Unboxing the new Current Cost Meter

Unboxing the new CC128 Current Cost meter. Taking a look at the goodies inside the box that enable you to monitor your electricity use.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• currentcost
• homecamp

[spoonfulize]

I've got one in front of me right now and it was glued shut; yours must be different I'll put up a short video if you want - no way to remove the batteries without levering it open and cracking the plastic, and there's no screws anywhere holding the case together. Mine's made in 2006 apparently, and it died in 2008 - it's now on its third set of batteries.

Would have been nice if they'd make the batteries replaceable on all the models.

[yellowpark]

@spoonfulize sounds like you have the very first transmitter model that was released. Out of interest, where did you get it from? (I work for Current Cost).

[spoonfulize]

@yellowpark I bought it from an electrical supply shop years ago as it was in the bargain bin and looked interesting... Still, it's a bit cheeky of Current Cost to sell something based on saving the planet when it's designed as a disposable unit with a limited life span.

[yellowpark]

@spoonfulize I think you are being unfair. The device you purchased was the very first model when virtually no other company made an equivalent. Only a small quantity of those transmitters were manufactured and the following transmitters introduced the battery cover and 7 year battery life. Everything starts somewhere.

[rarepuma]

I just ordered one last night. But starting to worry now that our electric box outside has less depth than the packaging ie also the transmitter in this video. Plus no wires on show at our fuse box inside the house. ARGH what to do?!?!

[yellowpark]

@rarepuma which country are you in? might be able to point you in the right direction.

[spoonfulize]

@yellowpark Fair enough, but surely adding a battery cover is hardly a technological leap forward. The instructions proudly boast how it doesn't use batteries to save the environment...upon reading it closer, I realised it just mentions that just the receiver doesn't use them. Clever writing, I'll give them that. No mention of battery life anywhere.

[yellowpark]

@spoonfulize the batteries are replaceable and they have a 7 year battery life. The box is not glued shut either, one screw to open the battery cover.

[spoonfulize]

Just so you know, the transmitter box has a pair of non replaceable (the box is glued shut) alkaline batteries which die after 2 years. Great green credentials there, Current Cost...

[yellowpark]

Sounds like you might have an issue if your meter is in an outside box. But have a look when the device arrives. If you can connect the transmitter, but the transmitter cube is too big, there are small transmitters that could possibly fit.

If the wires are sealed away so you can't hook the clamp on the mains power, then there are not many options for you unfortunately.

Let me know how you get on.