Hands-on help needed for installation on ancient circuitry

I heard about the Fluksometer at Fosdem 2014 today, and I would like to buy one to monitor gas and electricity consumption in our family house - but I do not feel confident about the instruction Within the fuse box, attach a current clamp to each of the live wires running from the electricity meter

Our gas and electric meters are in the cellar. But we do not have a fuse box. Instead, we have a set of circuit breakers upstairs in the garage. In the cellar, after the electricity meter, the cable (single phase) passes through some anonymous brown bakelite boxes. Some of the boxes are locked with a wire + seal. There is one brown bakelite box without a seal; but I am not sure that there would be room in this box for a current clamp for each of the live wires . That is my problem

The brown bakelite boxes have a label "1983". I would be very glad to hear from anyone who has experience of such an ancient installation. Our house is in Oudergem/ Auderghem, BE.

Fluc's picture

On single phase 1 current clamp is enough, to clamp one of the 2 wires.
A current clamp is not so big, but it depends on the spare space you have within the box.
Will you please give also a link of a photo of the open "brown" box" please ?
On the same time, give also a link of a photo of the gasmeter, that's will help you choose wat sensor to use.
On this Flukso website, you can not upload a file or photo, so you must provide a link to a host-site or cloud.

RHardwick's picture

Many thanks for your quick reply
Some photos now up here

Fluc's picture

In the white box, with the differential switch on your left, is the best place to put a current clamp.
It shall be thick wires, so find a good place for the CC.
Be careful when you open it, first you have to cut of main electricity switch on the big black meterbox below (the automatic fuse).

Fluc's picture

I was to quick, now i saw also the other photo with the black junction box open. Was this box not sealed by the elec-company ?? Strange...but i think you better close this one and forget you open it.
If the differential box is also sealed, you have to put the clamp in the fusebox elsewhere in your house.
For the gasmeter, check for a shiny piece on the number 6 on the last red digit on your right.
Then you can put a optical sensor. It is not for sale here on the shop, but Bart (from Flukso) is producing one, he said. Otherwise you have to put a sensor like some already did.

RHardwick's picture

This is getting a bit complicated

Perhaps I could simply get the gas company to install a new meter

Do you happen to know if Elster BK-G4/BK-G6 or Actaris G4RF1 gas meters are available from Sibelgas BE ?

RHardwick's picture

What is complicated, the current-clamp or the gasmeter sensor ?
Thanks to your help, its now looking less complicated, at least for the electricity current clamp.
Will have to study the various https://www.flukso.net/content/gas-reading-actaris-g4rf1 solutions a little bit more

Fluc's picture

Do not worry for the optical sensor. It will work out of the box with the FLM, but i lowered the 5V DC supply current from 25 mA to 15 mA. It is better for the FLM. I was first testing this sensor with a flat battery of 4,5 Volt. And yes, you have to fix it somewhere to the gasmeter so that no damaging can occur.

RHardwick's picture

Thank you. I have placed an order. And if I cannot get it to work, then please bring your tool kit to FOSDEM 2015 - we are only a short tram ride away from there :-)