Sneak Peek - Shelly Pro 3EM-3CT63

If you’ve ever wondered whether working for Shelly is fun, the answer is “darn tootin' it is.” Maybe the most interesting part of my work is when I get samples of a new product. The first thing I do is figure out how most US customers will want to use it. Sometimes it’s obvious, other times a head scratcher, but I’ve yet to handle a Shelly product that I didn’t come up with a solid use for.

Pro 3EM-3CT63 is a great example. This is a three phase energy meter that is PERFECT for tight spaces. I had three units to work with and quickly decided that my breaker panel was where I wanted them. I have twenty poles in 240vac circuits (ten breakers). When I am using a contactor, I want an enclosure, which I normally mount on the wall beside the appliance or equipment. For the circuits where I just want to know the consumption, it’s a headache to build an enclosure with a contactor, plus there’s the cost.

The solid CT with Pro 3EM-3CT63 makes a difference. It’s small enough that you can fit a bunch of them inside a crowded panel. Even though my panel is full instead of crowded, I still like something that takes up less space. The trade-off with this CT, though, is you have to remove your wires from the breaker to route through. That’s a trade I’ll gladly make, and did so three times yesterday.

Since I wired this inside my panel, I just needed three wires for each meter (neutral, phase B, and phase A). The wiring took under 30 minutes for all 3, though I spent a lot more time on the project due to a stripped screw on the last breaker! One quick tip for 240vac installs - pick a CT for phase A and one for phase B. Use colored electrical tape to help you quickly determine which is which so you can keep your circuits straight!