Electricity Consumption Metering via Zigbee Link to The Meter

Deceptic0n on 02/03/2023 - 11:10
Last edited 02/03/2023 - 11:44

Hi All ,

I recently got the solar system installed and my inverter display the PV panel output and the feed-in info . Can you recommend me a solution for monitoring the energy consumption so that I can do some graph plotting on the Graphana dashboard ? My plan is to plot the Solar output , feed-in which I can read though the inverters HTTP API and to plot the energy consumption through Zigbee device like this https://www.amazon.com.au/Rainforest-EMU-2-Energy-Monitoring… . Unfortunately these devices are no longer available .I am looking for a device that can talk to my energy meter via ZigBee . Thank you in advance

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • joolz50 on 02/03/2023 - 11:42

    What model inverter do you have?

  • askvictor on 02/03/2023 - 12:06
    +2

    The zigbee meter thing never really took off. You could try to look into the vic govt's list of providers: https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/for-households/victorian-energ…

    Or you could go for one of the devices that counts the LED flashes on the meter then communicates that to your phone or elsewhere - PowerPal is one such device but there are quite a few. Might want to check the whirlpool forums too.

    • Deceptic0n on 03/03/2023 - 10:27

      I am located in Melbourne and I have a few friends who managed to make the Rainforest EMU2 device talking to the energy meters via Zigbee . They had to submit this form to Ausnet https://connect.ausnetservices.com.au/webui/#/#%2F%23%23%23%… prior to interfacing the EMU2 device to the smart energy meter. .

      • askvictor on 03/03/2023 - 10:31

        Yeah, I know it's possible, I meant 'didn't take off' in a market sense; there are a ton more devices on the market that use the LED flashes than use zigbee.

  • GordonD on 02/03/2023 - 12:49
    +1

    Monitoring your solar power system is like watching the grass grow on your new lawn. Once you've looked at the numbers a few times, and they're the same every day, and there's nothing you can do to change them, it gets boring. Don't spend too much thinking that it'll stay interesting for long.

  • websterp on 02/03/2023 - 13:30
    +1

    I believe if you added a Fronius Smart Meter to your setup then you can access all the parameters mentioned in the OP via the API.

  • BigLeviathan on 02/03/2023 - 20:18
    +1

    I have a solaredge inverter and originally planned to have a zigbee connection; but the installer stuffed up and they ordered the Wifi one instead.
    Thankfully SolarEdge has API and because I use hubitat, someone already created a driver for it.

    So, I've been using it to show on my tablet that is attached to the fridge, so I can see current solar production.

    At the same time, I saw an ad from sense.com that they ran beta program for AU customers, I signed up and managed to get it installed (note: I have solar panel + single phase and currently located in Melbourne). So now, I can see the current consumption and production of my electricity; perhaps something you can try too?

    • Deceptic0n on 03/03/2023 - 10:28

      Thanks , I had a look at the sense beta program and looks like they no longer accepting any more beta testers at this stage

  • StrategicMess on 02/03/2023 - 23:28
    +1

    I've been using the Home Assistant Glow on my Smart Meter for the past year and works really well with the energy dashboard in a Home Assistant setup.

    It's a WiFi via ESP32 rather than zigbee, but it's an easy DIY solution if your ok to follow the build instructions here: https://github.com/klaasnicolaas/home-assistant-glow

    I've previously read that the Australia Smart Meters do have an internal Zigbee interface within, but they are disabled for use.

    If your interest getting into Home Assistant it has a really good energy interface which also interfaces to the Fronius Primo Wifi and displays hourly usage of the Glow device and Fronius Solar in a really nice dashboard: https://www.home-assistant.io/home-energy-management/

    Plenty of other energy devices you can integrate in home assistant too: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/#energy

    If you have one of those PowerPal devices on your meter the Glow uses the same LED interface. I have created a modified 3D printed case for the Glow which piggybacks the PowerPal so both work if your interested.

  • StrategicMess on 02/03/2023 - 23:42

    Also found this demo of the Home Assistant Energy Dashboard: https://demo.home-assistant.io/#/energy. Gives you an idea of what you can integrate and the UI available. The most useful part is when you start automating home applicances ( dishwasher / dryer / washing machine / cooling & heating ) you can start and stop them operating at peak solar to maximise usage via automations. Home Assistaint can be a deep hole, but fun if your inclined.

  • palitu on 03/03/2023 - 16:12

    i use an IoTaWatt, which has an API and hooks into Wifi (i realise you said zigbee). It uses clip on current transformers (CTs), so only use if you know something about electricity.

  • apple2016 on 07/03/2023 - 10:26

    I can read though the inverters HTTP API

    Just read the data from supplier. it might be a few mins delayed. you should be able to consumption data every 5 min from you elec provider as csv also.
    https://dev.aemo.com.au/api-docs

  • andmcg on 10/07/2023 - 19:51

    Rainforest Automation's products are still supposed to work and connect directly to your smart meter via Zigbee. They say they work with every distributor in Victoria (as I assume they all use the same smart meter).

    I've just ordered one directly from their website. About $200 after currency conversion. Not the cheapest option for what it is, but it should be pretty much plug and play. The advantage it has over the flashing LED is that it will measure solar feed-in as well. According to a work colleague that put me on to this product, the update time is very fast as well, whereas products that use the LED are a little delayed (up to 30-60 second).

    IoTaWatt is the ultimate if you want to pay a sparky to hook it up. HA Glow is your next best option if you are willing to get your hands a little dirty with an ESP32.

    For some context, my solar inverter does monitor everything, however there are a few issues: it is via their API which can be delayed by 5-10 minutes, which can made it difficult to make decisions on turning on appliances. The inverter also turns off at night, so no data after the sun sets. I want something as near to real-time as possible, so we can see quickly if we have 2 or 3kw "spare" then it's time to put on the dishwasher.

  • parad0x on 31/07/2023 - 05:00

    I've literally spent about hours trying to point everyone in the right direction here, because I know the Feature Request thread is one hell of a long roller-coaster ride, and unfortunately alot of unnecessary stuff got dumped into numerous Girhub forks…

    Anyway, first 2 times I dropped my phone and swiped it wrong. The last time just not I was finally almost dome, and I clicked on a link in my Android HA App, and for some reason it nerfed my open page….

    To make it quick, Home-Assistant Glow is nothing more than a well presented layout template, and a tiny bit of maths, but without connecting all the relevant elements it needs to look pretty, it's just another HA looking page….

    Everyone should be aware that for under $10, you can not only replace a Powerpal Gateway Advanced, but you can so then use send that info to your HA server via its WiFi interface.
    Upstream wholesalers online pages are an easy way to get data you might not have been able to deduce (my inverter gives me 2 pieces of information that HA has any use for…. Solar generation today, and all time. A other 53 entities it creates are blank!

    I'll try and get back to at least steer this thread in the right direction early on!

    Cheers

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