System and method for monitoring hot water supply in a load control network

A method for monitoring hot water supply in a load control network, comprising:

• providing a multi-meter external to a water heater and having an electrical supply input and an electrical supply output to an electrical power supply circuit of said water heater, said multi-meter comprising:
• a voltage monitor configured to determine a voltage of said electrical power supply circuit;
• a current monitor configured to determine a current of said electrical power supply circuit;
• and
• a metering chip configured to determine which of an upper heating element of said water heater and a lower heating element of said water heater is presently energized based on one or more of said voltage of said electrical power supply circuit, said current of said electrical power supply circuit, and a power factor of said electrical power supply circuit;
• receiving at said multi-meter a present voltage in said electrical power supply circuit;
• receiving at said multi-meter a present current in said electrical power supply circuit;
• determining at said multi-meter which of said upper heating element of said water heater and said lower heating element of said water heater is presently energized based on said present voltage and said present current;
• wherein said determining which of said upper heating element and said lower heating element of said water heater is presently energized further comprises determining at said multi-meter a resistance of at least one of said upper heating element and said lower heating element based upon said one or more of said voltage of said electrical power supply circuit and said current of said electrical power supply circuit;
• and
• recording at said multi-meter a first measured resistance as a resistance of said lower heating element based on a first one of said lower heating element and said upper heating element to be energized by said electrical power supply circuit.