App suggestions

[OBSSD]

After spending a couple days with my 2nd gen Vue and some smart plugs, I have a handful of ideas for improving the app:

Configuration

• I see it’s already been requested, but will cast my vote on the ability to aggregate multiple sensors so they appear as one (namely for unbalanced 240v loads).  Data exported on these should include individual sensor data, similar to the 200A mains.
• Provide an option to hide inactive circuits in the Device Management window (those with no sensor connected just get in the way of setting up the others – especially when setting a custom sort order).
• Allow plugs to be nested under other plugs.  For example, being able to measure an entire outlet strip as well as specific devices on that same strip.
• The limit on circuit names is annoyingly short.

General

• If you’re concerned about API consumption, you could simply add a toggle switch to turn off live streaming on data (adding a refresh button if it’s turned off).
• Similarly, consider tying the refresh rate to the data granularity selected at the bottom – if viewing seconds, update every second; otherwise, pick a higher refresh rate that’s appropriate to the data granularity.
• Another approach to reduce API consumption would be to leverage web sockets to stream data to the app instead of constantly polling for data.
• The links that are emailed to download exported data should be protected behind user account login.

Home Screen

• Allow sorting on the home screen to be changed on the fly instead of navigating to the Manage Devices  screen.
• Speaking of sorting, provide a choice between default (highest load), alphanumeric (circuit name), or custom sort order.
• My custom sort orders seems to disappear, especially between devices – once set, it should be available on all devices for the same account.

Graph view(s)

• Provide a mechanism to easily toggle between circuits without going back to the home screen (such as changing the circuit name in the title bar to a drop-down selection).  Graph settings (scale, time range, etc.) should remain intact when switching circuits.
• Choose multiple circuits to be included on the graph at the same time, allowing easy comparison.  Should be easy to add/remove on the fly without affecting other graph settings.
• For any aggregate sensors (mains, or future support for aggregated loads), allow all roll-up values to be shown together on the graph (supporting ability to toggle between stacked/cumulative and individual/comparative).
• Allow any point on the graph to be selected for displaying its value (rather than only the data point at the far right of the screen).  If it’s an aggregate data point, display the total and value for each sensor.
• Provide mechanism for changing the scale of the x-axis.  For example, the seconds view currently displays 5 minutes’ worth of data but it would be nice to be able to zoom in so that 10 seconds of data fills the window or zoom out so that an hour of data fits.  At the same time, it’d be nice to change the scale of the Y-Axis as well.
• Carry the time slider from the home screen over to the graph screen so it’s easier to scan to a different point in time.

This is definitely a neat tool and I look forward to future improvements.

Thanks!

[OBSSD]

After more time using the app, here’s a second round of suggestions:

• Allow the ‘Balance’ to be graphed, same as any other circuit.
• Export data for multiple plugs at once (multi-select).
• Allow alerts for plugs, the same as for sensors on the Vue.
• Provide a ‘Between’ filter for alerts, triggering a notification when a reading falls within a specified range for the specified duration.
• Support web hooks for notifications, configurable differently on each alert.

[YK]

Like your suggestions. I’d like to cast my volt here. Regards

[OBSSD]

A few more

• Provide peak load (max wattage) encountered during selected time range (tracking when the peak occurred).  Also provide option for including it in the exported data as well.
• The time slider that can be opened at the bottom of the home screen isn’t very user friendly and too limited in time range.
• It’d be really nice if the data export included each unique label as its own column, tracking different port assignments over time (and if the column label included the Vue port number).  A prime example would be having sensors connected to both legs of a 240v circuit for a few weeks to see how they’re balanced and then moving one of the sensors to another circuit.  Today, when the data is exported after that change, all data for the sensor is stuffed in the same column and the column header is the label assigned to that sensor at time of export.  Instead, it’d be nice if the new label got its own column and the data were allocated to that column after the move.

[DeeEnergyMonitor]

When will we get £ pounds on this app all i see is dollars$

[Author]

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