Monitor your Generac generator with Home Assistant

[wgstarks (Walter)]

I’ve been playing around with the generator.yaml file since some of the sensors there aren’t available from my generator. Added a new automation so that I get notifications on my iPhone if there’s a status change-

  - alias: generator status change
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: sensor.generator_engine_state
        from: 'Off - Ready'
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app_walters_iphone
        data:
          message: "generator status changed"
          title: "generator status changed"
          data:
            sound: call_to_arms.wav

I’m wondering if there’s anyway to include the current status in the message?

EDIT:
Nevermind. I should stop being lazy and do my own googling.

  - alias: generator status change
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: sensor.generator_engine_state
        from: 'Off - Ready'
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app_walters_iphone
        data:
          message: "Generator status has changed. Current status {{ states('sensor.generator_engine_state') }}"
          title: "generator status changed"
          data:
            sound: call_to_arms.wav

[drizzay (andre)]

I was able to take and combine a few of the cards I have found to make one that I like for my Genmon integration.

type: 'custom:config-template-card'
variables:
  - 'states[''sensor.genmon_version''].state'
entities:
  - null
card:
  type: entities
  show_header_toggle: 'off'
  style: |
    .card-header {
      padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px !important;
    }
  entities:
    - type: section
      label: '${ ''Generac Evolution - Pi 3 - Raspian - Genmon '' + vars[0] }'
    - type: 'custom:hui-vertical-stack-card'
      cards:
        - type: horizontal-stack
          cards:
            - type: picture
              style: |
                ha-card { 
                    --paper-card-background-color: 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)';
                    --ha-card-background: "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)";
                    --ha-card-box-shadow: 'none';
                }
              image: /local/images/generac.png
            - type: vertical-stack
              cards:
                - type: 'custom:button-card'
                  layout: icon_name_state2nd
                  show_icon: true
                  show_state: true
                  styles:
                    grid:
                      - grid-template-columns: 50px auto
                    icon:
                      - padding: 0px 0px
                      - height: 20px
                      - width: 30px
                    card:
                      - '--ha-card-background': 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)'
                      - '--ha-card-box-shadow': none
                    state:
                      - padding: 0px 10px
                      - justify-self: start
                      - font-family: 'Roboto, sans-serif'
                      - font-size: 15px
                    name:
                      - padding: 0px 10px
                      - font-size: 15px
                      - justify-self: start
                      - color: var(--secondary-text-color)
                  entity: sensor.genmon_mon_uptime
                  name: Uptime
                  icon: 'mdi:clock-outline'
                - type: horizontal-stack
                  cards:
                    - type: 'custom:button-card'
                      layout: icon_name_state2nd
                      show_icon: true
                      show_state: true
                      styles:
                        grid:
                          - grid-template-columns: 25px auto
                        icon:
                          - padding: 0px 0px
                          - height: 30px
                          - width: 30px
                        card:
                          - '--ha-card-background': 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)'
                          - '--ha-card-box-shadow': none
                        state:
                          - padding: 0px 10px
                          - justify-self: start
                          - font-family: 'Roboto, sans-serif'
                          - font-size: 15px
                        name:
                          - padding: 0px 10px
                          - justify-self: start
                          - color: var(--secondary-text-color)
                      entity: sensor.genmon_mon_cpu_temperature
                      name: Temp
                      icon: 'mdi:thermometer'
                    - type: 'custom:button-card'
                      layout: icon_name_state2nd
                      show_icon: true
                      show_state: true
                      styles:
                        grid:
                          - grid-template-columns: 25px auto
                        icon:
                          - padding: 0px 0px
                          - height: 30px
                          - width: 30px
                        card:
                          - '--ha-card-background': 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)'
                          - '--ha-card-box-shadow': none
                        state:
                          - padding: 0px 10px
                          - justify-self: start
                          - font-family: 'Roboto, sans-serif'
                          - font-size: 15px
                        name:
                          - padding: 0px 10px
                          - justify-self: start
                          - color: var(--secondary-text-color)
                          - font-size: 13px
                      entity: sensor.genmon_mon_load
                      name: Pi CPU
                      icon: 'mdi:cpu-64-bit'
                - type: horizontal-stack
                  cards:
                    - type: 'custom:button-card'
                      layout: icon_name_state2nd
                      show_icon: true
                      show_state: true
                      styles:
                        grid:
                          - grid-template-columns: 25px auto
                        icon:
                          - padding: 0px 0px
                          - height: 30px
                          - width: 30px
                        card:
                          - '--ha-card-background': 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)'
                          - '--ha-card-box-shadow': none
                        state:
