rtlamr2mqtt VS IoTaWatt

Using this project to get my Gas meter reading into Home Assistant (and indirectly into InfluxDB)

If you have a meter that reports gas usage via wireless you can use a software defined radio to pull in all the data using rtlamr2mqtt addon https://github.com/allangood/rtlamr2mqtt

I used https://github.com/allangood/rtlamr2mqtt to actually read the data off the wire and put it into MQTT. Homeassistant then reads from MQTT.

This is correct. As someone who currently monitors my meter in real-time using rtlamr2mqtt, I can vouch for the benefits of knowing your energy usage in real-time. I had a rooftop solar array installed recently, and I use real-time monitoring to see whether I’m generating excess energy, which helps me know when the best time is to run my clothes dryer or charge my car. It absolutely helps people make better choices around their energy usage, and I think it’s something everyone would benefit from if it was more easily accessible.

My first use case is energy monitoring, pulling in electric meter readings using rtlamr2mqtt, which I already have going with Mosquitto. I also have my OpenEVSE publishing MQTT, and tried out HA's SolarEdge API integration. It sounds like OpenHAB's MQTT integration should be easy, but I'm uncertain how I'll see the data.

Absolutely! I'm using a Nooelec NESDR Mini as a Software Defined Radio connected to a raspberry pi that's running a program called RTLAMR, which will pickup all the Automated Meter Reader signals in the area. There's some research you'll have to do to find your meter ID, manufacturer, and protocol, but once you have it narrowed down to your meter you can publish the entries to an MQTT instance using rtlamr2mqtt, where Home Assistant can pick it up and use it to track your total energy consumption.

I've heard that this works well with the meter NS Power uses: https://github.com/allangood/rtlamr2mqtt

If anyone is interested in having this type of real-time usage data for their own own home, I highly recommend IoTaWatt: https://iotawatt.com

It's a completely local energy monitor that you can install into your home's circuit breaker panel, and then view dashboards or read data via an API from a local web server running on-device. You choose how many sensors you want, but you can monitor your whole home as well as individual circuits.

For example, I track and trigger automations when my various appliances (laundry, dishwasher, microwave, etc) start/stop. It's very cool. Just be warned that it does require some research, basic understanding of electricity, and comfort working with high voltage mains connections if you plan to DIY it but I found it approachable and easy to setup.

What it looks like: https://i.ibb.co/qBVmBD1/IMG-1595.jpg

I use an IotaWatt system. It's super easy to install and manage. It uses inductive sensors at your circuit breaker so you can see your total usage and per circuit usage. It also easily hooks into HomeAssistant but that's a bit more advanced of a project.

I have an IotaWatt and am pretty happy with it. It was not the cheapest option; but is simple, reliable, and local only which checked all my boxes. I did install it myself; BUT this involved opening up and poking around inside my breaker panel. AFAIK this is pretty much required for any per-circuit home power monitoring. Insert "The power inside your breaker panel can kill you instantly and painfully" warning. My panel is mounted on the wall (rather than inside); and I guess I could have put the clamps on the wires where the exit the panel. But it would have been much harder to identify circuits. Also it would probably be much messier.

For individual circuit energy monitoring, I use Iotawatt. This involves installing CT clamps in the main breaker panel to monitor the circuits you want to monitor. I’m comfortable doing it myself but if you’re not, DO NOT mess around with it, hire a professional electrician instead because you can get electrocuted.

IoTaWatt https://iotawatt.com

If you really want to mail down your sources of current draw, I can’t recommend this enough: http://iotawatt.com

Since you have home automation, you may already know of IoTAWatt - it's a little cheaper than others, and works really well on its own or with HomeAssistant etc.

Sense is really good at measuring overall usage. Their neural network analysis to identify individual devices is anything but reliable. If this is important to you, I suggest you monitor individual circuits with something else (eg. iotawatt).