Some time ago I bought a device that I could plug in between a power source and a device running on power to find out how much power that device needed on average. It was a low cost power meter, think I paid about $25 or so for it, that used a basic LCD screen to display the power consumption of the device. While it helped me find out how much my fridge, first and second PC, TV setup and gaming systems needed on average, it was not really great to work with for a couple of reasons.
The configuration was fiddly to say the least. The LCD was limited and there were only a handful of buttons that you had to press multiple times during configuration and even when you wanted to read the average, current and total power consumption of the devices connected to it.
MeterPlug is a new project that is currently in funding on IndieGogo, a Kickstarter-like website where companies and individuals can try to get their projects funded on. It is a crowd funding portal were users from all over the world can participate in the funding, and usually get a reward in return.
So what is MeterPlug and why is it something that I'm interested in? MeterPlug at its core is similar to the power meter that I bought, but instead of having to configure the device using built-in buttons and an LCD display, it is configured via WiFI. This spares me from crawling under my desk to configure the power meter there,-with bad lighting and cramped space. Instead, you just plug MeterPlug into the power source and the devices that you want to monitor into MeterPlug.
You then communicate with the device via Bluetooth and a smartphone application that displays information and options to you.
The software provides you with features that regular power meters can't provide you with:
Specs:
So what do you get if you fund the product (note that shipping costs are included for US shipping. Canadians need to add $10, Europeans $15 to the price, may be more in higher tiers).
The estimated delivery for the plus is April 2013.
Note that MeterPlug's campaign is set up as flexible funding which means that the makers will receive the money that users contribute even if the overall goal is not reached. What this means is that you will receive your devices if you pledge money even if the goal is not reached - provided that the makers keep their word and produce and ship them.
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I too saw an advert for this device and thought wow that looks really great how can i get some? then i noticed that it seemed to be an advert to promote the manufacturing process with the reward of discounted finished items upon the completion of the product. the advert i saw claimed that the product was in it’s final stages of development and the plugs and software to run them was imminent. It also showed that the amount needed to finish the designing and prototype testing stage was only $70,000 and that amount had been already reached and surpassed within the time frame the product was being displayed for, the actual amount was $127,000 of investors money in pre-orders sent to the designers for completion of the product. that article and the closing date for the special offer was from December 2011 to Jan 2012 and as it stands i can’t find the finished product anywhere on the net a year or so later.
The question i ask is, Is this a scam of mammoth proportions or what?