Version 3 (modified by futzle, 13 years ago) (diff)

Sections: Creating the device; Configuring the device.

CurrentCost? EnviR power monitor

The ​EnviR (CC128) is a wireless power monitor from ​CurrentCost. The console receives up to ten wirelessly-transmitted current signals from ​transmitters. Transmitters detect one- or three-phase alternating current with clamps. Combined with a fixed nominal voltage programmed into the console, the EnviR calculates a wattage.

Serial protocol

The EnviR has an RJ45 port with nonstandard wiring, carrying a TTL serial signal. A ​data cable containing an inline Prolific PL-2303 chip transforms this signal into a USB serial signal. The serial protocol is ​documented.

Preparing the hardware

You need a serial port in Vera's MiOS interface. Two ways of doing this:

  • Connect the EnviR to the Vera. (Does Vera recognize the PL-2303 without additional work?)
  • Connect the EnviR to an always-on computer running serial-to-Ethernet gateway software, and use the ​IPSerial plugin to add a virtual serial port to the Vera.

The serial parameters are: 57600 bps, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit.

Installing the plugin files

Install these files from the repository:

Creating the device

This device requires MiOS UI4.

Select MiOS Developers > Create Device. Enter D_CurrentCostEnviR1.xml for UpnpDevFilename?. Enter a name for Description. Click Create Device.

Select MiOS Developers > Serial port configuration. Assign the serial port to the newly-created device. Set the serial parameters (57600/8/N/1).

Select Save to restart the Luup engine. The device should appear. By default it shows the power usage for the "whole-house" device.

The plugin creates child devices for additional appliances that the EnviR console detects. These will first appear when you reload the Luup engine. Child devices can be renamed and assigned to rooms after the plugin creates them. (This behaviour can be disabled. See the section Configuring the device.)

Configuring the device

After the plugin has been installed, you can alter its configuration. You may need an additional restart of the Luup Engine for these variables to appear.

Main device power formula

If you have additional transmitters, or you are not using the "whole-house" channel, you can nominate a formula to use to display the power in the main device. The formula is a string of appliance numbers (1 to 9, or 0 for the "whole-house" channel), separated with + or - to add or subtract that appliance's power. Subtraction is useful if an appliance is a generator such as a solar array.

Edit the formula in the Advanced tab of the main device. Put the formula into the Formula variable. By default it is "0", meaning the whole-house channel.

Example: You have your home's energy consumption transmitting on the "whole-house" channel. You have a solar panel that feeds power into the grid on Appliance 1. You have a workshop on your property with a separate power supply on Appliance 5. Use the formula 0-1+5 to display the net power consumption of your property.

Automatic child device detection

By default, the plugin creates child devices for each appliance transmitter that the EnviR console can detect. If you want to stop this, edit the ApplianceAutoDetect? variable in the Advanced tab of the parent device. When set to "0", the plugin will no longer look for new appliances. Existing appliances are unaffected.

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