                          - padding: 0px 10px
                          - justify-self: start
                          - font-family: 'Roboto, sans-serif'
                          - font-size: 15px
                        name:
                          - padding: 0px 10px
                          - justify-self: start
                          - color: var(--secondary-text-color)
                          - font-size: 13px
                      entity: sensor.genmon_wlan_signal_level
                      name: WiFi
                      icon: 'mdi:gauge'
                    - type: 'custom:button-card'
                      layout: icon_name_state2nd
                      show_icon: true
                      show_state: true
                      styles:
                        grid:
                          - grid-template-columns: 25px auto
                        icon:
                          - padding: 0px 0px
                          - height: 30px
                          - width: 30px
                        card:
                          - '--ha-card-background': 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)'
                          - '--ha-card-box-shadow': none
                        state:
                          - padding: 0px 10px
                          - justify-self: start
                          - font-family: 'Roboto, sans-serif'
                          - font-size: 15px
                        name:
                          - padding: 0px 10px
                          - justify-self: start
                          - color: var(--secondary-text-color)
                      entity: sensor.genmon_generator_battery
                      name: Battery
                      icon: 'mdi:battery'
        - type: horizontal-stack
          cards:
            - type: 'custom:canvas-gauge-card'
              card_height: 100
              entity: sensor.genmon_outage_utility_voltage
              name: ''
              gauge:
                type: radial-gauge
                title: Pepco
                width: 100
                height: 100
                minValue: 0
                maxValue: 280
                startAngle: 40
                ticksAngle: 280
                valueBox: true
                units: Vac
                majorTicks:
                  - 0
                  - 28
                  - 56
                  - 84
                  - 112
                  - 140
                  - 168
                  - 196
                  - 224
                  - 252
                  - 280
                minorTicks: 10
                strokeTicks: true
                highlights:
                  - from: 0
                    to: 218
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                  - from: 218
                    to: 228
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 228
                    to: 252
                    color: 'rgba(104, 225, 67, .75)'
                  - from: 252
                    to: 262
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 262
                    to: 280
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                borders: 'no'
                needleType: arrow
                needleWidth: 4
                needleCircleSize: 7
                needleCircleOuter: true
                needleCircleInner: false
                animationDuration: 1500
                animationRule: linear
                valueBoxBorderRadius: 10
                colorValueBoxRect: '#222'
                colorValueBoxRectEnd: '#333'
                valueDec: 0
                valueInt: 0
            - type: 'custom:canvas-gauge-card'
              card_height: 100
              entity: sensor.genmon_generator_frequency
              name: ''
              gauge:
                type: radial-gauge
                title: Generator
                width: 100
                height: 100
                minValue: 0
                maxValue: 70
                startAngle: 40
                ticksAngle: 280
                valueBox: true
                units: Hz
                majorTicks:
                  - 0
                  - 10
                  - 20
                  - 30
                  - 40
                  - 50
                  - 60
                  - 70
                minorTicks: 10
                strokeTicks: true
                highlights:
                  - from: 0
                    to: 57
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                  - from: 57
                    to: 58.5
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 58.5
                    to: 61.5
                    color: 'rgba(104, 225, 67, .75)'
                  - from: 61.5
                    to: 63
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 63
                    to: 70
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                borders: 'no'
                needleType: arrow
                needleWidth: 4
                needleCircleSize: 7
                needleCircleOuter: true
                needleCircleInner: false
                animationDuration: 1500
                animationRule: linear
                valueBoxBorderRadius: 10
                colorValueBoxRect: '#222'
                colorValueBoxRectEnd: '#333'
                valueDec: 0
                valueInt: 0
            - type: 'custom:canvas-gauge-card'
              card_height: 100
              entity: sensor.genmon_generator_output_voltage
              name: ''
              gauge:
                type: radial-gauge
                title: Generator
                width: 100
                height: 100
                minValue: 0
                maxValue: 280
                startAngle: 40
                ticksAngle: 280
                valueBox: true
                units: Vac
                majorTicks:
                  - 0
                  - 28
                  - 56
                  - 84
                  - 112
                  - 140
                  - 168
                  - 196
                  - 224
                  - 252
                  - 280
                minorTicks: 10
                strokeTicks: true
                highlights:
                  - from: 0
                    to: 218
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                  - from: 218
                    to: 228
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 228
                    to: 252
                    color: 'rgba(104, 225, 67, .75)'
                  - from: 252
                    to: 262
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 262
                    to: 280
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                borders: 'no'
