VisN

So I decided to buy one of the EyeGas Pro Sensors.  My 48kg Gas bottles are outside and Wifi and Power are a challenge so BLE made more sense. The cost of going the load cell route, with ESP32 +Lithium battery works out to almost the same anyway.

The device is well made and is a re-branded Mopeka sensor. They sell a wifi bridge but its not needed as there is a mobile app and a native Home Assistant integration plus ESPHome integration. Pairing was simple and my phone picked it up immediately. 

I first tried running an ESPHome Bluetooth Proxy and the Mopeka HA integration. I found that when using the Bluetooth on the ESP32 the wifi range was really poor. Wifi and Bluetooth share the same antenna so the results were sketchy. It would not connect to my wifi network unless close to the AP (but then it was out of range of the BLE beacon). I had a spare antenna and followed the post below to solder it to the board.
https://community.home-assistant.io/t/how-to-add-an-external-antenna-to-an-esp-board/131601

This made a big difference. The native Mopeka integration only gives you the gas level in mm so I flashed the ESP32 with the ESPHome integration. You have to enable the mopeka_ble: component to get the MAC address and because the device was already positioned under my 48kg cylinder I enabled the show_sensors_without_sync: true flag. I used the CUSTOM tank type with the following ESPHome config
substitutions: name: esp32-bluetooth-proxy-4a27e4 friendly_name: Bluetooth Proxy esphome: name: ${name} name_add_mac_suffix: false friendly_name: ${friendly_name} esp32: board: esp32dev framework: type: esp-idf # Enable logging logger: # Enable Home Assistant API api: encryption: key: Ti/Hwzqm80y5tGLvAMeW9ukDKmWCyFBUbXri/aPDl8s= ota: #mopeka_ble: # show_sensors_without_sync: true # Enable Bluetooth Proxy Components esp32_ble_tracker: scan_parameters: interval: 320ms window: 120ms duration: 60s active: true sensor: - platform: mopeka_pro_check mac_address: CF:F1:85:61:36:17 tank_type: CUSTOM custom_distance_full: 795mm custom_distance_empty: 10mm temperature: name: "Gas Temperature" level: name: "Gas Level" distance: name: "Gas Distance" battery_level: name: "Gas Battery" #bluetooth_proxy: # active: true # Wifi Setup wifi: ssid: !secret wifi_ssid password: !secret wifi_password fast_connect: true So far it's running well. I might need to fine tune the full and empty distances to match what the app reports. At least I can monitor gas levels from my HA dashboard

A nice idea until it goes with the old tank when the tank gets replaced. I've been toying with the idea of building an IOT scale to monitor the weight and thereby ascertaining the level.

A nice idea until it goes with the old tank when the tank gets replaced. I've been toying with the idea of building an IOT scale to monitor the weight and thereby ascertaining the level.

Good day Rinelda and welcome.
I use a Victron Multiplus II and it is amazing. P1000's reply above is taking a jab at Victron because they are generally more expensive than similar product offerings from other companies but the warranty, support, online community, software, firmware updates etc. still tips the balance in their favour in my opinion. 
Please give us details of your installation for us to make a more informed recommendation regarding the MPII.
 

Those are tried and trusted components so you should be fine.

Good day Rinelda and welcome.
I use a Victron Multiplus II and it is amazing. P1000's reply above is taking a jab at Victron because they are generally more expensive than similar product offerings from other companies but the warranty, support, online community, software, firmware updates etc. still tips the balance in their favour in my opinion. 
Please give us details of your installation for us to make a more informed recommendation regarding the MPII.
 

