Hardware idea: Vue Gen 2 with Ethernet

[HansF]

I’d love to see an equivalent to the Vue Gen 2 using RJ45 wired ethernet – instead of WiFi – as an additional product offering.

With the proliferation of IoT that wants space on WiFi, I find my WiFi mesh is getting pretty crowded.  Some devices, such as NAS and SONOS Boost, benefit from wired ethernet.  Also, some appliances, notably microwave ovens, can disrupt WiFi for a short time.

I find that the Vue is in a fixed location, in the electrical closet, very close to the entry point for DSL or Cable, where I place my router/switch.  This is also close to where the SolarEdge inverter, the Chamberlain gateway, the Davis Weatherlink gateway, and other devices reside.  All of these feature GB ethernet, all attach to a small local switch for reliability, all protected by UPS. many are likely to stay when the house is sold.  It would be nice to add the energy monitor to that group.

[djwakelee]

Agree this would be a welcome feature.  Note that this is typically not done on UL listed / NEC compliant energy monitoring products due to the fact they are designed to be placed inside the electrical panel.  Under a fault condition (such as chafed insulation in the Ethernet cabling, etc) a short circuit would electrify the lower voltage signalling circuits leaving the box – presenting a high voltage on the Ethernet cabling and end-device.  Because of such a scenario, it is generally not permissible by NEC to have low voltage wiring coexisting unchecked with AC mains voltage – and leaving the box.  Special physical partitioning is required to isolate the high and low voltage aspects, and this would not be present in a standard electrical panel.

Some Ethernet energy monitors (like The-Energy-Detective) get around this by using power line communication and having the Ethernet gateway outside of the panel. But typical PLC challenges apply with that approach (interference, reliability).

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by djwakelee.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by djwakelee.

[HansF]

Thanks for that detailed information.

[YK]

One way to get around NEC is to consider POE connection. This way no high voltage circuit is involved. However POE may add to complexity in the installation process and 24V supply module at the PC end.

it is a good option to have, is not used by most.

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