                needleType: arrow
                needleWidth: 4
                needleCircleSize: 7
                needleCircleOuter: true
                needleCircleInner: false
                animationDuration: 1500
                animationRule: linear
                valueBoxBorderRadius: 10
                colorValueBoxRect: '#222'
                colorValueBoxRectEnd: '#333'
                valueDec: 0
                valueInt: 0
        - type: horizontal-stack
          cards:
            - type: 'custom:canvas-gauge-card'
              card_height: 100
              entity: sensor.genmon_generator_output_power
              name: ''
              gauge:
                type: radial-gauge
                title: Generator
                width: 100
                height: 100
                minValue: 0
                maxValue: 23000
                startAngle: 40
                ticksAngle: 280
                valueBox: true
                units: kW
                majorTicks:
                  - 0
                  - 3
                  - 6
                  - 9
                  - 12
                  - 15
                  - 18
                  - 20
                  - 23
                minorTicks: 10
                strokeTicks: true
                highlights:
                  - from: 0
                    to: 15000
                    color: 'rgba(104, 225, 67, .75)'
                  - from: 15000
                    to: 18500
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 18500
                    to: 23000
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                borders: 'no'
                needleType: arrow
                needleWidth: 4
                needleCircleSize: 7
                needleCircleOuter: true
                needleCircleInner: false
                animationDuration: 1500
                animationRule: linear
                valueBoxBorderRadius: 10
                colorValueBoxRect: '#222'
                colorValueBoxRectEnd: '#333'
                valueDec: 0
                valueInt: 0
            - type: 'custom:canvas-gauge-card'
              card_height: 100
              entity: sensor.genmon_generator_rpm
              name: ''
              gauge:
                type: radial-gauge
                title: Generator
                width: 100
                height: 100
                minValue: 0
                maxValue: 4000
                startAngle: 40
                ticksAngle: 280
                valueBox: true
                units: RPM
                majorTicks:
                  - 0
                  - ''
                  - ''
                  - ''
                  - ''
                  - 2000
                  - ''
                  - ''
                  - ''
                  - 3600
                  - 4000
                minorTicks: 3
                strokeTicks: true
                highlights:
                  - from: 0
                    to: 3500
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                  - from: 3500
                    to: 3550
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 3550
                    to: 3650
                    color: 'rgba(104, 225, 67, .75)'
                  - from: 3650
                    to: 3750
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 3750
                    to: 4000
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                borders: 'no'
                needleType: arrow
                needleWidth: 4
                needleCircleSize: 7
                needleCircleOuter: true
                needleCircleInner: false
                animationDuration: 1500
                animationRule: linear
                valueBoxBorderRadius: 10
                colorValueBoxRect: '#222'
                colorValueBoxRectEnd: '#333'
                valueDec: 0
                valueInt: 0
            - type: 'custom:canvas-gauge-card'
              card_height: 100
              entity: sensor.genmon_generator_battery
              name: ''
              gauge:
                type: radial-gauge
                title: Generator
                width: 100
                height: 100
                minValue: 0
                maxValue: 16
                startAngle: 40
                ticksAngle: 280
                valueBox: true
                units: Volts
                majorTicks:
                  - 1
                  - 2
                  - 3
                  - 4
                  - 5
                  - 8
                  - 10
                  - 11
                  - 13
                  - 14.2
                  - 16
                minorTicks: 5
                strokeTicks: true
                highlights:
                  - from: 0
                    to: 11.6
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                  - from: 11.6
                    to: 12.6
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 12.6
                    to: 14.5
                    color: 'rgba(104, 225, 67, .75)'
                  - from: 14.5
                    to: 14.9
                    color: 'rgba(255, 255, 85, .75)'
                  - from: 15
                    to: 16
                    color: 'rgba(234, 51, 36, .75)'
                borders: 'no'
                needleType: arrow
                needleWidth: 4
                needleCircleSize: 7
                needleCircleOuter: true
                needleCircleInner: false
                animationDuration: 1500
                animationRule: linear
                valueBoxBorderRadius: 10
                colorValueBoxRect: '#222'
                colorValueBoxRectEnd: '#333'
                valueDec: 0
                valueInt: 0
        - type: entities
          entities:
            - entity: sensor.genmon_generator_exercise_time
              name: Exercise
              icon: 'mdi:clock'
            - entity: sensor.genmon_generator_last_action
              name: Last Action
              icon: 'mdi:clipboard-edit-outline'
            - entity: sensor.genmon_generator_last_alarm_log
              name: Last Alarm
              icon: 'mdi:alarm-bell'
            - entity: sensor.genmon_outage_status
              name: Last Outage
              icon: 'mdi:power-plug-off'
          style: |
            ha-card { 
                --paper-card-background-color: 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)';
                --ha-card-background: "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)";
                --paper-item-icon-color: 'var(--text-primary-color)';
                --ha-card-box-shadow: 'none';
            }

