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Updated on 26/06/24 Abby_OVO

 

Your guide to the SMETS1 (S1) Chameleon In Home Display 

 

If you’ve got a SMETS1 meter installed by OVO you might have been provided with the Pipit IHD (find out more about these here), the Chameleon IHD3 or more recently the Chameleon IHD6.

 

How to identify a Chameleon IHD

 

The Chameleon IHD3 is a black device with a multi-coloured display. 

 

 

This device is compatible with SMETS 1 or SMETS 2 meters, the only noticeable difference will be a power button on the back of the device if it’s SMETS 2 compatible.

 

The Chameleon IHD6 has a black front, with a white border and a touch screen:

 


 

Where should I plug in the device?

 

The IHD needs to be able to pick up clear signals from the electricity meter so we’d recommend plugging it in as close to the meter as possible. Locating the IHD more than 20 metres away or the other side of thick walls can mean it’s unable to receive and update your usage information.
 

How to use the Chameleon IHD3

 


The IHD is very easy to use. You can access all its functions with the 7 buttons along the bottom of the screen.

 

 

How to view your energy usage by day, week, month or year on an IHD3

 

 

  1. Tap the Home button to see how much energy you’ve used so far today
  2. Use the Calendar button to move the display through ‘so far this week’ and ‘so far this month’
  3. Use the ‘back’ arrow to scroll back and see how much energy you’ve used each day, week, month or year
  4. Tap the Utility button to switch the figures on the display between electricity, gas or combined fuels.


How much are you using right now?

 


Tapping ‘Now’ will show you how much electricity you’re using in real time. This is displayed as kilowatts (kW) and cost per hour. This lets you check if anything’s been left turned on, and work out which appliances use the most energy. The coloured light at the bottom shows whether your current use is low, medium or high.


​​​​​​Setting budgets on your IHD3


To help you manage your energy use, you can set a target:

  1. Bring up the menu screen by tapping OK. Select Adjust Settings and then select Set budget by tapping OK.
  2. Choose the time period you want to set a budget for (daily, weekly or monthly) by tapping the Calendar button. Use the back and forward arrows to change the amount. The IHD will show you how much you used in the previous period to help you set an achievable value. Tap OK to confirm your choices.
  3. You can set individual budgets for each fuel. Tap the Utility button to switch the figures on the display between electricity and gas.
  4. When you’re looking at how much energy you’ve used in the past, the light will show you how much you used compared to your budget.

 

​​​​​Check your meter readings on your IHD3

 

  1. Bring up the menu screen by tapping OK. Tap Meter Information.
  2. Cycle between electricity and gas using the utility button to check your meter readings.

 

Tutorial mode

 

The device has a built in tutorial that can be used during the installation visit and can be started by you at any time. The tutorial goes through key aspects of the IHD using dummy data and takes three minutes.

The tutorial can be exited by pressing the Home button, or each section skipped through by pressing the right arrow button. It can be accessed through the menu options.

 

Troubleshooting

 

 

User Guides

 

 

 

Does the device above not match the one you’ve got? Why not check out our other IHD guides below:
 

 

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

 

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

 

It is yes. It’s the Chameleon IHD6-CAD-PPMID-S1 but it’s in very short supply because of super high demand.

If you fancy an IHD now though, I can help with that. Check out this guide! :)

 

Hi @Blastoise186 

 

Funnily enough I just found this thread while digging about.

 

I’ve asked around the family just now and when the smart meter was installed they were awaiting stock so apparently the engineer never left one. I found similar stories in this thread above.

 

I’ll check out the guide linked. thanks so much!

No worries.

As good as that special IHD6 is, literally everyone is constantly trying to get hold of them and there’s only so many to go around. OVO is currently prioritising something like 99% of the stocks towards Boost PAYG customers with S1 meters because they rely on the PPMID (Prepayment Meter Interface Device) features to be able to monitor credit and top-up manually. That’s something you wouldn’t need on Pay Monthly because you don’t need to feed the meter to keep it going.

Engineers will usually try to leave an IHD as part of the install, but you qualify for one to be posted out for free if you’ve never had one. It’s just a case of whether it’s available, which sounds unlikely.

Great @Blastoise186 

We took over this home back in August and the previous occupant was a 94 year old great aunt. My girlfriend says she had the meter fitted but no display with a promise it would follow at a later date.

 

I’ll give them a shout again and see if I can work something out with them. I did the house clearance and there was no IHD (a one bedroom cottage). Hopefully they’ll agree to a display if I contact them!

It’s worth asking. :)

Otherwise, ivie or Hildebrand should be able to sell you one.

@Blastoise186

If I were to pick up an IHD6-PPMID on eBay, would have to be an originally issued OVO unit or is the IHD6 cross-compatible? I’ve found an OVO one but was checking just in case I find another, should I not get one from customer support.

eBay will scam you and it won’t work anyway. OVO won’t pair an IHD that came from unknown sources

Good to know. I’ve popped a request in with customer services so I’ll sit back and hope it happens.

 

Thanks so much @Blastoise186 . You’ve been an amazing insight. Keep it up!

In the meantime, @MrWilks, don’t forget about daily online usage charts that come alive now that your meters send us your readings every half an hour. 

 

Also, free third party apps are good:

 

 

Hi @Tim_OVO 

 

Thanks for that. I have a Drayton Wiser system which have the option of Insights+ so I’ll also look into that. 
 

Now that the meter is set to 30 minute intervals it’s come alive. It’s a shame it wasn’t on this from the start but I hear the government want everyone on half-hourly reading by 2025 as a default. 
 

I can only see the previous days readings though so I can’t see it for earlier in the day which is a shame. 
 

When the IHD arrives (could be a while) I can help understand my usage more. This is why I want to really be more eco-friendly. Also it will help the missus understand as she doesn’t worry about these things!

In the meantime, @MrWilks, don’t forget about daily online usage charts that come alive now that your meters send us your readings every half an hour. 

 

Also, free third party apps are good:

 

 

Hi @Tim_OVO 

I really do need help. 
 

So it’s been eight months and we’re still having a nightmare with our smart meter progress. I’ve asked three times and OVO haven’t sent a IHD which is understandable if they are in short supply but the app stopped working when we applied to switch gas over to OVO from BG. This never went though (we’ve started the process five times now) and I’m locked out of the app as it states “You’ll be on our supply on June 22nd”. It’s almost October and we’ve not been able to get any detail on our daily usage. The app is frozen in time on a day in June!
 

I’ve asked multiple times for an IHD as we never had one at this address due to the engineer not having stock when the meter was fitted but still no joy. 
 

So we’re in gas limbo and an account we can’t access for the last three months. Customer services don’t manage to get any further forward with any of it so wondered how I can get an IHD I can use to view what I’m using on a daily basis? We can’t find out our current bills currently.

You could take a look at the Hildebrand/Glow IHD used with the Bright/Glow app @MrWilks 
https://shop.glowmarkt.com/products/display-and-cad-combined-for-smart-meter-customers

Maybe not ideal but it could help. I use one myself. I’ve also gone through a supplier switch without any problems on this device as it’s ‘locally’ connected to your smart meter. 

Hey @MrWilks,

 

Really sorry to hear this, it sounds like a very frustrating situation. I’ll get Forum_Support to reach out, please keep an eye on your private messages.

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