I’ve been using HA for about 4 years and have a variety of devices running in two homes. The hardware and integrations have run the gamut from garbage to very good. I’m kicking off a project to install solar power and a battery in my apartment so I thought I would begin the process with a whole-home energy monitor.
After some research I decided on the Refoss EL06 system. The European device comes with 6 current sensors, which is just enough for my apartment. I ordered it from Amazon Spain for €79.99.
Installation went well, except I read contradictory information about the orientation of the sensors, and of course I had them all backwards. 10 seconds each to flip them around and I was getting good data.
You have to set up the device with a phone app and link it to your home 2.4 Wifi. I then installed the Refoss integration in HA and it worked perfectly. I mean, nothing in HA works his well first time! The UI control is customizable and looks great on my desktop. It seems like it has a 15 second data update cycle.
Since space is tight in European breaker panels, I wish the sensors were smaller but I managed to make everything fit and did my usual tidy cable management.
So all in all, the hardware works and the HA integration works. I will definitely buy one for my other home.
Thanks for the review. Is it possible to run the system without any internet connection?
I do NOT buy any hardware that has to have an internet connection and phone home in order to operate. I’ve been burned too many times by hardware that suddenly stops working because the vendor goes out of business or decides to brick your devices because they don’t want to provide their “service” anymore.
Good question. It’s been a while since I installed it so I asked Gemini. I do have their app on my phone and integrated with my Home Assistant.
That is a very good question that addresses a common concern for people who want robust local control over their smart home devices for security and reliability.
Based on the product specifications and compatibility information for the Refoss EL06 (and similar Refoss smart plugs), the answer is mixed, but generally, you will need an initial connection to their servers, and full functionality without the cloud requires integration with a third-party hub.
Like almost all modern Wi-Fi smart plugs (unless they explicitly advertise a hub-free, local-only setup protocol like Matter), the Refoss EL06 requires a connection to the internet and the company’s servers for the initial pairing process.
The process involves downloading the Refoss app (or sometimes the Meross/eHomeLife app), creating an account, and connecting the plug to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. This process sends pairing information through the company’s server.
2. Local Control: Depends on the Platform
The ability to function fully without the company’s servers (local control) depends on the smart home platform you use:
A. Using the Refoss/Meross App (Standard Setup)
Reliance on Cloud: When controlled solely through the Refoss/Meross app, the plug primarily relies on the cloud for remote access (control from outside your home Wi-Fi) and complex automations.
Local Control (Limited): While they often offer some form of local Wi-Fi control when your phone is on the same network as the plug, this is not guaranteed for all functions (like complex scheduling or firmware updates) and may not work if the company’s cloud authentication server goes down.
B. Using Apple HomeKit (If the model is HomeKit compatible)
Excellent Local Control: If your EL06 model has the HomeKit badge, control is highly local. HomeKit plugs use the Home Hub (Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad) on your home network to communicate. Once set up, you can control the plug from your phone without the plug or your phone needing internet access.
Initial Setup: You still need internet access for the initial HomeKit provisioning and to download the necessary apps.
C. Using Home Assistant / Open API (Best Local Control)
Full Local Functionality: Some Refoss/Meross devices, particularly the energy monitors (like the EM06), are known to support local LAN discovery and integration with platforms like Home Assistant . If the EL06 also supports this local API, you can gain full control over switching and monitoring functions using a local controller like Home Assistant, thereby completely bypassing the company’s servers for daily use.