[usaf_pride]

First off, I am fairly new to the HA with the Lovelace interface. I was just starting to use HA when they were converting to Lovelace, so I set it all aside and now I’m back. I have been involved in GenMon for quite sometime and had a hand in the MQTT implementation.

I can see the MQTT messages on my HA from GenMon through MQTT Broker Integration, so I know they are being sent.

Message 165 received on generator/Status/Engine/Battery Voltage/value at 4:51 PM: 14.1

What I can’t seem to figure out is how to get any of the information to show on any card. I’ve taken @lmamakos generator.yaml file and put it in the packages folder and updated configuration.yaml following @wgstarks issues, but it gives the following error:

Component error: packages - Integration ‘packages’ not found.

Ultimately I am sure it is something simple that I am missing. Any help would be appreciated her. I really like @drizzay card, but won’t be able to even attempt that until I can get the sensors loaded.

[lmamakos (Louis Mamakos)]

@usaf_pride

Component error: packages - Integration ‘packages’ not found.

That’s a very strange error message; you might not be using the packages mechanism correctly. Take a look at the documentation on packages, and in particular on how to create a packages folder. to see how this is intended to be used.

By way of example, in my configuration.yaml file, I have something like this:

homeassistant:
  packages: !include_dir_named packages

to have Home Assistant load the YAML files in the (in my case, inside the container) the /config/packages folder. The genmon.yaml file needs to end up in that directory, not the custom_components directory or anywhere other than the directory you configured for packages.

This isn’t an integration; packages is just a way to help partition and manage the YAML used to construct Home Assistant configuration. You could logically extract each of the major “sections” for sensor: and binary_sensor: from that file and merge them into your “main” Home Assistant configuration. Packages allows you gather all this related stuff together in one file to make it easier to manage.

I would suggest fiddling around with the configuration first; you can always look in Developer Tools / States to see if the entities show up as expected before getting distracted with setting up the pretty Lovelace UI.

[usaf_pride]

Let’s just say step 1 was operator error. I just threw packages: in there without the homeassistant: (reading is fundamental, comprehension … so I’m feeling pretty dumb). I had this working while getting GenMon with MQTT, but now, I’m struggling.

Now when I validate the yaml, I’m getting the error below. The only edit I made was to substitute generator.local for the actual IP address:

> Invalid config for [sensor.rest]: [hidden] is an invalid option for [sensor.rest]. Check: sensor.rest->hidden. (See ?, line ?).
> Invalid config for [sensor.rest]: [hidden] is an invalid option for [sensor.rest]. Check: sensor.rest->hidden. (See ?, line ?).
> Invalid config for [sensor.rest]: [hidden] is an invalid option for [sensor.rest]. Check: sensor.rest->hidden. (See ?, line ?).
> Invalid config for [sensor.rest]: [hidden] is an invalid option for [sensor.rest]. Check: sensor.rest->hidden. (See ?, line ?).
> Invalid config for [group]: [view] is an invalid option for [group]. Check: group->group->generator_stats->view. (See ?, line ?).

I’m also not seeing MQTT in the Developer Tools, so I’m guessing I have something setup incorrectly there as well.

[lmamakos (Louis Mamakos)]

You might read further along in the thread; you shouldn’t have a rest sensor showing up; it’s all MQTT these days. For reference, here’s what my configuration looks like these days.

generator.yaml

################################################################
## Package / Generator
################################################################
#
#  Version 0.2
#
#  (This file is used as a "package" within the Home Assistant
#  configuration files.  If you don't use packages with your Home
#  Assistant configuration files, you need only take the relevant
#  sections of this file and add them to where you define
#  sensors, binary_sensors, etc.)

