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Rank 2
March 10, 2024
Solved

Faulty traditional meter

Hiya, went to take a meter reading as usual (non smart meter) but the display is flashing alternately 000 18 and 8888.8.8 and TOT with a sporadic red flash (assuming this is consuming?) and no actual reading!

 

I’ve emailed OVO but no chat till tomorrow…is there an easy fix like batteries/reset or something? (we’ve not long owned the house so not sure how it all works!)

Thanks.

 

waltyboy
waltyboyBest Answer
Rank 8
March 10, 2024

Updated on 02/07/25 by Chris_OVO:


Not got the answers you need? The following topics may be helpful:
 

 

Hi @zedzedhoney, can well understand how you must feel anxious about the whole meter thing on a remote island; but don’t worry, as @fancyabrew says, your smart meter when fitted will be no worse than your present meter even if its limited “smartness” MAY mean you still need to take manual readings. AND it will be better in the sense that a new smart meter can handle dual tariffs, so will be able to manage both your regular tariff and your Economy tariff, assuming there are no dreadful cabling issues or lack of room in a small cupboard or some other unsuitability issues. So the meter would automatically have you on the reduced off peak tariff (midnight to 0700? or whichever you are on at the moment). 
 

As @Blastoise186 says, the “05 02” sticker is wildly out of date now and you could maybe ask for a calibration check when it’s replaced, as some of your billing (less heating and hot water) for the past 9 months has been based on it…of course, such a check could work either way I suppose!
 

But I’m wondering if it’s the change from a 9999.99 reading to a 0000.00 reading which has prompted the current shenanigans from your meter?  You mention a previous reading of something like 9875.33…so usage over 3 or 4 winter months on that island of yours could well have made a difference of 124.67 kWh or so?

 

Good luck with it all, and as I say, don’t worry, you will at the very least be no worse off with a modern smart meter, and chances are it will actually prove to be easier in use for you, and who knows? its smart communications may well work, depending on where within your house its sited, and where your house itself is sited on the island. Maybe depending where the island itself is sited! Depending on how well known some of your neighbours are to you now after nine months, (and how close geographically they are!) one or two of them might have some interesting or relevant stories?! 

Walt. 2013: 3.2kW PV East/West + Fronius IG, as at 01 Sep 2026 30 MWh, of which 22 MWh exported. 2023: 2.4kWh LiFePo4 battery. 2024: Tadö wireless smart stat v3; Electriq split unit 2.6kW AAHP (“air conditioner”). 2026: Hyundai Inster 02 EV.

88 replies

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 11, 2024

From what I can tell, it’s the regular meter that’s messing up - the THTC one appears to be OK. However, they are linked which makes this complicated.

Horstmann was the only manufacturer ever known to make THTC Meters that I have records for in my archives. I don’t seem to have any record of anyone else making them. They stopped making them either at the same time or around the time when they rebranded to their current name Secure (possibly prior) and refocused on Smart Meters. So we’re probably talking something like 2014 meaning they stopped doing THTC Meters about 10 years ago.

The snag is that almost all stocks of those has run out now. And the stocks of regular ones has definitely dried up - the industry gobbled up the last of them a couple of years ago if memory serves.

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Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
March 11, 2024

Oooh @zedzedhoney, that’s not good, no.  But is it your THTC meter that’s actually at fault at the moment?  The THTC meter doesn’t need replacing right now?

 

EDIT Have just seen your additional post above, I quite agree with you, you need the broken/US meter replaced pronto, never mind the “exotic” one…

 

Hey @zedzedhoney,

 

The support team is correct about us not replacing THTC currently, we’re working currently on a solution. I’ll update all THTC topics as advice changes.

 

But my question is the same as Walt’s, is it the THTC meter which is the faulty one?

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
Rank 2
March 11, 2024

Oooh @zedzedhoney, that’s not good, no.  But is it your THTC meter that’s actually at fault at the moment?  The THTC meter doesn’t need replacing right now?

No! It’s the regular meter!! I keep telling them this, I do not understand why they can’t replace the broken meter and leave or disconnect the THTC one!!

Rank 2
March 11, 2024

Oooh @zedzedhoney, that’s not good, no.  But is it your THTC meter that’s actually at fault at the moment?  The THTC meter doesn’t need replacing right now?

 

EDIT Have just seen your additional post above, I quite agree with you, you need the broken/US meter replaced pronto, never mind the “exotic” one…

 

Hey @zedzedhoney,

 

The support team is correct about us not replacing THTC currently, we’re working currently on a solution. I’ll update all THTC topics as advice changes.

 

But my question is the same as Walt’s, is it the THTC meter which is the faulty one?

No! It’s the regular meter!! I’ve said this on phone and by email snd sent images, I do not understand why you can’t replace the broken regular meter and leave alone or disconnect the functioning THTC one!!

Rank 2
March 11, 2024

From what I can tell, it’s the regular meter that’s messing up - the THTC one appears to be OK. However, they are linked which makes this complicated.

Horstmann was the only manufacturer ever known to make THTC Meters that I have records for in my archives. I don’t seem to have any record of anyone else making them. They stopped making them either at the same time or around the time when they rebranded to their current name Secure (possibly prior) and refocused on Smart Meters. So we’re probably talking something like 2014 meaning they stopped doing THTC Meters about 10 years ago.

The snag is that almost all stocks of those has run out now. And the stocks of regular ones has definitely dried up - the industry gobbled up the last of them a couple of years ago if memory serves.

I’m probably missing something here but: can’t they replace the broken standard meter with smart (or anything functioning at this point) and surely we can have the ‘exotic’ meter disconnected from the hot water tank and rerouted into the new meter? Or even kept exactly as it is? I’m not understanding the issue.

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 11, 2024

That’s what I’m going to flag backstage to chat with the others about. We’ll swing by again ASAP.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
Rank 2
March 11, 2024

That’s what I’m going to flag backstage to chat with the others about. We’ll swing by again ASAP.

Backstage chat? Now that sounds ‘exotic’!
 

Thanks again for all the replies guys, I’m really dreading having to sort this all out, it’s already complicated having the appended cottage and working out how best to heat it cheaply for guests, (currently not heated!) but I honestly didn’t think it would be this hard to get a broken standard meter replaced! 

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 11, 2024

Hehehe, perks of the forum volunteer role. :)

There’s more to this place than meets the eye. We just happen to have a few hidden categories where we can chat between ourselves away from the public eye. Comes in useful for drafting advice and guides, among other things.

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waltyboy
Rank 8
Rank 8
March 11, 2024

Hi @zedzedhoney, take heart, between @Blastoise186, @Emmanuelle_OVO and your own representations to OVO I’ve no doubt that your main, regular meter will be replaced soon. It’s a necessity after all. And that cottage of yours is an exciting project…it will happen once all this smoke clears….

Walt. 2013: 3.2kW PV East/West + Fronius IG, as at 01 Sep 2026 30 MWh, of which 22 MWh exported. 2023: 2.4kWh LiFePo4 battery. 2024: Tadö wireless smart stat v3; Electriq split unit 2.6kW AAHP (“air conditioner”). 2026: Hyundai Inster 02 EV.
Newcomer
March 11, 2024

I have a similar set up with the two meters.  It was also my daytime meter which failed and it was replaced with another legacy meter so I think they can still source them, albeit maybe with difficulty now.  

 

Surely, they can retain a stock of meters that have been removed and replaced by smart meters for this eventuality until a reliable smart meter for THTC set ups is in place?