Emporia Community

Community Forum for Emporia

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 167 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • in reply to: Combine 2 Circuit into a single reading? #9553 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    The ability to monitor both wires on a 240V 2 pole breaker will depend on the panel wiring and current.  Because out of phase by 180 degrees, for the signals to add correctly in the CT, you need feed one wire the opposite direction.  If you are dealing with thicker and larger wires for the 240V load, this may not be possible.  And even so, this only works for summing the two hots for balanced 240V loads – those that don’t use a neutral.  You’ll also overload the 50A CT if your 240V circuit draws more than 25A, since you are doubling that in the CT with the two lines.  And, it really isn’t using the correct voltage reading from the mains, so any different in voltage from phase to phase will give some error.

    Because of these limitations, unless you have small wires and a small 240V load, doubling in the app or using two CT’s is generally preferred.  Wish they would just give us the ability in the app to combine the two phases (1 CT each) into one circuit, or more cleanly deal with single CT’s for balanced 240V circuits (just flag it that way so that app knows to use the sum of the two 120V phases for the voltage, and not need to ‘double’).

    Conversely, it is very easy to combine more than one 15A / 20A wire within the same 50A CT.  Provided they are on the same hot leg (same phase), or you need to also feed the wire backward.  Those 12 or 14 AWG wires are flexible and relatively small.

    in reply to: Gen2 Vue more than 16 #9479 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    It’s a good idea in concept, but the problem is the reliability of the smart plugs.  If you been following them here, many people have issues where they glitch and turn off the connected device – either randomly or after even a brief power outage.  So placing them on a critical device like a freezer, pump, or otherwise is risky.  Some people have modified the hardware to be ‘always on’ – making the plug just a power monitor and not switchable.  Emporia really needs to make one of these devices for sale – when you need to monitor a critical load that can never be switched off.

    in reply to: Gen2 Vue more than 16 #9468 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    The Nest feature isn’t correct in this case.  Nest is used when you have a subpanel.  For that you would use the 200A clamps feeding the subpanel, and the 50A clamps for the subpanel circuits.  Then in the software, you have more of a tree view, with your main panel circuits all listed, and the subpanel circuits all rolled up under the total draw for the subpanel.

    Where you have more than 16 circuits in your main panel, Emporia recommends using a 2nd Vue2, but without the mains clamps.  We were promised a software feature to combine them into one big list, but this has been 2 years ago so doubtful it is coming.  So, you’ll see 2 Vue2’s in the software, with their associated circuits underneath each one.

    in reply to: How see by second data for a historical date #9463 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    Second data is only saved for a short amount of time.  I forget the specifics, but thought it was saved for a few hours (3 maybe?).

    They used to save this to the cloud, but they made a change a couple years ago to not do so.  Believe due to storage reasons.

    Sorry, but any seconds data from a year ago would not be saved.  What are you looking to see from your solar data that minutes would not cover?

    in reply to: Support status for non-standard usage? #9400 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    My belief is the Emporia stuff is very economical because this data is being aggregated and sold.  I have not reviewed the end-user info in detail because this doesn’t bother me if true, but it might concern some people.  I would think if this data is not being logged and sent to the Emporia cloud (device descriptions as well as usage), they would have a have a problem with that – and not advocate such tinkering.  That said, it is an ESP32, so if you want to tinker, it is a pretty standard platform to do so.  Challenge would be understanding how to speak to the power monitoring microcontroller that they also use for the full solution.  And because this is non-transformer isolated, need to understand high-voltage safe practices with power line embedded electronics.

    in reply to: Device with strange energy consumption #9363 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    Yes, most likely.  Are your circuit breakers labeled?  Start turning them of one-by-one to at least find the circuit it is on.  If it says hot water heater, radiant floor, etc – you have your load.  If not labeled, more of a mystery still – but at least you have less things to work through.

    in reply to: Balance figure not negligible #9330 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    Might want to check the forum regarding issues with 3 phase.  People seem to report the mains sensing is ok and properly showing true measurement in Watts (real power), but that the circuit sensing is actually telling you VA (apparent power).  Or other bugs like that.  People generally believing that 3 phase just doesn’t work correctly with the Vue2.

    in reply to: V2X #9326 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    With Chademo going away in the US (no current new cars with the connector), I would say no.  Will they have a bi-directional CCS type 1 charger – I believe that answer is yes.  They have been working on something for awhile now – not clear how close to production ready it is, or what vehicles it supports.  Kinda a chicken-and-egg thing, until the vehicles standardize on implementing a common protocol.

    in reply to: Potential New User – 400Amp Service #9317 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    Correct, no way to combine two Vue2’s in the software.  Been a promised feature upgrade for 2 years now.

    djwakelee
    Member

    mooch91 – Not sure of your specific installation, but the two 200A feeds are in the same panel in the photo above.  So Vue2 and all clamps in the same panel in this case.

    • This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by djwakelee.
    djwakelee
    Member

    In your case, I believe your problem is solvable by augmenting your hardware setup.  If you have a second set of 200A CT’s, place them on the other 200A mains circuit.  Then purchase two mono 3.5mm splitter cables, and combine the CTs of the two 200A feeds.  So mains 1 phase 1 combined with the Y cable to mains 2 phase 1 (Vue 2 port A), and the same for phase 2 with the other splitter (Vue 2 port B).  When combining in parallel, you MUST make sure they are on the same phase.  Hooked up this way you will then have your total consumption.  Now, the Vue2 will still only measure up to 200A, but it would be rare you’d be doing that – even on a 400A service feed.

    So yes, Emporia is dragging their feet and may never help us.  But I think the issue of measuring your two 200A feeds as a total is solvable.

    • This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by djwakelee.
    • This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by djwakelee.
    in reply to: Gen2 Vue more than 16 #9279 Report Abuse
    djwakelee
    Member

    As long as they are on the same phase, then yes.

    djwakelee
    Member

    Really, you can’t schedule on the car’s screen – without cellular or an app?  What vehicle do you have?

    djwakelee
    Member

    Most EV’s have ToU scheduling built into the car.  I would think you could do this by scheduling your car to charge via the car’s infotainment during the off-peak hours that you want.  No reason you can’t use the car’s features, as well as the capabilities of the Emporia charger.

    • This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by djwakelee.
    djwakelee
    Member

    Sadly its been two years, and no action other than some early commitment by Emporia that this was coming, and now radio silence.  I am at a loss as to why they dropped any work on the Vue2 – seem only focused on new product launches.

    • This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by djwakelee.
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 167 total)