[waterboyz]

jbyrkit said:  help me out: if you use 2 sensors for a 220 circuit, how do you spot a problem? unbalanced load?

I’m guessing if A/C-1 and A/C-2 have been running fairly even then all of a sudden they don’t…that is a problem.  Exactly what kind of an event that caused such an imbalance I’ll let the knowledgeable electrical engineers chime in.  Regardless, I would want to know something is not right.

[waterboyz]

jj613 said:  Why not get a ZWave water/temp sensor?   Not to preclude interesting things you can do with a Vue sensor on the pump but specifically for detecting water level rising that’s a $50 device with no moving parts that you could use in parallel.

I have the Aeotec water sensor that I “misplaced” for 12+ months and plan to use it.  I also have a bunch of unused Wyze Labs door sensors.  I thought that people were able to use them without the cloud.  Still reading.  The problem is remembering what I read HAHA.

I would need something to tell me if the pump is running tooo much.  I also need something to tell me if the water level is tooo high and the pump is or is not running.

[waterboyz]

[waterboyz]

Scrambler

Actually, I’m pretty disappointed by this “forum” that Emporia has setup.  They seem to be reinventing the wheel.  Their money should be focused on their app.  There are lots of forum/bulletin-board software out there that a lot of people have been using for many years and are widely accepted and very user friendly.

My 3¢ worth.  I’m old, I’m worth more.

[waterboyz]

jj613 said:

Why do you want to monitor this?   (I don’t mean that critically, i’m genuinely interested in why.)

It seems like the Vue app and the whole system is focused on long term energy consumption.   The second and minute views are incomplete and importantly they can’t be used to manage total instantaneous power consumption.   I think the Vue system with some small improvements COULD do that quite well but not as it works now.

Since it’s mainly about energy consumption over time, an entire circuit using 20W would contribute a negligible amount.  So before they build smaller CTs I’d like to see them update their software to include functions that would make that useful.  I’d love to see subsecond samples, and I’d love to see second and subsecond data stored for longer.

No offense was taken.

I was mainly trying to say that having smaller CTs would/could be more accurate for the most usually monitor circuits.  Yes, 20w is tiny in the overall scheme since that is what was quoted.  I’m guessing that there are/will be people who are using this device for charging people for their usage.  I’m not in that situation.

I mainly want to find out why my neighbor has a lower electric bill than me.  Plus I will be installing a generator soon so usage would be very useful for that.  I have a relative with a house that has 1000+ more square feet than mine and is paying less per month.  I know, there are lots of variables to consider but on the surface…….

[waterboyz]

jj613 said:

Usually, double pole breakers are not on the same phase, whether they are used as 220V or for a common trip and common neutral as in your case, they do not tend to be on the same phase, although it is possible.

A true double breaker will use both phases.  A twin/tandem breaker uses only one phase.

[waterboyz]

jj613 said:

FYI the only 220V device where I thought I might need two sensors is my combo washer/dryer that has a neutral too, and according to its manual has some 120V circuitry inside, like the timer and the light in the dryer.     So I did the same test as you.  If I look as second/minute data I see differences but the week/month data is very balanced and I’m going to take one sensor off.   35.887 / 35.070.   1kWh/month difference, 2% .. not worth the sensor.

I’m curious, does the multiplier have to be exactly 2x vs say 1.8x?

[waterboyz]

jj613 said:

“…I put two leads on my combo washer/dryer.  I found that the second and minute data showed a reasonable amount of imbalance but the week/month energy consumption was within 2%, about a 1kWh per month difference on almost 40kWh usage.     OTOH I have 16 sensors and 50 circuits so there are many things I’d rather be doing with that second sensor than precisely measuring that 2%.”

Yeah, I’ll probably do that as well but I’m in this for less than two weeks so I’m gathering data now.

[waterboyz]

jj613 said:

“…2) How are you measuring?   Second?  Minute?  Month?   I have issues with the second and minute data and not sure…”

I read, in here somewhere, that the second readings are not really by the second.  An average of a few seconds.  Yeah, I know, splitting hairs here.

But hey, I’ve been wrong a few times in the last few days.

[waterboyz]

Camera huh?

I’m planning to install a sensor in my sump pump to monitor it.  I found that I could use a Wyze Labs door sensor and modify it to work with a float switch.  I also plan to monitor the sump pump electrical usage with notifications so I can see if it is running too much, which could also be a problem.

[waterboyz]

I like this idea as well since my heat pump has a HUGE electric toaster as backup heat.  I have used 4 CTs for the air handler and 2 CTs fr the outside unit.  Sure, I can use only one CT per device but then I lose the ability to see a potential problem.  I have OCD and a technical background.  Since I recently installed this system I’m still collecting data.

[waterboyz]

Nice idea but highly doubtful.  There are too many variations of breakers even amongst the same brand.  Plus you have old equipment vs newer equipment.

[waterboyz]

smithsrsn said:

“Sorry, my mistake. Now that I just looked at my app, I have a 50 Amp CT sensor on both legs of my sub-panel, but I have the same question. Will the KWH be cap limited when the sub-panel draws more than 50 Amps.”

I have a 100amp breaker in my main 200amp panel that is feeding my garage.  It will never pull that much (future-proofing), maybe 35amps tops.  I asked Emporia about my situation and was told by Marty:  “You can use the 50A sensors as they can handle loads up to 75A.”

I recently installed my system so still learning and gathering data.  I have a CT on each leg.  One leg has used 6.237 and the other leg has used 0.001. The leg with usage is probably the lights and beer fridge.  The other leg is probably my air compressor which I have not used in a few weeks.

[waterboyz]

Hollee Krap.  I just went through this.

[waterboyz]

You are gonna need to publish a book of diagrams so that anyone who comes after you can figure all of that out.

Great job explaining what you are doing.

I see that you are using a circuit transfer box for your generator.  I’m using an interlock system that will have its’ own CTs going to a separate box completely.

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