Measure device consumption cheap way?

[ThinkPad]

Hi,

I am looking for a cheap power meter that i can use the measure the power consumption of a device. I don't want to buy a Z-Wave plug, or Plugwise. Both too expensive for me, and i think the job can be done cheaper.
While browsing around, i found this: Conrad.nl: Voltcraft SEM-3600BT 3-in-1 Smart-energymeter.
Does anyone has experience with such a meter? It connects to your smartphone over Bluetooth (4.0). Would it be possible to retrieve the data by using a Bluetooth stick and a script to parse the data and store in Domoticz?

I also found this: https://www.conrad.nl/nl/gembird-egm-pw ... 52678.html
Which seems spot on, but too expensive Also, a wireless version would be better.

I know the Kankun smart socket, but it can't measure power consumption. Plus, i don't want to run heavy loads like my washing machine (2200W or so?) through it.

I also found this: https://www.conrad.nl/nl/voltcraft-ener ... 23049.html which protocol (868Mhz) already seems to be deciphered. But what i read about it, is that it is not quite simple to get working, and also is quite CPU-intensive.

Can't be that i am the only one who finds this interesting ?

[ThinkPad]

Someone at Tweakers just gave me a link to this one: D-Link DSP-W215 Smart Plug.
That one can switch devices, but also measure energy consumption!

Datasheet: http://www.dlink.com/-/media/Consumer_P ... DEU_EN.pdf

Does anyone see a reason not to order it, to fiddle around with it? Would be great if it could be connected to Domoticz with some kind of script. Functionality i am aiming at: If washing machine usage is lower than xx Watt after 1,5h THEN send_message = Washing machine ready! Go empty it you lazy bastard!

Edit: Someone already seems to have exploited this thing: http://www.devttys0.com/2014/05/hacking ... mart-plug/
But i don't read anything about measuring power consumption....

Teardown video of the device: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjry28Ym7kI
Relay seems to be rated for 16A 250V (can be seen at 11:53).

Reaaaaally tempting to get one, think i'll will order it to see if i can extract the data with a script. >>> OK, got one (i live near a shop that has them). Will try to get data out of it after dinner.

[crisman]

Hi,

You can also check for the Belkin Wemo Insight switch http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-F7C029EA ... mo+insight it can switch on/off the devices and also measure consumption and give the cost kw/h.

[jkimmel]

What about http://www.neur.io?

I got one. It is promising although not yet capable to detect all appliances.

Looks expensive at first sight but when working you control anything consuming electricity.

[dijkdj]

Kankun smart plug 2 can measure power use, but app is still chinese and you still have the 2200 watt limit

[ThinkPad]

I already bought the D-Link DSP-W215 ! Now fiddling with it, to see if i can extract the measured watts from a webpage or so....

I am watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjry28Ym7kI he does very interesting stuff with it

[ThinkPad]

Ok, i will bring this D-Link DSP-W215 smartplug back to the store tomorrow.

The guy in the teardown video on YouTube could access a webpage on his module (it runs lighttpd) which also states the current power consumption. Unfortunately my module / firmware revision doesn't have a 1:1 equal page like that. I can see the page he describes, but the line with the power consumption is not there.

I also set up the app on my tablet, with which you can control the plug. It works via cloud. I set up an extra accespoint and connected it trough my laptop (bridging connection) and started Wireshark. Logged for a while and i could see the communication between plug <> cloud. Unfortunately when data is requested/sent by the plug, it is encrypted with TLSv1 so unreadable.

[Domosapiens]

I don't want to buy a Z-Wave plug, or Plugwise. Both too expensive for me, and i think the job can be done cheaper.

Cheaper than this? 25€ !

http://www.ezhome.nl/koopjeshoek/eversp ... be-fr.html

BE-FR is in general not a problem.
AN158 gives a good contribution to the quality of the Z-wave network.
Measurement comes with all the nice features of Domoticz!
The only disadvantage is, that it does not remember it's state after power down.

