DIY Energy consumption counter for power meters

thingiverse

My energy company refused to deliver a pulse output from my power meter, so I decided to extract the pulse output directly from the LED diode that flashes 500 times per kWh. The instantaneous values shown in the photos are simply an average of the last 60 seconds. This technique is commonly used in various projects online, and there are also commercial applications. I utilized a TSL257-LF light-to-voltage converter sensor connected to a Loxone PLC. Since this sensor does not accept 24V input, I set up a constant analog output on the PLC to 5V and connected VDD to the analog output, ground to common ground, and the sensor output to one analog input on the Loxone. Then, I triggered that input for 3 volts and used the "digital" signal as an input in a counter block. This can also be accomplished with an Arduino or similar device. The STL file provided fits the sensor perfectly, so I attached it to the power meter using double-sided tape. It is essential to block outside light thoroughly because the sensor can trigger from ambient light changes if not blocked off adequately.