Can anyone tell me what this is and what it does for my home? (Page 1/4)
blackrams JUL 22, 03:01 PM
The set of light switches in in the home I recently bought. I've had two electricians look at this (the far right digital thing) and both said they had never seen anything like it before. Having observed it, it's normally at the 12.5 reading but, I have seen it at as high as 12.8 and as low as 12.2, I assumed it's gauging the draw of electrical energy but, that's just an assumption on my part. ut, it may be reporting what electrical energy is available. Anyone know anything about such a thing?

Yeah, I know asking questions like this on a car forum may not be the first correct step but, ya gotta start somewhere.




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Rams
Learning most of life's lessons the hard way. .
You are only young once but, you can be immature indefinitely.

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 07-22-2024).]

NewDustin JUL 22, 03:22 PM
That looks very much to be an an LED volt meter like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Shop...r/dp/B089DLBWRV?th=1

Mounted into a baseplate like this:
https://www.signalsonline.c...lot-lights-switches/

To read the voltage of whatever it's wired into (in this case it looks like the light switch there).

As to why it is...you got me there. Is there a dimmer on it?

[This message has been edited by NewDustin (edited 07-22-2024).]

Hank is Here JUL 22, 04:22 PM
Are you are sure there is a decimal? it is 12.5, 12.2, 12.8? Could it be voltage readings ie 125, 128, 122? These would seem high readings to me but are not totally out of the quesiton.
Patrick JUL 22, 04:39 PM


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theogre JUL 22, 05:23 PM
⚠️ Is likely Not 12.5v but 125v AC.

That and whatever switch on left very likely should Fail build code inspection & notice/warning on many for "home inspection" for buying/selling a place.
● Left side is cut so has holes to put crap in get shocked or cause a short or even a fire. I'm guessing the seem where both covers meet on right have problems too.
● If is 12.5v then you need to find what else is using 12.5v because Low Volts are Not Legal in 125vac or other Higher Volts in same box. May not meet code in some places where have partition a box to put both in them.
● Chinese "meter" & more very often are made very poorly can short out etc too.

You need to kill power to the box then remove the covers & look @ WTF was done there.

Need more tools to make sure the power is off there as often can have more then 1 breaker/fuse as other circuits can be hidden in the box.
NCV tools may help but many electricians don't trust most of these. NCV = Non Contact Volts can "wave over" a circuit w/o touching metal. Some DVM have this or get standalone units. Some need to get very close or touching the insulation.

If you need the dimmer or whatever on the left, then correct fix is replace the right switch w/ Leviton's Decora® switch. Or try to find Decora & standard switch cover @ real electric supply source.
If actually is 3 bay box needing 3 bay cover, you might have to use 3 bay Decora cover & blank filler.

Remove the "meter."

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 07-22-2024).]

blackrams JUL 22, 05:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by NewDustin:

That looks very much to be an an LED volt meter like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Shop...r/dp/B089DLBWRV?th=1

Mounted into a baseplate like this:
https://www.signalsonline.c...lot-lights-switches/

To read the voltage of whatever it's wired into (in this case it looks like the light switch there).

As to why it is...you got me there. Is there a dimmer on it?




No dimmer. It isn't connected to the same feed wires that either the manual switch or the motion sensor switch I installed. Has it's own feed wire that goes up into the wall. I have no idea.
Went to the provided links but didn't see what it is supposed to be reading. Agreed that it looks like those in the first link. Guess I'll have to google it.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 07-22-2024).]

blackrams JUL 22, 05:32 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

⚠️ Is likely Not 12.5v but 125v AC.

That and whatever switch on left very likely should Fail build code inspection & notice/warning on many for "home inspection" for buying/selling a place.
● Left side is cut so has holes to put crap in get shocked or cause a short or even a fire. I'm guessing the seem where both covers meet on right have problems too.
● If is 12.5v then you need to find what else is using 12.5v because Low Volts are Not Legal in 125vac or other Higher Volts in same box. May not meet code in some places where have partition a box to put both in them.
● Chinese "meter" & more very often are made very poorly can short out etc too.

You need to kill power to the box then remove the covers & look @ WTF was done there.

Need more tools to make sure the power is off there as often can have more then 1 breaker/fuse as other circuits can be hidden in the box.

If you need the dimmer or whatever on the left, then correct fix is replace the right switch w/ Leviton's Decora® switch. Or try to find Decora & standard switch cover @ real electric supply source.
If actually is 3 bay box needing 3 bay cover, you might have to use 3 bay Decora cover & blank filler.

Remove the "meter."




Probably very good advice and I will definitely consider it. Will have another electrician here in the next week or so to quote me a price on the shop I'm trying to get built. We'll see what he say. Reference code, this house passed two home inspections prior to me buying it. I know that doesn't mean much but the meter never came up with either of those home inspectors.

Rams
theogre JUL 22, 05:51 PM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:
Probably very good advice and I will definitely consider it. Will have another electrician here in the next week or so to quote me a price on the shop I'm trying to get built. We'll see what he say. Reference code, this house passed two home inspections prior to me buying it. I know that doesn't mean much but the meter never came up with either of those home inspectors.

No, it doesn't mean much. Worse, Many times those are complete scams costing Hundreds of $ each time.

Example: My house "passed" w/ most grounds not connected & some plumbing problems too. Simple "3 light" tester plugged into just a few outlet wound Fail any codes but "Passes" @ scam "home inspectors" because they simple don't look & fine print says won't look for code violations.

If building is older then say 5 years... Many outlets/receptacles & switches have worn out & need replacing.
Don't use cheapest ones that HD et al sells or expect to replace them again soon.

I added some data to above post.
TheDigitalAlchemist JUL 22, 06:04 PM
Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but can you have the electrician test the voltage of the wires attached to that thing? If they aren't attached to the stuff next to it (which I would it would be!) , you can shut the main and trace where it goes using something like the "Klein Tools 80016 Circuit Breaker Finder Tool " - see what circuit it is monitoring/ connected to.
Cliff Pennock JUL 22, 06:12 PM
The thing on the left is an occupancy sensor. It differs from a motion sensor that it doesn't detect motion, but body heat. The thing on the right is a voltage meter. It could be it was installed as a gadget, or to be able to quickly see the main voltage level to monitor voltage drops (when A/C comes on for instance), or voltage peaks (if the house had older solar panels for instance).