Hope this helps.
Domosapiens
(I have 8 of them)

[jackslayter]

I search this device too, I wait your test

[ThinkPad]

I don't want to buy a Z-Wave plug, or Plugwise. Both too expensive for me, and i think the job can be done cheaper.

Cheaper than this? 25€ !

http://www.ezhome.nl/koopjeshoek/eversp ... be-fr.html

BE-FR is in general not a problem.
AN158 gives a good contribution to the quality of the Z-wave network.
Measurement comes with all the nice features of Domoticz!
The only disadvantage is, that it does not remember it's state after power down.

Hope this helps.
Domosapiens
(I have 8 of them)

That's crazy cheap! Thanks for sharing. Any idea till when this action is valid?
I'm not sure yet if i want to go the Z-Wave route...

[tlpeter]

Thinkpad, do it you will like it.
I saw a 30Euro USB stick on the for sale part over here.
Maybe it is still there.
Every or at least a lot of powered zwave devices do measure power.
My roller shutter does too and shows usage for the time used.

[dijkdj]

Of course you can also use the Nuon plugs (29,95) of 6node block (49,95) that work on Z-wave. The Zwave upgrade of Domoticz was a relieve after all the cheap 433mhz stuff. Really recommend it!

[ThinkPad]

I think Z-Wave time has just arrived for Mr. ThinkPad
I just bought those two Everspring AN1586 ... they are dirt cheap for what they are able to do!

Now only need to buy an Aeon labs stick.


I think Z-Wave is the easiest route to go. Couldn't find any other WiFi-smartplug with power measurement when i searched for it yesterday evening.

[dijkdj]

Wise choice to go Zwave:

There are still a few Wifi options (mostly chinese)
1: Kankun Plug 2
http://ikonke.com/k2.php
2: Broadlink
http://www.banggood.com/Broadlink-SP2-T ... 46435.html
3: Orvibo
http://www.banggood.com/WiWo-S20-Wi-Fi- ... 53743.html

Still, you would have a hard time getting the data to Domoticz. Zwave is the better way.

[ThinkPad]

I have seen those plugs, but it is indeed a better choice to go the Z-Wave route:
- Those plugs don't measure power consumption
- They don't have EU outlets
- I don't trust it to connect a heavy load like a washing machine/dishwasher to it (because of the heating element which easily pulls 2000W )

[dijkdj]

Check the links Thinkpad

I have seen those plugs, but it is indeed a better choice to go the Z-Wave route:
- Those plugs don't measure power consumption

All of these options do measure

- They don't have EU outlets

Broadlink and ORvibo do

- I don't trust it to connect a heavy load like a washing machine/dishwasher to it (because of the heating element which easily pulls 2000W )

True

[WebSpider]

I think Z-Wave time has just arrived for Mr. ThinkPad
I just bought those two Everspring AN1586 ... they are dirt cheap for what they are able to do!

Now only need to buy an Aeon labs stick.


I think Z-Wave is the easiest route to go. Couldn't find any other WiFi-smartplug with power measurement when i searched for it yesterday evening.

Thanks for the research
I already have some Plugwise devices running (have had them since 2009), but I'm looking for an in-wall measuring + switching solution as well, so this thread came in handy.

An alternative for the Aeon labs stick is the zwave.me raspberry add-on RaZberry, if you already have Domoticz running on a RasPi, like I do.

[ThinkPad]

I run Domoticz on my Synology, which works great.
But besides that, even if i had it running on my Raspberry, i wouldn't have chosen the RaZberry route. A USB-stick is more universal, otherwise if you switch platform you also need to buy a different Z-Wave transceiver.

The two Everspring plugs will probably arrive Tuesday.

[davasch]

The Voltcraft SEM-3600BT seems to be an 'oem'/whitelable product produced by Wittech, named WiTenergy E100. I've found more information on the device at http://wiki.volkszaehler.org/hardware/c ... nergy_e100

[ThinkPad]

Good find, thanks for posting (and specially registering for this).

Did you do anything cool with that device?