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tony1tf
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January 24, 2019
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Connectivity issue with my Chameleon In Home Display (IHD) and how I fixed it!

  • January 24, 2019
  • 43 replies
  • 55364 views
Connectivity issue with my Chameleon In Home Display (IHD) and how I fixed it!

Updated on 23/10/25 by Ben_OVO

 

Since we had S2 smart meters installed for gas and electricity last year, we have lost the electricity readings on my IHD twice. The engineer came round and replaced the electricity meter a couple of weeks ago, but the electricity readings stopped again after a few days. OVO have said that it is a firmware problem in the IHD, and a replacement will be rolled out after January.

Wondering if the IHD can be reset to temporarily fix the problem, I pressed the on/off switch and disconnected the charger (My IHD seems to have a battery in it so it works when disconnected from the supply). I then held the on/off switch pressed for some time while reconnecting the charger.

The IHD came up in a reset condition and reconnected to both meters after a minute or two. It is now showing both gas and electricity readings again. So if it fails in a few days, which I expect, I now know how to get it working again. I presume that there is some sort of software overflow problem which works for a time from reset and then fails. It would be interesting to know if this works for others having similar problems. The unit is a Chameleon and it says "type 2" and "IHD3-PPMID / CA30111" underneath.

 

Tony

 

Still having issues with your Chameleon IHD? Why not check out our guide below:
 

 

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    43 replies

    Show previous replies
    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    January 15, 2024

    Keep us posted @Eilidhmack 

    Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
    E
    Newcomer
    Eilidhmack
    Newcomer
    January 26, 2024

    I contacted OVO again today as I still have not received my new IHD although they told me on 10th January one would be sent out. I was told today that there were low stock levels of IHDs at the beginning of the month but things are better now, so a new request has been processed to send me a new IHD which should be with me within 72 hours. I live in hope that it arrives and works properly this time.

      E
      Newcomer
      Eilidhmack
      Newcomer
      February 17, 2024

      Well still no new IHD. I eventually contacted OVO again and was told the IHDs they had in stock were not suitable for my SMETS  2 electric meter that's why I had not received another one.  Then Smart Meter  Team attempted to get my current IHD to work properly but without success. Now I have been told I will get new IHD within 2 weeks. However I am now not confident this will actually happen. Situation is becoming farcical

      D
      Newcomer
      drmrbrewer
      Newcomer
      December 13, 2024

      Smart meter installed yesterday and already today the IHD3 is playing up 🙄

      The touch buttons are non-responsive, except for the left arrow which toggles the screen between “Bill so far this period” (with a value shown… so it is connected to our account) and “Account information [OK]”… but pressing OK (or anything else) doesn’t do anything.

      Any ideas?  I can’t see an on/off button.  Take out battery and power down?  Will it lose the connection to the meter that way?

      The only thing I can think of that might have triggered this (it was working fine earlier today) was trying to move the IDH3 to a different part of the house, only to find it soon went out of range of the meter… so had to move it back to the original location.  But at that point the buttons were no longer working.

      BPLightlog
      Super User
      BPLightlogSuper User
      Super User
      December 13, 2024

      Yes a ‘power cycle’ without batteries is a good idea. Just make sure you leave it without power for a couple of minutes to allow it to reset. 
      It should reconnect after you switch back on

       

      Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
        D
        Newcomer
        drmrbrewer
        Newcomer
        December 13, 2024

        ​@BPLightlog thanks for the reply.  Yes, removing the battery and then putting it back in didn’t seem to make it power up again at all, but plugging it into the mains made it power up… and sure enough it has reconnected and the buttons are responsive once more.  Doesn’t bode well.  Is it possible to upgrade to the IHD6 do you know?

        BPLightlog
        Super User
        BPLightlogSuper User
        Super User
        December 13, 2024

        If the signal isn’t strong enough it can cause a hiccup which is probably what happened. 
        As far as I’m aware, they supply whichever units they have stock of so I doubt you can swap it

        Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
        Emmanuelle_OVO
        Retired Moderator
        Emmanuelle_OVO
        Retired Moderator
        December 16, 2024

        Hey ​@drmrbrewer 

        Sorry for the issues you’re having.

        I can see BPLighlog has already given some helpful advice here. I just wanted to add the following: 


        Please keep us posted with how you get on.

        Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
        M
        Newcomer
        MarcW
        Newcomer
        October 31, 2025

        We have had our IHD since we switched to a smart meter in Aug '25.  Since being switched on, we have had a caution symbol in the the top left of the display, but for the past 2 weeks we haven't had any usage displayed on the IHD, just says waiting for information from meter.

         

        Still getting usage on the OVO energy App, so its not an issue with meter - do I need the IHD replacing?

         

        Blastoise186
        Super User
        Blastoise186Super User
        Super User
        November 1, 2025

        Hi ​@MarcW ,

        Ask OVO to run XJoin against it - that usually solves this!

        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!
        Show more replies
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