R083, UI reactivity for devices that report power, and reporting/rules

[mr23three]

When a device such as the aeon labs appliance switch changes state, the Securifi UIs' report changes to the power value for about a couple of seconds,  then it stops updating,  even if the power draw changes significantly.
Is this a shortcoming of the device,  or the Almond+ ?
Can it be changed to periodically update, with an adjustable period?
Can it be added to rule conditions, such as,  if power < 45 watts, then...
Can you add a text or email message as an action to a rule?
Can you add a Scene as an action for a rule?
Thanks
-Chris

[SecureComp]

Are you asking for the Apps to be changed, add configuration options for polling?

Or would you use the SDK or the soon to be released API to poll the info.

Power fluctuates plenty, surges and all that. I'm gathering the data and smoothing the curves.

[mr23]

I would like regularly updating power displays, everywhere the device values can be viewed (Web, LCD, App, Notification drawer). How about widgets, too?

It can be pushed through the websocket framework, doesn't have to be polled. Almond+ may have to poll the device, though, although I already asked that question.

I would also have it implemented elsewhere; can and did under R080 and earlier I could do it by turning the device 'on' while already 'on'. Haven't tried it yet with R083. I'm already receiving/sending via websocket API.

[mr23]

I would also have it implemented elsewhere; can and did under R080 and earlier I could do it by turning the device 'on' while already 'on'. Haven't tried it yet with R083. I'm already receiving/sending via websocket API.

Just tested the 'polling'; still works with R083. However, if the power level hasn't changed, there is no update pushed over WebSocket interface. As little as 6watt difference is notified, but I haven't tried to see how low of a power difference will be pushed.

[SecureComp]

Just tested the 'polling'; still works with R083. However, if the power level hasn't changed, there is no update pushed over WebSocket interface. As little as 6watt difference is notified, but I haven't tried to see how low of a power difference will be pushed.

Good to know.

What's the goal here? Near real time or real time power monitoring ?

You going to plot whole house and maybe a couple of outlets?

After Google Power Meter died I just went with my own stuff, now I'm thinking about throwing something into an App and maybe up to the LCD that plots Current, Daily, Weekly, Weekend, Day, Night, Peak, Low, Monthly, Annual, Trends Daytime, Trends Nighttime, Vampires and  Spikes. Need to finish roughing out the 'wants', just dumping it text and then processing with SED & AWK. Really need to do a little Python and/or Curl stuff to make it nice.

I haven't decided on a reasonable polling interval so it needs to be adjustable and I want an adjustable threshold. Thing I haven't worked out yet is how I want to handle startup surges which require very short interval polling but it kind of seems like a waste to bother since I really care about usage of a duration more than a few seconds.

The Google Power Meter API info is still available to get a few more ideas.

[fillibar]

In case it is of interest, I have a Neurio for whole house power monitoring. I was hoping they would work with Securifi (seems like a couple people have both) but it seems that integration by Neurio lost out to other priorities so far. But it all works pretty well on a standalone basis. It is discouraging to see how low I rank compared to most of their users, but I doubt most have a large marine aquarium and put up as many Christmas lights and displays as I do.

[SecureComp]

In case it is of interest, I have a Neurio for whole house power monitoring. I was hoping they would work with Securifi (seems like a couple people have both) but it seems that integration by Neurio lost out to other priorities so far. But it all works pretty well on a standalone basis. It is discouraging to see how low I rank compared to most of their users, but I doubt most have a large marine aquarium and put up as many Christmas lights and displays as I do.

That's a pretty new product right? It's the Kickstarter thing?  Last time I checked the number of users was in the hundreds total. Getting support for the Neurio might be a challenge but you never know.

Big Christmas displays, eh? You should post a pic. 

[fillibar]

Eh. Big for me, family and friends but not to the really elaborate people. Ours only has about 10k lights, 8 inflatables (my wife loves those things not my favorite though) and a NOEL display consisting of 5' x 3' letters (1/2" PVC with LED strips inside) that change color. It is all on Z-Wave outdoor plugs now so the on and off times are more reliable and synchronized.

Anyways, yes the Neurio was on Kickstarter. I am not very active in their forum though.

[mr23]

Goal? push notification of a 'significant' power change or change beyond some threshold. Real-time (meaning high frequency updates) not necessary. For example, once every 1 or 5 or 30 minutes is fine for some uses. Nothing on the Neurio level.

Good to know.

What's the goal here? Near real time or real time power monitoring ?

You going to plot whole house and maybe a couple of outlets?

[SecureComp]

This is very doable.

Not sure where it is on the internal roadmap at Securifi but if it's beyond the horizon then we can hack something together pretty easily.

[TheLostSwede]

Goal? push notification of a 'significant' power change or change beyond some threshold. Real-time (meaning high frequency updates) not necessary. For example, once every 1 or 5 or 30 minutes is fine for some uses. Nothing on the Neurio level.

The problem is that Securifi never implemented a way to change the report time on sensors, be it Z-Wave or ZigBee and as such you can only use whatever the default for the specific device is, be it a power meter or a motion sensor. The report time is usually quite high to save battery life on battery powered sensors and still quite high on most mains powered devices. I'm guessing that in the latter case it's due to the manufacturers thinking that most people don't need status updates more frequently than once every 30 minutes or so. Hopefully this is something Securifi will add support for in the future though.

[sfalc]

The problem is that Securifi never implemented a way to change the report time on sensors, be it Z-Wave or ZigBee and as such you can only use whatever the default for the specific device is, be it a power meter or a motion sensor. The report time is usually quite high to save battery life on battery powered sensors and still quite high on most mains powered devices. I'm guessing that in the latter case it's due to the manufacturers thinking that most people don't need status updates more frequently than once every 30 minutes or so. Hopefully this is something Securifi will add support for in the future though.

But most Z-wave devices allows the user to set parameters, including but not limited to reporting frequency. And that is supported from the LCD-UI!

[TheLostSwede]

But most Z-wave devices allows the user to set parameters, including but not limited to reporting frequency. And that is supported from the LCD-UI!

Ah, I guess that's new in R083 then, I haven't had a chance to test it with any Z-Wave devices yet.

[TheLostSwede]

Seems to be working with some devices, but not others. I've got a Fibaro motion/multi sensors and I can't set any parameters for it, although it is at least fully functional now as far as I can tell.

[SecureComp]

But most Z-wave devices allows the user to set parameters, including but not limited to reporting frequency. And that is supported from the LCD-UI!

This feature, currently only available in the LDC interface, is very useful. It's not the most user friendly but we can modify the WiKi to describe some of the most common parameters for popular devices. The 2 I have are;


Aeon Labs DSC06106-ZWUS - Z-Wave Smart Energy Switch
• Adds Z-Wave wireless control to a plug-in appliance
• Supports devices rated up to 1875W, 15A
• Built-in meter monitors energy consumption
• Wireless range up to 100 feet from controller
• Repeats Z-Wave commands to other devices

Aeon Labs AEDSB09104ZWUS Aeotec Z-Wave Smart Energy Monitor
-Low-cost energy monitor for the entire home
-Wirelessly reports immediate wattage and kWh usage to central control point gateways
-Can be easily and safely installed by anyone

The AED unit is a whole house monitor. I wouldn't install it yourself unless you are comfortable with opening your electrical panel.  This unit is currently reporting as many as 5x minute. Thinking it is set to a power change threshold. So let's take a look.