whatever is needed.

With that said, for those of you that have code compliant electrical installation skills, does anyone have any assistive comments to offer?

I'm particulalrly interested in how Dwayne Dean ('geodean'), and other posters here, do this for their customer installations.

A couple of images are shown below.  The first shows my (200 Amp) circuit breaker box with the CTs around the wires.  The second shows my WattNode units simply 'nailed to the wall.'

This is all in a garage, so it does not need to look pretty.

The solar PV installation electrician is coming next week to wire up the solar panels, and thus I'd like to get this at least reasonably and cost effectively cleaned up.

Many thanks!

Best regards,

Bill

Curt, thanks.

I finished securing the CTs to the wires being measured with zip ties.  I also have all of the CTs' low voltage wiring neatly grouped and exiting the top of the circuit breaker box, going to a recessed box behind the drywall.

The CT low voltage (0.333 V) wires are rated at 600 V to enable them to coexist along side the circuit breaker wiring.

I'm now looking for a box / cabinet, as you suggest.  Below is an image of an example.   My problem is I don't know where to go to find such a thing.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

Best regards,

Bill

Craig, this is very helpful!

All I need is NEMA 1 - indoor use to provide a degree of protection against incidental contact.  I'll call their sales dept. tomorrow to get pricing info.

Many thanks!

Best regards,

Bill

The only thing I can add is the wires should be routed thru a panel knockout with a romex connector installed and not come out of the front of the panel. Once outside of the box, they can run along the wall if needed. I don't beleive there are specific codes in protecting low voltage wiring inside the walls or conduit, but a nice looking install would have the wires run in the walls and to control box. Also those low votage wires should be tucked up agains the sides of the panel and not run across the panel, especially across the main bus bar.

I have a question about the rings you have on the wires, how do they attach to the wiring? Did you have to remove the wires to get them on, or do they clamp on somehow.  Also I'm assuming they just sit on the outside of the cable and there's nothing that digs into the cable, where it peices the installation of the cable wire.   

I question the value of these monitoring systems when it just monitors the entire house. I see on your install your monitoring a number of other circuits. I think if your monitoring the entire house, your money would be better spent on buying energy saving bulbs and keeping things turned off as much as possible instead of having graphs and pie charts of energy usage to look at on a computer screen.   

Dick, this is exactly the remaining info I need.  I was wondering how I was going to mount the various items inside the box, after purchasing the box.

Many thanks!

Best regards,

Bill

Based on your suggestion, I went to Home Depot, and indeed found the boxes as you stated.

What I learned, after looking at them, is that most are pretty small.  And the larger ones are very deep, making them stick out far from the wall.  So I'm not sure these are going to meet my need.  The suggestion was very much appreciated though!

Best regards,

Bill

TechGromit, thanks!  I've made progress, doing a lot of the the things you suggest above.

Some day I may recess the CTs' low voltage wires behing the drywall, but for now, it will have to be on the outside of the drywall.  I don't have the skills to run the low voltage wires horizontally across the wall, behind the drywall, through the wall studs, and in front of the insulation.  And I can't lengthen the low voltage wires to first go up to the attic, and then back down to the pulse counter units, all behind the drywall, because the CT wires need to stay at the max length they're at.

Below is a picture of what I believe is now a code compliant circuit breaker box with the CTs around the appropriate wires.  And the remaining picture shows the low voltage wiring coming back out from the wall.

Putting the WattNodes into an enclosure is now the focus.

I'll start another reply on the remainder of your comments/questions.

Best regards,

Bill

TechGromit, at least get yourself a Kill-A-Watt little unit that tells you how much energy an individual item consumes, like that TV on standby.  I don't think they're very expensive, and then you can have more 'fact' to make decisions from.

Best regards,

Bill

The WattNodes are true RMS AC watt-hour transducers, with an accuracy of 0.5% of the reading over a wide range of power factors and harmonic content.

I suspect the Kill A Watt units are similar, just only usable for one plug in item.

Both continuously measure current and voltage.

Best regards,

Bill