Energy meter (3phase)

Hardware
1

Try to find energy meters (current clamp , 3phase electric network). Only what i find is this https://aeotec.com/z-wave-home-energy-measure

Do you guys have any other energy meters, what of course work with HA.

I have old OWL USB+ (3phase energy meter 433mhz). http://www.theowl.com/index.php/energy-monitors/standalone-monitors/owl-usb/

Not have any 433mhz gateway this time. Happily hear if someone have same OWL energy meter and use that example with cheap 433mhz gateway http://rflink.nl/blog2/ (RFlink). I know that meter work with RFXCom, but that little bit price device buy only because this old energy meter.

Every hints and tips are welcome. I have little bit knowing to electronic diy projects too, but happily i buy something finish and work device. Big thanks everyone who can answer here :slight_smile:

1 Like
2

Checkout

https://openenergymonitor.org/

Built their arduino version for less than 30 Euro including the arduino

3

I am using the Efergy Engage platform.
https://efergy.com/home/engage-online-monitoring/

It was very easy to install, and i have incorporated it to the Homeassistant platform like this:

  # Efergy Engage Monitor
  - platform: efergy
    app_token: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
    utc_offset: 120
    monitored_variables:
      - type: instant_readings
      - type: amount
        period: day
    icon: mdi:flash-outline

So far very happy.
It also provides their own monitoring platform where you can go to check past statistics in more detail, and excel exports.
It does not support night-time pricing though (if you have such an option).
You can buy directly or check amazon/ebay, i found some nice deals there.

4

Thats look very good device. Do you use this model?
http://efergy.com/eu/energy-monitors/online-access/3-phase-monitoring/engagekit3phase-hub

Or something else? Do you take connection via WLAN (HA → energy meter)? Or do your device use 433mhz or 866mhz?

5

I have had long discussions with their customer support, which was one of the best departments i have ever encountered, at least in my country.
Imagine, I sent them pictures of my electrical board and they walked me through it.

Anyways, yes, this is the model i am using. Although it seems there is not much difference between their models.

My experience:

  • You need to set up the hub connected through ethernet only to your home network.(no wifi option but it doesnt really matter as the transponders are wirelessly connected to the hub)

  • The transponder needs to be located either inside your electical board or(in my case i have it outside the house where the main electricity meter is)

  • The transponder needs to be within ~10-15 meters away from the hub (it works at around 15 meters in my house, through ~60cm stone wall). This connection is through RF signal, no idea about the frequency.

  • Each transponder has 3 stereo jack-like inputs where you can connect up to 3 sensor rings.

  • Meaning you can either buy the three-phase kit, or a singlephase kit and two extra sensors. I personally bought two single-phase kit from amazon and a couple of extra used parts off ebay. I have set up one hub with 1 3-phase transponder and a second hub (in another location) with two single phase transponders right now.

  • In the case of 3phase installation, you can actually do your job with one sensor on the neutral cable but (according to them) with some slight inaccuracy. I personally tested it and it worked in my house, but, got 2 extra sensors and connected them to each phase, noticing about 0-10w differences.

  • You then make an online account, where you register your hardware and you can monitor everything from their platform.

  • The HA platform connects to their online platform, and draws data directly from the cloud. (to answer your original question)

  • It has worked flawlessly for the past ~6 months i am using it.

  • Their HW parts seem to be interchangeable.

Limitations:

  • You can have up to some number (cant remember) of Transponders per hub (in the latest version of their HW, and only one transponder in their early HW versions) and up to 3 sensors per transponder.
  • It needs to be online in order to collect data (i dont know if it has some buffer in case of disconnections)
  • You can have up to one hub per efergy account (meaning since i am monitoring two houses, i need two efergy accounts)
  • It has no option to set different pricetags per kwh depending on the time of the day (but they said they would implement it in their next software version.

Hope my comments help you guys out :slight_smile:
Regards,
K

2 Likes
7

Indeed of great help.

Overall you recommend it?

Does the system work, as others like Sence, where it tells you which appliance is comsuming what?

8

I guess this is a competitor

9

Hey, overall I absolutely recommend it.
It’s made me aware of what is going on in my house and in that sense, I started behaving a lot more reasonably.
From what I understand, sence pick up patterns and recognizes what is working through software. Efergy does not do that, it just gives you a total of consumption or anyway, a total per transmitter.
It is not as “smart” as sence but taking into consideration the ~x3 price tag I’m fine with it.
To be honest it’s just a matter of algorithm, so, probably they might introduce it in a future platform update? I mean they have the required information to do the same, they should live up to he the competition.

10

my only concern is range. My meter is outside on the street (I live in a house with garden). The main go inside the house split in 3 boxes (like 3 different apartment).

So to attach the clip outside will be a long distance (2 walls, the garden wall and the house wall) of around 20 meters

11

My experience is that the RF range is pretty good… I am at a distance of about 10 meters but through heavy ~60cm stone wall and a couple more inside walls… And it works fine.

An alternative could be for you to buy 2 extra transmitters and install one in each box so you can get separate readings.

If not, I am guessing one box will be the main and the other boxes will be getting electricity from that one. Same thing in my place, one main switch board which then feeds a separate board on every floor. I could have installed it in that box and it would work perfectly.

12

Right, now I see I can use multiple transmitter for each HUB. Can I use 3-4 transmitter for the HUB?

13

IIRC the current hw version supports up to a number of transmitters.
(just mentioning the version cause the older version is still being sold online)
I think that their support told me up to 5 transmitters? But I’m not 100% sure.
I do have one set up with two transmitters working atm.
Do a quick research online or send them an email about the max number, I can’t recall what it is.