My dryer just broke, so I’ve purchased a new one. Before I install it, I’d like to find a smart plug with energy monitoring that works well in HA. I’d prefer Zigbee, but I do have the SkyConnect as my coordinator. If multi-PAN is stable at this point, then a thread-based plug could work also. Matter is also fine, my wifi deployment near my dryer is excellent.
Can anyone make recommendations for a smart plug that has energy monitoring for a 240v load? Many are rated only for 110v.
In Northamerica, 240v is two (split) phase - your dryer is LIKELY 240v/30a but it could be 40 or 50 - and you should verify it before you attempt to acquire anything. These aren’t commodity switches.
Before I installed a SPAN panel I was leaning toward the GE-to monitor my dryer, but I never pulled the trigger as even though the hardware is good, power metering has to be very carefully planned on zwave networks and I was already having traffic issues.
The Migro seems interesting - as it’s essentially an ESP32 device - Im wondering if there’s a way to take it into ESPHome…
Yes, this dryer does come standard with LGs own monitoring tools, but I’m trying to utilize the plugs as a vendor-agnostic, completely local solution that will work so long as the motor spins and heat blows. I do not like cloud-connected devices.
Effectively, all plugs from Europe would handle 240V. Nevertheless, 30A is beyond what all those plugs can handle on the amperage side. I am surprised by this number as here in Europe where 240V is standard, electrical circuits are usually limited to 16A for standard plugs (circuit breakers are for 10A on lights and 16A on standard plugs).
I am not aware of any smart plug going beyond 16A. ZigBee Prise Connectée Nous A1Z is what I use, with max current of 16A.
With a high current like that I would suggest looking at the clamp type energy monitoring devices, I am using a 150A zigbee version to monitor my whole home usage. The benefit of these types is the current is not actually passing through the monitoring device.
Completely agree with @reef-actor. A clamp monitor is better solution than smart plug.
I’m based in UK so know nothing about two phase 240v but I wouldn’t put such a high current through a smart plug - sounds like you only need the power monitoring anyway.
If you don’t know much about electricity then I’d suggest getting someone that does to install a power meter as the clamp has to sit around the live/phase conductor only, not the entire cable.
I did at one point want to investigate the Shelly EM system for entire unit monitoring, so maybe this is the time to look into doing that and I could put one of the clamps on the 240v circuit to the dryer as well.
Are most, if not all residential electricians familiar with this type of smart energy monitoring system? Are there preferred types outside of Shelly that I should be investigating? I understand that many of the answers above will vary from country to country, so NA / Canadian input is highly valued.
Did you land on a solution? I am interested in monitoring my washer/dryer. Also living in Canada. I have a few devices with CT clamps however I am less interested in splitting open my dryers cord to attach a clamp. Any suggestions?
No, nothing that I’m comfortable with in regards to fire safety. At this point, I’ve given up on my search until (if ever) I install a full clamp solution at my mains / breaker panel.