#  This package is used to interwork with (only) Generac-brand standby
#  generator systems with Nexus, Evolution and H100 controllers, also
#  using the open-source "genmon" package.  This package typically
#  runs on a dedicated Raspberry Pi (2, 3 or Zero) and is connected
#  via a serial cable to the controller located inside the generator
#  cabinet.  See:

#     https://github.com/jgyates/genmon

#  for additional information about genmon, how it works and what's
#  required to implement it.  Thanks very much to the author for a
#  quite complete and featureful monitoring system that can send
#  email, SMS notifications and many other things!

#  The genmon package consists of a number of components, the primary
#  one being the actual Python script that communicates with the
#  generator using a ModBus protocol.

#  In practice, this means running the genmon.py and genserv.py (web
#  server) daemons on the Raspberry Pi connected to the generator.

#  Among the optional components is a daemon which can monitor
#  the generator via genmon, and publish relevant information to
#  MQTT topics.

#  This module implements a means to collect this data without
#  requiring a custom component, or additional software that needs to
#  run.  This uses a number of MQTT sensors and jinga2 templates to
#  receive the published data and expose them as sensor entities in
#  Home Assistant.

#  genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds.  You can choose
#  to have MQTT sensors for any or all of these data.  Note that some
#  of the published data changes rather often, such as wifi RSSI,
#  uptime counters, etc.  You might want to configure your recorder
#  component to not store those values to avoid needlessly bloating
#  the recorder database with historically uninteresting data.

#  note that the unique_id values in this file are not signficant (or
#  even required at all).  They exist so that the entities show up
#  within the Home Assistant configuration GUI for customization.  I
#  chose to use UUIDs because it was an easy source of unique values,
#  no harm would likely come from using these same values or any that
#  you choose from on your own.

#  Louis Mamakos <[email protected]>
#  10 Dec 2020

################################################
## Customize
################################################

homeassistant:
  customize:
    ################################################
    ## Node Anchors
    ################################################

    package.node_anchors:
      customize: &customize
        package: 'generator'

    ################################################
    ## generator customization
    ################################################
    binary_sensor.genmon_power_outage:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Power Outage'

    sensor.genmon_outage_status:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Status'

    sensor.genmon_outage_utility_voltage:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Utility Voltage'
        
    sensor.genmon_generator_battery:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Battery Voltage'

    sensor.genmon_generator_rpm:
      friendly_name: 'Generator RPM'
      
    sensor.genmon_generator_frequency:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Frequency'

    sensor.genmon_generator_output_voltage:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Output Voltage'
      
    sensor.genmon_generator_output_current:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Output Current'

    sensor.genmon_generator_output_power:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Output Power'

    sensor.genmon_generator_last_alarm_log:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Last Alarm'

    sensor.genmon_generator_last_service_log:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Last Service Log'

    sensor.genmon_generator_last_action:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Last Action'

    sensor.genmon_generator_capacity:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Capacity'

    sensor.genmon_generator_exercise_time:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Exercise Time'

    sensor.genmon_mon_cpu_temperature:
      friendly_name: 'Generator CPU Temperature'

    sensor.genmon_mon_uptime:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Monitor Uptime'

    sensor.genmon_mon_load:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Monitor Load'

    sensor.genmon_outage_summary:
      friendly_name: 'Generator Outage Summary'


################################################
## generator sensors
################################################

#
#  The MQTT topics need to match what's transmitted by the
#  genmon host.  I use a non-standard MQTT prefix of '19916/' to
#  conform with the convention that I happen to use with my own
#  home automation system.
#
sensor:
  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "fd8f8c07-7d6f-4aea-92b5-16b7d8acc66b"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Outage/Status'
    name: Genmon Outage Status

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "f565fed6-8a19-49d4-8066-4015c5ca91b1"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Outage/Utility Voltage'
    name: Genmon Outage Utility Voltage
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" V", "") | float | round(0) }}'
    unit_of_measurement: "VAC"

  # status related sensors
  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "713eb4b9-feec-4425-8c83-84a9f486aae7"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Battery Raw
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/Engine/Battery Voltage'
    unit_of_measurement: "V"
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" V", "") | float | round(1) }}'

  - platform: filter
    name: Genmon Generator Battery
    entity_id: sensor.genmon_generator_battery_raw
    filters:
      - filter: time_throttle
        window_size: "00:15"

