Home energy monitoring system (in the market for a product to monitor energy usage)
- Thread starter Scrugs
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chrisski
Solar Boondocker
I think using those energy monitors will be good. I wished I’d known of these prior to installing solar.
I did not know about these energy monitors like emporia so I was unsure of loads going on my critical loads panel. For example I knew I wanted the kitchen GFCI circuit on the load panel, but did not know the dishwasher ran at 1 kw and was also on this circuit. Also had a good idea that then AC operated at 3600 watts based off SEER rating, but did not expect the blower motor brought the actual AC closer to 4.5 Kw. Also would have let me find circuits without tripping breakers.
I did have a kilawatt meter, but that doesn’t measure the hardwired loads that use 90% of my energy.
I did not know about these energy monitors like emporia so I was unsure of loads going on my critical loads panel. For example I knew I wanted the kitchen GFCI circuit on the load panel, but did not know the dishwasher ran at 1 kw and was also on this circuit. Also had a good idea that then AC operated at 3600 watts based off SEER rating, but did not expect the blower motor brought the actual AC closer to 4.5 Kw. Also would have let me find circuits without tripping breakers.
I did have a kilawatt meter, but that doesn’t measure the hardwired loads that use 90% of my energy.
Offgrid Jungle
Solar Enthusiast
Emporia Vue hands down. I have it monitoring my mains, washer, dryer, stove oven, 5 ac units and the solar hot water back up circuit.
A year of data made sizing my system easy.
A year of data made sizing my system easy.
BentleyJ
Solar Wizard
I'm using Emporia Vue 2, no direct experience with Sense. Forum reviews in the past have been mostly poor with regard to Sense being able to consistently detect individual appliances by their characteristic electrical signature. The most accurate and reliable way to monitor a circuit is with a CT based monitoring system.
Of course if there is more than one appliance on a circuit a CT will not distinguish which one is on so theoretically the Sense could do this but apparently not very well.
I've gotten to the point I can distinguish between different appliances by looking at the chart pattern. For example, the toaster duty cycle and amplitude is different than the food dehydrator. Most of the time you don't need that level of detail anyway.
Offgrid Jungle
Solar Enthusiast
My Emporia is very stable and it is the BEST decide to use out of the box. I use Home Assistant and I have learned that the Emporia VUE system is the most reliable way to monitor energy use. I have had issues with various brands of smart plugs. I finally bought a 4 pack of Emporia smart plugs. The others are going into the trash. I have one smart plug on my basement vent fan cooling the inverter area. I can monitor energy used and control its on/off function from anywhere in the world.
Offgrid Jungle
Solar Enthusiast
By the way, I am in charge of monitoring a community well system for 28 homes. I used the Iotawatt and push the data to Emoncms. It’s great but the Iotawatt guy stopped selling them (that’s what I heard last year)
Recovering EE
Solar Addict
I used a Sense monitor to figure out the average load on a sub-panel. I just installed it like it's in a main panel. Identifying what's what as far as load devices are concerned was a dismal failure. I didn't care, as I was only interested in average total energy usage on that sub. Another shortcoming is that it doesn't store data per split-phase leg (L1 and L2) separately, only the entire 240V energy usage. You can read L1 and L2 power in real-time, but that's totally worthless for average load balancing.
Again, for what I wanted it for, Sense is adequate.
If I wanted detailed info on separate circuits and/or legs, I would definitely go with Emporia.
Thank you appreciate the feedback, I am new and learning.
I'm about to invest in energy monitoring for a villa with Grid tied PV/batteries, 50Amp single phase connection.
Looking at Emporia Energy Monitor 16 sensors, Siemens Inhab Smart Home Energy Monitoring also 16 sensors, others.
The siemens system looks good, but seems focused on US market only.. any advice
Looking at Emporia Energy Monitor 16 sensors, Siemens Inhab Smart Home Energy Monitoring also 16 sensors, others.
The siemens system looks good, but seems focused on US market only.. any advice
Quattrohead
Emperor Of Solar
I believe the Siemens is the same as the Emporia version 3.
I have just also found some cheaper units that look like the Emporia version 2 on Amazon but they claim you can run them without cloud and local control via mqqt, very interesting.
I have just also found some cheaper units that look like the Emporia version 2 on Amazon but they claim you can run them without cloud and local control via mqqt, very interesting.
Thanks a lot, much appriciated
CaliSunHarvester
Solar Wizard
Tuya also makes such a product, if you don't need to measure 10+ circuits. The Tuyas use the cloud and cost under $20 (I see the 80A version on AliExpress for $13.70 right now and at Walmart for $15.87).
Google "Tuya Smart WiFi Energy Meter"
I have them since November last year and 0 problems so far.
Walmart link
Google "Tuya Smart WiFi Energy Meter"
I have them since November last year and 0 problems so far.
Walmart link
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