When you're comparing power meters for energy management, the decision usually comes down to one question: are you tracking a home's energy use and solar production, or checking power quality on a three-phase electrical system? The UNUSED Sense SM2 Home Energy Monitor System w/ Sense Solar Sensors and the General Electric PQM II Power Quality Meter for 3 Phase System - TESTED answer that question very differently. The Sense is priced at $199.99; the GE PQM II is $506.00.
Quick verdict
For a residential setup, the Sense SM2 is the practical pick because it targets whole-home monitoring and adds solar tracking. For a commercial or industrial system, the GE PQM II is the more suitable instrument because it is a power-quality meter. Match the purchase to the electrical system you are working on.
At a glance
| Consideration | Sense SM2 Home Energy Monitor | GE PQM II Power Quality Meter |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | $199.99 | $506.00 |
| Best for | Whole-home energy and solar monitoring | Three-phase system power-quality measurement |
| Condition | Open box, unused, never installed | Used, powered on, tested and inspected |
| What stands out | Includes SM2 monitor and 4 CT clamps (2 main, 2 solar) | Dedicated 3-phase meter; some buttons don't make a clicking sound |
Where each product wins
The Sense SM2 wins when the goal is whole-home energy monitoring with solar generation. It suits a residential buyer who wants to keep an eye on both overall usage and solar output.
The GE PQM II wins when the application is power-quality measurement in an industrial or commercial electrical environment. That purpose is what makes it the stronger match for a three-phase system.
Product notes
Sense SM2 Home Energy Monitor with Sense Solar Sensors
The Sense SM2 is the option to choose when your priority is understanding how a home uses electricity and how much solar it produces. It comes with the SM2 monitor, two CT150 main current sensor clamps, and two additional Sense Solar sensor clamps, giving you four CT clamps total in one system. The unit is open box but unused; it has never been installed or connected, and the original documentation and packaging are included. It also works over Wi-Fi and with Amazon Alexa, so you can check energy use without another dedicated display. The limitation is the open-box condition: the boxes show shelf wear, scuffs, and edge wear from storage, so this is not a factory-sealed product. For a residential solar setup, that trade-off is usually acceptable.
General Electric PQM II Power Quality Meter for 3 Phase System - TESTED
The GE PQM II is the better fit when the job is measuring power quality on a three-phase system in an industrial or commercial environment. It is a used meter that was powered on, tested, and inspected, and it still operates as a PQM. The caveat is that some buttons do not make a clicking sound, so the control feel is not pristine even though the unit functions. Its strength is purpose: this is a dedicated power-quality meter for a 3-phase system rather than a residential energy monitor. Choose it when you need to verify power quality on three-phase equipment and you are comfortable working with a tested used instrument. That specific three-phase capability is what separates it from home-oriented energy monitoring.
Final choice by use case
If you are monitoring a home and want solar production, pick the Sense SM2 Home Energy Monitor with Sense Solar Sensors. If you are working on a three-phase system and need power-quality measurement, pick the General Electric PQM II. The GE meter fits the commercial/industrial job; the Sense fits the residential solar job.