Being an installer I have 1x us2000 2x us3000 1x us3000C and 2x UP5000 all in one bank working fine see pic below
From the pylontech manual verbatum:
15) Compatible with the US3000C, US2000C, US3000, and US2000.
*Mixture using master battery priority:
UP5000>US3000C>US2000C>US3000>US2000
For same type of module always use the latest production unit as master.
*Mixture using battery deployment option:
Master battery (1st) UP5000
Slave 2nd ~8th UP5000/US3000C/US2000C/US3000/US2000
Slave 9th ~16th UP5000/US3000C/US2000C
Please take note of order of batteries above if and when stacking.
They all are 15 cells i'm pretty sure
Only down site is the you need to limit your draw to the smallest battery in your bank
Mine the max I can draw is 1.9kw continuously because of US2000 (FYI lithium batteries work well between 95%-35%)
1st ALL Batteries "HAVE TO BE Balanced" or else you will get an alarm on batteries
Inverter MUST communicate with Master batteries BMS

 
 

I think people would rather buy a 3.5kW pylontechs for R20K, comes with a 10 yr warranty, works seamlessly with some inverters..
2nd Hand batteries are still new to the market with no documented history that allows one to feel confident in the purchase...
 
What are you upgrading to?

This afternoon: built bottom section for battery cells. 2 sets of 16 cells -  space for all to sit on the floor of the bottom shelf, or can be separated into 2 sub-shelves. Floor for bottom also to be chequer plate sealed with silicone, to prevent potentially corrosive gases escaping.

Top and bottom will each have their own separate venting systems - likely just large 220VAC fans on front and back creating a pressure gradient, with foam filters to catch dust.

Installation done. I'm really happy with it. way quieter than expected when idling. The fan switch is located to the right of the Jean Muller battery disconnect and when engaged, makes the system completely silent.
Thank you @Jaco de Jongh for the customary wonderful service and patience. Thanks @plonkster for the ' Silence fan' assistant tip.  
The problems encountered during load shedding have all been mitigated.

 
 

Look in 'Pylontech battery' > 'Parameters' > 'Charge / Discharge'  . I have 2 x US3000 batteries i.e. 2 x 37A = 74A
 

Installation done. I'm really happy with it. way quieter than expected when idling. The fan switch is located to the right of the Jean Muller battery disconnect and when engaged, makes the system completely silent.
Thank you @Jaco de Jongh for the customary wonderful service and patience. Thanks @plonkster for the ' Silence fan' assistant tip.  
The problems encountered during load shedding have all been mitigated.

 
 

Installation done. I'm really happy with it. way quieter than expected when idling. The fan switch is located to the right of the Jean Muller battery disconnect and when engaged, makes the system completely silent.
Thank you @Jaco de Jongh for the customary wonderful service and patience. Thanks @plonkster for the ' Silence fan' assistant tip.  
The problems encountered during load shedding have all been mitigated.

 
 

Over the last several months I have been installing my inverter system bit by bit. Here is my progress (written as a bit of a guide if it helps someone else).

Planning
My goals are: 
Have UPS power Offset the cost a bit by adding solar Stay within my limited budget. Be modular for "add-as-you-go" option I don't want to go off grid - that is just too expensive. So I can install a smaller inverter. 
As I will be doing most of the work myself I wanted something that has very good support and documentation. The natural choice for me was a Victron system.
I started off by finding my usage patterns(when) and consumption(how much).  
The easiest option was to use the Victron VRM cloud. I already had a Raspberry Pi3 that could be used for this purpose, so all that I needed to do was to install the open source VenusOS using the steps from here. (the other option is to buy 'n VenusGX device that already have all the required inputs/outputs). Leave it to get some stats over a month (or 3 if it is lockdown).

The ET112 energy meter (about R1100) is a good option to hook up into my DB. You install the meter between the earth leakage and the the rest of breakers. 
 
You also need a 3 wire cable (4core security cable or 6core network cable will work fine) and a RS485 USB converter like this one to make the meter talk to the Pi3. The negative(blue wire) go to terminal 6 of the ET112, and the Data A & B goes to terminals 4 &5.
 