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "f3a8aedd-206b-4e5f-baa9-677496ee8d3c"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name:  Genmon Generator RPM
    unit_of_measurement: "RPM"
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/Engine/RPM'
    value_template: '{{ value | int }}'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "cbdc9c28-5748-4aef-91bc-5b5ec95ed545"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Frequency
    unit_of_measurement: "HZ"
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/Engine/Frequency'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" Hz","") | float }}'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "f5f462db-e16d-4596-9bd3-232b70fa5038"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Output Voltage
    unit_of_measurement: "VAC"
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/Engine/Output Voltage'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" V","") | float | round(1) }}'

  # current measrement is garbage on 22KW product, apparently
  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "10e1def6-35fd-4922-932a-90f25abb7f29"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Output Current
    unit_of_measurement: "A"
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/Engine/Output Current'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" A","") | float | round(1) }}'
        
  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "914a4e97-54a0-41e7-bbeb-a256134e5e35"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Output Power
    unit_of_measurement: "W"
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/Engine/Output Power (Single Phase)'
    # this is normalized to watts from kilowatts
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" kW","") | float * 1000 | round(0) }}'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "8cb64471-9123-48f6-b9be-15c01595981e"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Last Alarm Log
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/Last Log Entries/Logs/Alarm Log'
        
  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "bce3182a-a525-47dc-937c-8be4e5afc619"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Last Service Log
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/Last Log Entries/Logs/Service Log'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "bf48e972-0b96-489a-9eee-4f2030017c3f"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Last Action
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/Last Log Entries/Logs/Start Stop Log'
        
    # maint related sensors
  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "bf7cbe92-2b1e-48ca-addd-df963697626c"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Capacity
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Maintenance/Rated kW'
    # normalize to watts
    value_template: '{{ value | float * 1000 | round(1) }}'
    unit_of_measurement: 'W'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "825657b6-c67a-427a-bee9-7b6ea2182628"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Generator Exercise Time
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Maintenance/Exercise/Exercise Time'
    # might be nice to maybe somehow normalize this, but not sure into what date/time representation
    # value is something like:  "Weekly Sunday 17:35 Quiet Mode On"

  # genmon monitor related sensors
  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "792c8096-84a3-4870-ac23-8cc5dcc8f8f0"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Mon CPU Temperature Raw
    unit_of_measurement: "°F"
    device_class: temperature
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Monitor/Platform Stats/CPU Temperature'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" F","") | float | round(0) }}'

  - platform: filter
    name: Genmon Mon CPU Temperature
    entity_id: sensor.genmon_mon_cpu_temperature_raw
    filters:
      - filter: time_throttle
        window_size: "00:10"
    
  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "7c398cb0-43bf-469b-b49f-ae8b526cac32"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Mon Uptime
    # maybe parse this out into minutes/hours?
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Monitor/Platform Stats/System Uptime'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "60b44a17-2535-47da-af10-7f6b45d35d3a"
    expire_after: 300   # genmon MQTT flushes out MQTT updated every 60 seconds
    name: Genmon Mon Load
    unit_of_measurement: '%'
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Monitor/Platform Stats/CPU Utilization'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" *%","") | float | round(1) }}'

  # note that these following sensors are unique to my own specific situation and
  # are values collected from 1-wire bus temperature sensors connected to the Raspberry
  # Pi running genmon.  These do not come from the standard generator controller or
  # the on-board temperature sensor in the Raspberry Pi ARM CPU.  You should omit
  # these sensors if you're adapting my file for your own purposes.

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "882cb971-bf3e-4281-a158-bf0d0e3eb4ea"
    expire_after: 600
    name: Genmon 1W Controller Box
    unit_of_measurement: °F
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/External Temperature Sensors/28-00000bc56fa5'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" *F", "") | float | round(1) }}'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "1f54deef-b168-431a-aa9d-2af8e1fbf2c7"
    expire_after: 600
    name: Genmon 1W Outside Air
    unit_of_measurement: °F
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/External Temperature Sensors/28-020a91770670'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" *F", "") | float | round(1) }}'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "8ca45d5e-91fb-4826-bc75-ea1b3d8046c4"
    expire_after: 600
    name: Genmon TC Generator Body
    unit_of_measurement: °F
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/External Temperature Sensors/3b-6d800cc77f01'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" *F", "") | float | round(1) }}'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "545c8624-4428-4791-ba95-df671b74aafe"
    expire_after: 600
    name: Genmon TC Oil Cooler
    unit_of_measurement: °F
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/External Temperature Sensors/3b-4c880b6ac367'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" *F", "") | float | round(1) }}'

