Hi,

As a beginner I'm wanting to make for myself:

Power usage meter + wifi/RF and attach it behind the wall socket so its behind the wall socket then sent the info to a linux box..as part of a home automation plan

Because I'm renting in a unit and cant access the main switch board, so I cant use methods like x10 etc..

I can simply remove them when i move out.

So each one would have to be powered from the 240v aswell..(costly in power consumption do you think?)

There are products in the US that have them for $65 but none here in Australia.

Am I in the right spot for this?

Thanks

Hey,

You can build a SEGmeter and stick it in a box with a power lead running through it!  They can Zigbee back to a SEGbox and away you go!  I've around 6 of these in my home :)

These are some prototype pictures of one made with a sparkfun arduino mini some time ago (we are working on another version at the moment that will become a product)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47312686@N03/sets/...

Sam, @samotage