Energy logging

[WannesNaf]

Since 6 months, I am logging temperature in/out and electricity
I use an arduino uno to collect the data from temperature and CT-sensors and also from a wireless connection I made around an atmega328.
The data are send trough a network shield to the internet where I use php to put the data in a mysql database.
With the data from the database I can make the reports I want.

So far so good, but ... i am desperate about the gas and the water. I don't find a way to read the meters electronically.
The gasmeter has no reflecting part in one of the digits.
I tried on both meters the get a signal with a sensitive hall sensor, but no succes. Also tried to read a number-wheel with a IR emittor-receiver but I cannot get a clear pattern from it.
Here I ask for help : are there suggestions to be able to read those meters? Is there a possibility to read the strips at a number-wheel with a fine beam emittor en a receiver?
By the way : my provider won't change to other meters in the near future.

[viemme]

Hi
I am also interested in the same arguments. I have just bought a water flow sensor that need to be inserted in the water circuit and I'm waiting for it to make my tests. It obviously implies to modify a water pipe but I'm not in trouble about that.
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/datasheet/water%20flow%20sensor%20datasheet.pdf

About gas I'm not working on this now, but on my measure unit there is a little sensor, installed near the meter, that collect gas consumption and send it directly to the supplier. It seems that the meter unit is built to host the sensor. (see attached image)

Regards from Italy

Vittorio

[Nick_Pyner]

i am desperate about the gas and the water
I tried on both meters the get a signal with a sensitive hall sensor, but no succes. Also tried to read a number-wheel with a IR emittor-receiver but I cannot get a clear pattern from it.
Here I ask for help : are there suggestions to be able to read those meters? Is there a possibility to read the strips at a number-wheel with a fine beam emittor en a receiver?

I submit that you might as well put your own sensor in the pipe, rather than mess around with somebody else's.

I am using the same water flow turbines as Vittorio. They are working fine. You test their operation by gently blowing through them. Therefore they can work as gas meters as well.

While this proves the point, I don't know how suitable they are in terms of operating range. You might find that a turbine designed for a low flow rate like this

http://www.omega.com/Manuals/manualpdf/M5171.pdf

mentioned here

http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,164794.0.html

is more suitable. Another is the Swissflow. Indeed there is a swag of small hall effect turbines around that are no good for mains water pressure but may actually be better suited for gas. The type Vittorio mentioned is only about $15 and thus may be worth getting just to try it out.