Debugging to get preheat working

[mogons57]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe. I'm struggling to get preheat working. Followed instructions in the docs (several times) but nothing happening.

Describe the solution you'd like Some way of working out what I've got wrong with the setup so it starts working.

Describe alternatives you've considered I've tried everything I can think of to get the preheat setup in apps.yaml correct [i.e. problems with sensors] but still no luck. When I do a search for predheat entities the only one that appears is "switch.predbat_predheat_enable". Done a complete HA reboot but nothing improves.

Additional context Running v8.5.3 and the enable preheat switch is on. Using Predbat 1.2.1 add on. The only mention of preheat in the logs is the line that says Watching ['./prediction.py', './predheat.py', .... In the web log file there is no mention of preheat at all.

[springfall2008]

Can you attach your apps.yaml?

[Ashpork]

I have a similar issue. Logs only show the "Watching" line, or a line showing that I'd toggled the enable predheat.

apps.yaml attached as .txt file. It's largely the config from the documentation, with some minor changes. Values for heatloss/watts etc. for predheat largely untouched right now. The Predbat configuration also needs some tidying, I know!

apps.txt

Logs below. Known gaps in historic data with recent power outages. Enable Predheat is on

Starting Standalone Predbat 2024-11-05 09:06:50.120976: Loading apps.yaml 2024-11-05 09:06:50.157017: Info: Connected to Home Assistant at http://supervisor/core 2024-11-05 09:06:50.159062: Info: Add-on slug is 6adb4f0d_predbat 2024-11-05 09:06:50.159105: Creating task: <coroutine object HAInterface.socketLoop at 0x7efd4bda7bc0> 2024-11-05 09:06:50.159340: Info: Web Socket task started 2024-11-05 09:06:50.159408: Creating task: <coroutine object WebInterface.start at 0x7efd4bda7c30> 2024-11-05 09:06:50.159619: Info: Start socket for url http://supervisor/core/api/websocket Web interface started 2024-11-05 09:06:50.169223: Info: Web Socket active Watching ['./web.py', './utils.py', './predheat.py', './config.py', './prediction.py', './inverter.py', './apps.yaml', './futurerate.py', './predbat.py', './hass.py', './unit_test.py', './ha.py', './download.py', './unzip/batpred-7.22.0/apps/predbat/predbat.py', './unzip/batpred-7.22.0/apps/predbat/config/apps.yaml'] for changes 2024-11-05 09:07:09.763142: Warn: Historical day 5 has 70 minutes of gap in the data, filled from 21.61 kWh to make new average 22.71 kWh (percent 95%) 2024-11-05 09:07:09.766038: Warn: Historical day 6 has 100 minutes of gap in the data, filled from 9.89 kWh to make new average 10.63 kWh (percent 93%) 2024-11-05 09:07:09.771193: Warn: Historical day 8 has no data, unable to fill gaps normally using nominal 24kWh - you should fix your system! 2024-11-05 09:07:09.841712: Warn: Historical day 10 has 55 minutes of gap in the data, filled from 10.85 kWh to make new average 11.28 kWh (percent 96%) 2024-11-05 09:07:09.905256: Warn: Inverter 0: Using inverter type SE - not all features are available 2024-11-05 09:07:19.117872: Warn: Inverter 0: Using inverter type SE - not all features are available 2024-11-05 09:07:19.226848: Info: record_status Idle

[mogons57]

Predheat bit of setup below

In a few cases I've tried using dummy sensors to try to make sure the right type of data is getting into predheat.

predheat:
  # Days forward
  forecast_days: 2

  # Days previous is the number of days back to find historical load data
  # Recommended is 7 to capture day of the week but 1 can also be used
  # if you have more history you could use 7 and 14 (in a list) but the standard data in HA only lasts 10 days
  days_previous:
    - 7

  # Gas or heatpump mode ('gas' or 'pump')
  mode: gas

  # External temperature sensor
  # You may need to create a template sensor for this one
  external_temperature: sensor.external_temperature

  # Internal temperature sensor(s)
  internal_temperature:
    - sensor.nas_drive_1_temperature   # My internal temp sensors would come from more climate sensors so using this sensor as it is simpler

  # Weather data
  weather: weather.openweathermap

  # Sensor with history that monitors the thermostat setting in the house
  target_temperature: sensor.nas_drive_1_temperature   

  # When true models a smart thermostat that turns the heating ahead of the target temperature so it reaches it just in time
  smart_thermostat: False

  # Past energy consumption of heating in KWh, scaled with heating_energy_scaling
  heating_energy: sensor.octopus_energy_gas_##########_current_accumulative_consumption_kwh
  heating_energy_scaling: 1.0

  # Heating is turned on history
  heating_active: binary_sensor.octopus_energy_#######_octoplus_saving_sessions # Dummy binary_sensor - my current heating active is a boolean so testing with this

  # House heat loss in watts per degree temp difference
  heat_loss_watts: 120

  # Static heat sources in the house (e.g. people/equipment)
  heat_gain_static: 200

  # House heat loss in degrees per hour per degree temp difference
  heat_loss_degrees: 0.030

  # Heating max output (of the radiators), in Watts at delta 50 (BTU / 3.41)
  # https://www.bestheating.com/milano-kent-straight-chrome-heated-towel-rail-various-sizes-91119
  # https://www.bestheating.com/milano-compact-type-11-single-panel-radiator-multi-sizes-available-74174
  # https://www.bestheating.com/milano-compact-type-22-double-panel-radiator-multi-sizes-available-74176
  # https://www.bestheating.com/milano-compact-type-21-double-panel-plus-radiator-multi-sizes-available-74175
  heat_output: 17000

  # Add up radiator volume + any pipework or expansion vessel
  heat_volume: 300

  # Heating max power in Watts
  heat_max_power: 30000
  heat_min_power: 7000

  # Heating cop is the maximum efficiency and will be scaled down based on temperatures
  # put 1.0 for condensing gas boilers, or around 4.0 for heat pumps
  heat_cop: 1.0

  # Current flow temperature setting
#  flow_temp: number.boiler_heatingtemp
  flow_temp: 75  # testing with simple setting in case my flow temp sensor is not setup correctly
  flow_difference_target: 40

[springfall2008]

The Predheat line needs to be intended within Predbat, I wonder if you have put this at the same level as Predbat instead?

[springfall2008]

e.g.

predbat:
   ...
   predheat:
      ...

[mogons57]

Oops that was easy - all working now, thanks. I just checked the web page configuration guide and it does not show the predheat: indented. Maybe that should be made a bit clearer.