  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "d6f20e32-04bf-4155-842f-d68346e3a68b"
    expire_after: 600
    name: Genmon TC Engine Body
    unit_of_measurement: °F
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Status/External Temperature Sensors/3b-4c880b6ac389'
    value_template: '{{ value | regex_replace(" *F", "") | float | round(1) }}'



  - platform: template
    sensors:
      generator_outage_summary:
        # entity_id:
        #   - sensor.genmon_outage_status
        unique_id: "11be76cc-02bc-4868-b033-5efc60a289c5"
        value_template: >-
          {% if states.sensor.genmon_outage_status.state | regex_match('System in outage') %}
             {% set duration = (as_timestamp(now()) - as_timestamp(states.sensor.genmon_outage_status.state)) | regex_replace('System in outage since ') | int %}
             {% set hours = duration // 3600 %}
             {% set duration = duration - hours * 3600 %}
             {% set minutes = duration // 60 %}
             {% set seconds = duration % 60 %}
             Outage active for {{ '%d:%02d:%02d' | format(hours, minutes, seconds) }}
          {% else %}
            {{ states.sensor.genmon_outage_status.state }}
          {% endif %}
#
#  probably the most useful sensor - are we in a power outage condition or not?
#
binary_sensor:
  - platform: mqtt
    unique_id: "468414df-32b1-4127-8636-4202a11b880c"
    name: Genmon Power Outage
    state_topic: '19916/generator/Outage/System In Outage'
    payload_on: 'Yes'
    payload_off: 'No'

group:
  generator_stats:
    name: generator
    entities:
      - binary_sensor.genmon_power_outage
      - sensor.genmon_outage_status
      - sensor.genmon_outage_utility_voltage
      - sensor.genmon_generator_battery
      - sensor.genmon_generator_rpm
      - sensor.genmon_generator_frequency
      - sensor.genmon_generator_output_voltage
      - sensor.genmon_generator_output_current
      - sensor.genmon_generator_output_power
      - sensor.genmon_generator_last_alarm_log
      - sensor.genmon_generator_last_service_log
      - sensor.genmon_generator_last_action
      - sensor.genmon_generator_capacity
      - sensor.genmon_generator_exercise_time
      - sensor.genmon_mon_cpu_temperature
      - sensor.genmon_mon_uptime
      - sensor.genmon_mon_load
      - sensor.power_volts
      - sensor.power_total

automation:
  - alias: 'start power outage'
    initial_state: true
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.genmon_power_outage
        from: 'off'
        to: 'on'
        # so ideally wait a little bit for the generator to time out the utility power
        # loss, start and operate the automatic transfer switch from utility to generator
        # network equipment should be a UPS.. hopefully ISP connectivity is still working
        for:
          seconds: 45
    action:
      - service: notify.pushover_louie
        data:
          message: "Utiliy Power Loss at {{  now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') }}"
          title: "HASS"

# maybe also initiate a zwave heal network or something after power is restored to
# from standby generator after a ~45 second interruption?  Switch back is pretty
# quick, with only a couple hundred millisecond transfer time in the ATS..

#
  - alias: end power outage
    initial_state: true
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.genmon_power_outage
        from: 'on'
        to: 'off'
    action:
      - service: notify.pushover_louie
        data:
          message: "Transfer back to utiliy power at {{  now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') }}"
          title: "HASS"

############################################################################3
#
# Fun facts (For 22kw generac model)
#   
#  Per specification, fuel consumption for propane is
#        2.56 gal/hr at 50% load (11KW)
#        3.87 gal/hr at 100% load (22KW)
#
#  Per genmon code, the 3 term polynomial to compute this is: [0, 2.74, 1.16]
# 
#        gal/hr = (T0 * pctLoad^2) + (T1 * pctLoad) + T3
#        gal/hr =                    2.74 * pctLoad + 1.16
#
#  This is a pretty good fit to the spec sheet -
#       50% = 2.53 gal/hr  (vs 2.56 spec)
#      100% = 3.90 gal/hr  (vs 3.87 spec)
#
#  Home assistant could compute a gallons/hour rate in a template sensor if this seems useful.
#

Note that the MQTT topic prefix I’m using is not default. I also added in some filter sensors to smooth out frequently changing sensor values (like starter battery voltage) that limits the update rate. On my recorder configuration, I don’t store entity_ids with a _raw suffix to the local Home Assistant database; that’s the point of what’s going on here…

Hope this helps.

