Protecting your Metermaid

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Is there any way to protect your Metermaid from someone else tapping in?

My query lies with the 16a connector AFTER the meter.... whats to stop someone simply un-plugging the line between the metermaid and your boat and replacing it with theirs for a few hours while they clock up some kilowatts?

Any sort of a system in place where a tag can be placed between the outlet plug from the metermaid and your boats shorepower line? I know it won't stop scumbags, but it will at least let the user know that their line has been tampered with (which is the important case here)
 
You should know your own average daily consumption quite accurately after the first month, running all your normal systems.
Can't you just look for fluctuations in the KWH units on the meter?

You should get used to reading your own meter so there are no surprises when the bill is issued.
 
The meters are on fixed on our pontoon. Anyone could plug into my electrical socket at my expense - but that doesn't happen.
 
I pulled my boat out in November and from past experience knew that I would need £40.00 to see me through the winter and (FOOLISHLY!) credited this amount on the meter. After returning to the boat three weeks later there was just £3.00 left! After much discussion and investigation with the yard it seems there had been a boat near mine where the owner had been living aboard and I had clearly been paying for his heating! The yard reimbursed me and I put a large cable tie around the plug and socket since which all has been well. This may not be a perfectly safe solution bit it might just be enough to make them go elsewhere!
 
Ours have eyes for pad locks:
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dustywings said:
I pulled my boat out in November and from past experience knew that I would need £40.00 to see me through the winter and (FOOLISHLY!) credited this amount on the meter. After returning to the boat three weeks later there was just £3.00 left! After much discussion and investigation with the yard it seems there had been a boat near mine where the owner had been living aboard and I had clearly been paying for his heating! The yard reimbursed me and I put a large cable tie around the plug and socket since which all has been well. This may not be a perfectly safe solution bit it might just be enough to make them go elsewhere!
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I had a similar thing happen in the yard at Sovereign Harbour some while back (the gravel one that only has one CCTV rather than the one by the sheds). Some scroat nicked my pre-paid power and I had used a cable tie to secure my lead; it was simply cut, and was on the ground under the outlet. My lead had been replaced, presumably when it got to 0.00, so no idea who it was. It had been sub-zero that week too :mad:
 
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I fitted a meter on my boat and the Marina accepts the readings I provide without the need for a metermaid. However, it seems to me that a meter on board would allow a cross check on a metermaid if required. The meter cost me about £40 as I recall.
 
AdeOlly said:
I had a similar thing happen in the yard at ...................... It had been sub-zero that week too :mad:
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Me too.

My boat was on the hard and a 'mate' in a live aboard had moved his boat in the river so he could plug into my supply.
Not only did he use £14 credit he left mine unplugged during sub zero temps. git :mad:
 
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