COTS-Based Stick-On Electricity Meters for Building Submetering

Abstract

We demonstrate a low-cost, 19 mm × 12 mm prototype peel-and-stick electricity meter (PASEM) PCB to replace traditional in-circuit-breaker-panel current and voltage sensors for building submetering. The PASEM sensors are installed on the external face of circuit breakers to generate voltage and current signals at a 1920 Hz sample rate. This allows for the computation of real and apparent power as well as capturing harmonics created by nonlinear loads. The prototype sensor is built using commercially available components, resulting in a component cost of under $10 per PASEM in moderate quantities. With no high-voltage install work requiring an electrician, this leads to an installed system cost that is roughly ten times lower than traditional submetering technology. Measurement results from lab characterization as well as a real-world residential dwelling installation are presented, verifying the operation of our proposed PASEM sensor. The PASEM sensor can resolve breaker power levels below 10 W and consumes ~16 mA from a 5 V supply.