Energy monitoring options ⚡🔌💸

[jcallaghan]

I want to have more insights into the energy consumption of my home. I'm considering a split-core current sensor to monitor energy at the fuse box. I also have Sonoff POWR2's, Smartthings plugs and TPLINK plugs that provide me with energy data for specific devices which is great to monitor energy use. Insights at this level can also be used to drive automation like #143. For a number of these devices, I have created Utility Meter entities to track their usage on an individual basis and then have an all-up version for the whole house (well those devices I'm tracking at least).

Plan

• Research if the data from UK smart meters can be used.
• Entire house (for true monitoring and insights) via a clamp and ESPHome.
• Device specific insights through the use of Sonoff POWR2, TPLINK plug or Smartthings plug.

Devices of interest

I want to have insights into how certain things in my house consume energy. With this data, I can also trigger an automation to turn something off for example if it is left on.

Appliance	Device	Description
Washing machine	TPLINK	Used to monitor the state of the washing machine and turn it off at the mains when not in use.
Fridge freezer	TPLINK	Used to automatically defrost fridge/freezer periodically.
Hot tub	Sonoff POWR2	Cost insights and power lost notification.
3D printer	Sonoff POWR2	Insights and cost analysis.
Workbench	Sonoff POWR2	Insights and automation. Turn off soldering iron when idle.
Charging station	Smartthings plug	Insights and automation. Turn off when idle.
Bedside phone chargers	TBC	Insights and automation.
Kitchen appliances	Smartthings plug	Insights.
Desks	Smartthings plug	Insights.
Iron	Smartthings plug	Insights and automation. Turn off when idle.
Hairdryer/iron	Smartthings plug	Insights and automation. Turn off when idle.
TV	Smartthings plug	Insights.
Network equipment	Sonoff POWR2	Delayed restart feature.

I should also consider standardising on one plug either the TPLINK or Smartthings plug.

[jcallaghan]

I like how Malachi creates a template sensor to combine all energy and current entities into a single entity which is passed into a sensor using Utility Meter integration. This can then be used in a graph to show energy usage in realtime.

https://www.malachisoord.com/2019/12/03/home-assistant-utility-meter-setup

Malachi Soord

Home Assistant utility meter setup

In our house we have a few older generation Teckin SP22’s running Espurna and newer Gosund SP111 running Tasmota that all publish their energy statistics via MQTT to Home Assistant.