4 ms·

I was checking today how expose my electricity meter within Home-Assistant. My electricity reader supports ZigBee. My provider knows minute by minute my consu

I was checking today how expose my electricity meter within Home-Assistant. My electricity reader supports ZigBee. My provider knows minute by minute my consumption, yet only providers it on THEIR website, in a way that is useless to me.

baby_souffle 1y ago
Assuming you’re talking about the same thing that PG&E does, it’s technically only zigbee at the transport layer. The power/utility aspect is all very different and relies on crypto/keys that are not trivial to get. You will not be able to just point the radio in your zigbee stick at your meter. As far as I know, the only device that is even blessed with the keys to do this is the Rainforest/Eagle device. You _still_ have to get permission from your utility, though. PG&E has a web page where you plug in the MAC for the radio and submit it. Only some customers on some rate plans are allowed to access this. I gave up and went with a power monitor that’s installed in the main breaker box. It uses CT clamps on each circuit to give very accurate and timely readings.
- OptionOfT 1y ago
  Clamps would work, or the optical connection. But unsure if that's disabled. I'll call APS (Arizona) tomorrow to see what is possible.
  - baby_souffle 1y ago
    I got curious, dug through my notes. > Zigbee SE is the official name for the standard. Good luck w/ your Utility Company. > Clamps would work, or the optical connection. But unsure if that's disabled. If the optical connection isn't disabled, I'd go that route. Clamps are a _pain_ if the space is cramped or the installer did a poor job of keeping things tidy. The upside to clamps is that you get per-circuit and in real time. If you have a dedicated circuit for big appliances, integrating the clamp into Home Assistant is a cheap way to get a "is the dishwasher done?" signal, for example.

4 ms·

I was checking today how expose my electricity meter within Home-Assistant. My electricity reader supports ZigBee. My provider knows minute by minute my consu

by OptionOfT 1y ago

baby_souffle 1y ago
Assuming you’re talking about the same thing that PG&E does, it’s technically only zigbee at the transport layer. The power/utility aspect is all very different and relies on crypto/keys that are not trivial to get. You will not be able to just point the radio in your zigbee stick at your meter. As far as I know, the only device that is even blessed with the keys to do this is the Rainforest/Eagle device. You _still_ have to get permission from your utility, though. PG&E has a web page where you plug in the MAC for the radio and submit it. Only some customers on some rate plans are allowed to access this. I gave up and went with a power monitor that’s installed in the main breaker box. It uses CT clamps on each circuit to give very accurate and timely readings.
- OptionOfT 1y ago
  Clamps would work, or the optical connection. But unsure if that's disabled. I'll call APS (Arizona) tomorrow to see what is possible.
  - baby_souffle 1y ago
    I got curious, dug through my notes. > Zigbee SE is the official name for the standard. Good luck w/ your Utility Company. > Clamps would work, or the optical connection. But unsure if that's disabled. If the optical connection isn't disabled, I'd go that route. Clamps are a _pain_ if the space is cramped or the installer did a poor job of keeping things tidy. The upside to clamps is that you get per-circuit and in real time. If you have a dedicated circuit for big appliances, integrating the clamp into Home Assistant is a cheap way to get a "is the dishwasher done?" signal, for example.