Hi, I am completely new to this so looking for advice for the best ‘introductory’ set up to monitor electricity usage initially (as a foot in the door, so to speak) with the possibility to expand to record and monitor my recently installed ASHP ? I’ve the opportunity of a 2nd hand emonPi and wonder would that suffice to start… I’m just not sure what I would need and/or options to extend/add for the ASHP though @TrystanLea@glyn.hudson ? My main consumer unit & ASHP breakers/consumer unit are at one end of the house with the flow/return pipes and ASHP controller cables in the loft with the DHW cylinder etc. at the other, but not too far, the house is quite small @60sqmtrs, MTIA. Cheers, Alan
What you need depends on what is currently fitted. Some HPs and associated meters that are fitted at install can be read directly.
I’d start with the emonPi, it has 2 CT channels so you could connect one to the main supply and the other to the HP so you can measure and record energy use.
If you have other things like Solar and/or a Battery it would make a difference as to how you might set it up.
Hi, and thanks for your reply. I can see how that works fine and it would be a good start ! If I wanted to extend to the ASHP flow/return & DHW in the loft (there are no meters there only the sys. pressure), would I be able to connect another unit in the loft to ‘talk to’ the emonPi downstairs hardwired or wireless ? i.e sensors at the flow/return, DHW etc. with a TX4 (is that best option or two units required even ?), prior to or without adding an in-line heat meter. Is this feasible for full monitoring COP/SCOP, energy use etc. or is this just overcomplicating things ? I see the full in-line would be better for accuracy and power monitored from the ASHP unit itself ? I’m just trying to determine if it could be built up ‘modular’ so to speak, and with the installation already in place, considering costs of drain down and fitting, best options ? Here’s a pic of the loft end. * It’s just UFH with no rads, Solar or Battery.
if you are just measuring temperatures there, a TX4 is overkill. A few DS18B20 sensors and a PiZero or a WEMOS D1 Mini will be far cheaper.
Monitoring the HP needs a whole lot of different measurements, but all these can be fed into Emoncms (the software that runs on the emonPi) to help with the monitoring.
I suppose that is what I am asking. What would be required to monitor the ASHP (minimalist to rolls royce) and could the COP/SCOP be recorded without the in-line heat meter ? I saw some helpful and interesting Videos with @johncantor that seemed to show that as being possible with the emonPi ?
As I said before, it really depends on what is fitted currently, what monitoring systems you are currently using etc. You have asked how long is a bit of string. Some systems are easier to intergrate than others.
Look and see what exact items you have, then do some searching here. There is a wide variety of different systems in use. What you then need to read those systems is another set of Q&A.
As Brian said, it all depends but here’s roughly my history over 7 years:
emonPi to record Solar generation & Energy consumption.
added emonTx to record data from additional CTs.
put home battery in, moved emonPi to monitor that.
put in ASHP, got another emonTx.
moved it all around with the emonPi doing the ASHP with 2 CTs and 6 DS18B20, oldest emonTx on the connections to the battery and newer one doing solar etc in the main consumer unit. This move was to have the right number of CTs in each location and get the best overall signal strength.