[usaf_pride]

@lmamakos

Note that the MQTT topic prefix I’m using is not default. I also added in some filter sensors to smooth out frequently changing sensor values (like starter battery voltage) that limits the update rate. On my recorder configuration, I don’t store entity_ids with a _raw suffix to the local Home Assistant database; that’s the point of what’s going on here…

Hope this helps.

Immensely. I’m now seeing the sensors in Developer Tools (albelit unavailable). I am sure I will be back, but this gets me down the road quite a ways!!

[lmamakos (Louis Mamakos)]

@usaf_pride

mmensely. I’m now seeing the sensors in Developer Tools. I am sure I will be back, but this gets me down the road quite a ways!!

That’s great news, double-check the MQTT topics; almost certainly you’ll need to change all of mine since they have a 19916/ prefix on them.

Well, now just a matter of creativity in designing a UI in Lovelace to use that data in useful ways. And that’s the part where it usually falls down for me, I’m no UI genius or designer.

Or, I forgot that I have some temperature sensors configured that show up in genmon as Dallas One-Wire bus devices. You’ll probably want to delete that configuration.

Probably all this work will trigger a power outage; that what happened to me yesterday during dinner prep; an 18 minute long interruption. Then, in the thick of things, I realized the stuff I wanted to look at wasn’t there and that gave more some additional ideas for my generator page. I also need to do some additional automations to blink some lights or something so that we’re aware we’re running on generator backup power.

I have to be careful because I have to wait for various non-UPS power devices (like various ESP8266/ESP32 things) to reconnect to the the WiFi before having them do something. And I can’t relay on my Internet working, because my ISP doesn’t seem to have working battery backup for the trunk amplifiers on the cable system. Depending on the location of the outage, Internet can drop right away. No no voice announcements through Alexa.

[usaf_pride]

I actually caught the 19916 prefix (now generator/xxx) and I had commented out the temperature sensors. The data is actually flowing in now, I just had to be a bit more patient.

Now on to making it look like @drizzay’s. I’m sure he has some additional setup/config that hopefully he can fill me in on.

[GlennHA (Glenn)]

I like your layout; much more elegant than mine.
Now you just need a black or transparent background for the generator picture. When you find one, put the link here for others.
Looks like I will be modding mine again.
I initially liked a simplistic look, but now I see the appeal of adding pictures so it is very easy to see what you are looking at.

[drizzay (andre)]

I have a conditional card on my main page for the generator status that is triggered by the generator being in an outage. Needed to keep it simple for the WAF.

[drizzay (andre)]

What info do you need?

[usaf_pride]

@drizzay, I dropped your code in (obviously missing the photo) and no errors, but the card is blank.

I’m not a UI type of guy, so I beg and borrow as much as I can to avoid the frustration level being high.

[drizzay (andre)]

Have you added the custom cards that are being called in the file?

[usaf_pride]

I had added the following cards (I don’t think I missed any):

‘custom:config-template-card’
‘custom:button-card’
‘custom:canvas-gauge-card’

I can’t seem to locate:

‘custom:hui-vertical-stack-card’

It appears it may have been replaced with

‘custom:hui-element’

but I can’t seem to get the correct formatting down in the YAML file.

[GlennHA (Glenn)]

You could probably replace it with the vertical-stack card that is built in now.

[usaf_pride]

I actually attempted to, but it still isn’t working (nor do I know if this is the actual reason it isn’t working):

  entities:
    - type: section
      label: '${ ''Generac Evolution - Pi 3 - Raspian - Genmon '' + vars[0] }'
    - type: 'custom:hui-element'
      cards:
        - type: horizontal-stack
          cards:
            - type: picture
              style: |
                ha-card { 
                    --paper-card-background-color: 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)';
                    --ha-card-background: "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)";
                    --ha-card-box-shadow: 'none';
                }
              image: /local/images/generac.png
            - type: vertical-stack
              cards:
                - type: 'custom:button-card'
                  layout: icon_name_state2nd
                  show_icon: true
                  show_state: true

[usaf_pride]

Through a lot of trial and error, the issue was from this line:

variables:
  - 'states[''sensor.genmon_version''].state'

[drizzay (andre)]

Glad you got it working.

[usaf_pride]

Ultimately, your generator.yaml does not match @lmamakos. Can you post your generator.yaml file for comparison?