Energy monitoring - alternatives to OWL?

[planetf1]

I currently have a CurrentCost Envi energy meter (flat batteries!). I could hook this up via USB to a raspberry pi running domoticz, but I'm wondering whether to skip this unit (since I want to integrate) and get a new energy clamp monitor (single phase).

i see the OWL units are supported by RFXcom, but that's in the 30 UKP range, perhaps 20 for a refurb. Can anyone recommend any cheaper devices that work with the rfxtrx433e & domoticz?

[iganin]

Hi, I belive CurrenCost is fully integrated into Domoticz. What is the reason for changing it? Flat battery? Change them. I have done it for my CurrenCost sensor one year ago. Still working.

[planetf1]

Originally a question due to seemingly flat batteries (many years old) and no need for another display unit....

However having decided to go on and use cc over USB (already had the cable as I used to capture the data in a pc app years back) it seems the transmitter unit isn't working.

Just a short led flicker as batteries inserted. No regular flash.. And nothing if reset button pushed. Contacts look ok though I'll rub them down in case


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[markk]

I cant see the CurrentCost listed in the RFXCom manual. Do they work? What protocol do they use? I need to find an alternative to Owl as they wont work properly for me with the RFXcom and Domticz with Byron SX enabled.

[markk]

I cant see the CurrentCost listed in the RFXCom manual. Do they work? What protocol do they use? I need to find an alternative to Owl as they wont work properly for me with the RFXcom and Domticz with Byron SX enabled.

My Oregon/Byron SX issue is now solved with the latest beta firmware for the rfxcom. Thanks very much to Bert at RFXcom for all your help and support. I'm well pleased this is now working.

[planetf1]

Wow.... I ordered an owl micro+ but also hit an issue. Is the beta download able?

Mine was slightly different issue. Possibly between oregon and I think rubiscon (some temp humbly sensors).... Though I also have lightwaveRF devices and homeeasy.... and I'd got to the point of packing up the sensor to return. I do have some byron sx sensors too and didn't try to debug thoroughly. Great news on the good support there. Perhaps I should retest.

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[markk]

Wow.... I ordered an owl micro+ but also hit an issue. Is the beta download able?

Mine was slightly different issue. Possibly between oregon and I think rubiscon (some temp humbly sensors).... Though I also have lightwaveRF devices and homeeasy.... and I'd got to the point of packing up the sensor to return. I do have some byron sx sensors too and didn't try to debug thoroughly. Great news on the good support there. Perhaps I should retest.

Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk

Disable the Byron SX protocol and see if your owl works then. If so, the new firmware may fix your problem.

[planetf1]

Ok, a little debugging, and it is in fact the ByronSX that is causing the OWL read to fail, so your problem appears to be the same as mine.

It's possible when I tested before I had other, unnecessary protocols enabled too, so there may be further interactions, but crucially if this is addressed at least the devices I have today should all work....!

I've emailed rfxcom to see if I can try the beta too

[planetf1]

One question more generally on the OWL though -- unlike my currentcost meter (where the transmitter unit failed), the OWL seems to only report kWh used rather than any instant figure. Whilst kWh is good for costing, an instant reading is very useful when checking out what is turned on/off & doing some high level checks (for example trigger an event if I leave the house and the drain is above a certain level - left iron/cooker on)

Domoticz does report a wattage seemingly every 5 minutes, no idea if this is sent by the unit, or calculated based on kWH readings. The kWH readings themselves arrive every minute, well intermittently ... perhaps 4 times of 5.

Note for me I'd have to remove my electric car charging from this test! perhaps mod 7kW (or more likely use an API to check current car status. haha)

[Westcott]

Hi,
I bought 3 different Owls 'cheeply' on Ebay to try their transmitters with RFXcom into Domoticz.
Yes I know that owls don't go 'cheep'.

CMR113 - reports every 6 seconds - 3 separate channels each in %f.1 Amps format as an 'Ampere (3 Phase)' device.
CMR119 - reports ever 30 seconds - 3 inputs summed to 1 output as an 'Electric (Instant+Counter)' device.
CMR130 - An Owl Micro not detected by RFXcom.

The CMR113 is the best IMHO, let down by the low-resolution display.
I'm sure it sends at a higher resolution, but is then truncated by Domoticz.

[woody4165]

wrong post