The subject of this invention concerns apparatus for the measurement of electrical energy consumption by the consumer, analysed according to the various points of usage.

Consumption of electricity is monitored by recording the electricity consumed by a house or apartment by means of an electricity meter. At present, however, it is not possible to accurately identify how energy consumption by the end-user is divided between various points of usage. In other words, how great is the consumption of electricity by various applications such as lighting, food preparation, heating or any other application. The information obtained from one meter cannot be used to monitor electricity consumption due solely to, for example, heating. Estimates calculated for this purpose, whilst providing an indication, can differ significantly from the real situation.

A meter is described in GB patent number 2157448 which is aimed at identifying electrical energy consumption by individual household or equivalent unit. However, there is no description in any form in the publication concerning the measurement of energy by the consumer analysed by points of usage or any apparatus designed for this purpose.

The purpose of this invention is to introduce apparatus for the measurement of electrical energy consumption which can be used by the consumer to measure electrical energy consumption by point of usage or by area of usage. In addition, the purpose of the invention is to introduce an apparatus which has a simple and functional construction.

The purpose of the invention is achieved with apparatus possessing the characteristics presented in the appended patent claims.

The apparatus according to the invention consists of wires or other elements connected to fuses or insulated cables, a busbar or equivalent in an electrical mains centre or equivalent for the purpose of data

transfer, and a measuring unit for the conversion of the current or voltage of each fuse, cable, busbar or equivalent into a format that can be analysed. One lead is connected to each fuse, fuse group, cable, busbar or equivalent and the measuring unit measures directly the current, voltage and efficiency of the particular fuse, fuse group, cable, busbar, or equivalent. A fuse in this sense means a fuse plug or circuit breaker, i.e. an automatic fuse. The measurement calculations are performed in the measuring unit. The data from the measuring unit is transferred to a computer which calculates, analyses and prints the measurement results obtained. In the event that there is too much data arriving at the measuring unit for it to handle, the data is stored on the computer hard disk. Data can also be transferred by wireless means, for example optically, as an alternative to using leads.

The electrical energy consumption for the entire property can be recorded with the apparatus and identified by points or areas of usage. The electrical consumption of appliances attached to the separate fuses, fuse groups, cables busbar, or equivalent can be identified and monitored. In addition to the measurement of current and voltage the apparatus can be used for measuring hourly capacity and peak performance, selecting the cheapest electricity supply tariffs and the determination of the power coefficient. All the measurement results can be examined either as a whole or for each measured group separately. For example, the total energy cost formed by different tariffs can be verified by observation using the apparatus. With the help of the apparatus the optimal peak performance can be reliably defined because the efficiency can be checked in separate small areas. In addition, it should also be noted that the apparatus according to the invention can be a fixed installation or can be portable.

In the advantageous application of the invention the apparatus includes a measured-value converter with which the variable to be measured can be transformed into a direct or a more easily handled format. This kind of measured- value converter can, in accordance with the invention, be installed with the fuses, cables, busbar or equivalent element or

measuring unit either inside them or on them or in their immediate vicinity. The variables to be measured can be transformed with a transformer, semi-conductor technology or by using optical measured- value transforming technology.

In a second advantageous application of the invention the apparatus includes a multiplexer which is located between the leads and the measuring unit. When taking measurement readings from multiple fuses (e.g. 20 fuses), the measurement is carried out using the multiplexer to connect each of the fuses to be measured to the measuring apparatus.

In a third advantageous application of the invention the apparatus includes a memory unit situated after the measuring unit for the collection and recovery of data. This kind of separate memory unit can be used to collect data which can be transferred at suitable intervals to the actual computer.

In the following, the invention is defined in more detail with reference to the attached illustrations, in which: Figure 1 shows an application of the apparatus in accordance with the invention in diagrammatic form, and figure 2 shows another application in diagrammatic form.

In the application shown in figure 1, the area or main electricity centre is shown as number 1 and the fuses and fuse box covers located in it are shown as number 2. The apparatus according to the invention includes the leads 3, which are directly connected to the fuses, and the measured- value converter 4 connected to the leads. The connection of the leads to the converter can be carried out so that all the fuse covers are exchanged for covers connected by bipolar measuring leads 3 to the measured-value converter 4. The converter itself is connected to the computer 5.

The current and voltage values to be measured are transferred from the base of the plug fuses 2 along the measuring leads 3 to the measured- value converter 4. In the measured- value converter the current and

voltage are converted into a suitable format so that the data can be analysed by the computer 5. The measuring apparatus remains connected to the fuse group at the mains centre for as long as is necessary to achieve sufficiently accurate results.

In the layout shown in figure 2 there is a multiplexer 6 placed between the measuring unit 4 and the leads 3. The multiplexer selects the fuses to be monitored in the measurement unit 4. The measuring unit itself is connected to the computer 5 in this case as well. The apparatus can be used with as many measurement areas as required.

Various programmes can be used in the measuring unit according to requirements. The apparatus can be used, for example, as a normal multichannel Kwh meter or as an interference analyser depending on what kind of programme has been programmed into the measuring unit. The programmes in the measuring unit can also be changed as necessary.

In other adaptations of the invention, wireless connections are used for the transfer of data from the fuses, cables, busbar or equivalent elements to the measuring unit. Wireless connection can be achieved using existing recognised methods such as equipment operating by optical or other methods.

The invention is not limited to the advantageous arrangements shown but can vary within the framework of the invention concept formed by the claims.