[Daveyt69]

My Smart Meter Home Reader (Smart View2) is frozen and I cant turn it off or reset it as none of the buttons actually do anything while its in this state. Should I just unplug it and let the battery run down or is there another way to reset it ?

[theunknowntech]

Ouch, I'm afraid so as that'll be your only option. The IHDL SmartView 2 is pretty much identical to the old (discontinued) SSE Smart Energy Tracker that I used to have in my SMETS1 days (I have SMETS2 now with two Chameleon IHD6 IHDs) and is actually manufactured by STi Electronics. It's always been known to be extremely unreliable, even across variants. Try to remove the battery if you're able to. Otherwise, you'll just have to drain the battery.

If it keeps happening, then it might be faulty and you'll want to ask for a new one.

[theunknowntech]

I have a new solution to recommend and it's something I've been tracking for a while now. Chameleon Technology has finally released their ivie Bud IHD which they've been cooking up for ages. My friend Blastoise186 has ordered one this week and I'm planning to as well, but it may ultimately work out better than the IHDL SmartView 2 that you've currently got.

It's £50 if you want to buy one, but you'll definitely want to verify compatibility first using https://ivie.co.uk/compatibility/ . As this is a new solution to an existing problem, I'll be updating the advice I give out. If more IHDs like the ivie Bud come out, I'll consider recommending those as well to make it fair.

[Daveyt69]

@theunknowntech - Thank you for the info, I'll let the battery drain and see what happens 😊

[theunknowntech]

No worries. I'm afraid my SSE SET is totally dead these days and no longer powers up at all due to old age (and the battery is probably shredded), so I have to rely purely on what I remember from the old days of when it actually worked. I can definitely say that the Chameleon IHD6 is a LOT nicer to use than the SSE SET/IHDL SmartView 2.

[Sp1v]

@Daveyt69 my smart view 2 was frozen today. Remove the mains charger from the smart meter. Slide the back down towards the floor. Remove battery and refit. Replace the back and unfrozen.

[meldrewreborn]

The problem in my view is that these smart meters are forced upon us, at great cost to all consumers (whether they get a smart meter or not) and then prove to be next to useless in saving consumers any money at all. Personally I'd save the money put up with no working display as I have for decades.

Their only positive feature, if it works, is providing consumption details to one's supplier thus removing the need to provide manual readings.

When one considers the ease with which one can switch a mobile number from one phone to another, whether its android, iphone or another, the problems caused by smart meters and their displays are ridiculous.

[theunknowntech]

There are plans to make switching supplier within 48 hours possible in the future, with the help of Smart Meters and DCC, but it takes time to design and build that capability. Anyone who doesn't have a Smart Meter would likely still have to do the entire two week process though, so there is more benefits to it than might seem obvious at first glance.

Plus, the data Smart Meters provide to DNO's to help manage the National Grid is invaluable. Sure, that's not customer facing stuff but it ultimately results in a better service.

[meldrewreborn]

THe supposed benefits both current and future don't outweigh the costs.

[JonH]

Had this same problem of a frozen screen and headed to this forum - my view is that the BEST REPLY came from >> Sp1v. I followed his/her advise, unplugged the IHD, slid down the back cover to reveal the battery and removed it. Replaced it and the screen unfroze. Thanks 👍😃.... May I also suggest that if that solution only works for a short period, then freezes again, repeat the process and once the screen has unfrozen unplug the IHD and allow the battery to run flat. Then remove and replace the battery, (as before), and this time the screen will unfreeze and run continually. Worked for me! Oh, and plug it in again.