Batteries
For batteries I decided to build my own using a LiFePO4 cells(4kWh) and a smart BMS.  
The 15S 100A BMS was ordered from AliExpress and arrived just after the first loackdown lifted, and the cells came from a mismatch special from Sinetech. I created cell connectors from 3mm aluminium bar and connected all the cells in parallel few 3 weeks to equalize. The smart BMS also has a cell balance option, and that helped a lot to get the cells in shape and on the same charge state. There is a 125A mega fuse on the 35mm2 cable to the battery. All the settings on the battery is set using the bluetooth app on your phone that also includes all the battery stats.
 
And built a battery case 
 
Inverter
Finding that our normal usage is around the 2000W a Multiplus II 3000/48 was the inverter of choice. All the peaks can be handled by the utilities, and if there are loadshedding the stove and kettle will not be in use.
For connection to the Pi3 a MK3-USB cable is used.
I used 4mm2 surfix wire to connect the DB to the inverter, and another 4mm2 wire for the return. There is a 63A change over switch to bypass the inverter (this is to keep the wife happy while I fiddle). For a month or so I just had the inverter and batteries running on the workbench hooked into to DB. Worked well for the first set of post lockdown loadshedding. 
Solar panels
I installed 4x 335W ArtSolar panels using SolarStrut bar and PowAR snap clips.
They are set up 2S 2P using 6mm2 solar cable and 16A Ceramic DC fuses for each cable and a DC breaker between the panels and the charge controller.

And using a 100-20 (48V) SmartSolar charge controller. I created a bit of extra heat sink to help with the heat dissipation. 
The SmartSolar controller is connected to the Pi3 with a VE.Direct to USB cable.

 
Final Mounting
All up on the wall. I still need to clean up the wires a bit.

 
 

Installation done. I'm really happy with it. way quieter than expected when idling. The fan switch is located to the right of the Jean Muller battery disconnect and when engaged, makes the system completely silent.
Thank you @Jaco de Jongh for the customary wonderful service and patience. Thanks @plonkster for the ' Silence fan' assistant tip.  
The problems encountered during load shedding have all been mitigated.

 
 

Installation done. I'm really happy with it. way quieter than expected when idling. The fan switch is located to the right of the Jean Muller battery disconnect and when engaged, makes the system completely silent.
Thank you @Jaco de Jongh for the customary wonderful service and patience. Thanks @plonkster for the ' Silence fan' assistant tip.  
The problems encountered during load shedding have all been mitigated.

 
 

Look in 'Pylontech battery' > 'Parameters' > 'Charge / Discharge'  . I have 2 x US3000 batteries i.e. 2 x 37A = 74A
 

Look in 'Pylontech battery' > 'Parameters' > 'Charge / Discharge'  . I have 2 x US3000 batteries i.e. 2 x 37A = 74A
 

Hello VisN,
Thanks for sharing this very useful information. Also found it very interesting. With this new knowledge, I had to procure the 2m cable packs manufactured by Pylontech to use in my project. I will install them in a couple of days.  
cheers and keep well.
DannyK
 

I had a similar experience with them. Multiple emails and phone calls but zero response. 
My only online purchase was with https://re-volt.co.za/Store/ I had no issues, infact they were very good.
I do all my purchases through @Jaco de Jongh now.

I had one for about a month. It was working, but the firmware was a mess. Couldn’t properly control my battery, not even using the voltage settings, so I returned it and replaced it with a Victron MP II. Haven’t looked back a day.
So no, hadn’t had a failure myself, but it is very cheap for a reason, and I’m not someone to compromise on the basic utilities in my house.

An annoying thing started happening. The power will go off and on twice in quick succession. It will then stay on for a while and then do same again...... until I unplug the Inverter from my network! This happened some time last week and again today.
The Internet LED is blinking (it is normally solid on) so that is why I suspected it is related to something with the Internet connection and disconnected the Inverter. This seems to work since the power has not gone off again. When it happened last week I did the same and unplugged it.  Later that day I plugged it in again but the LED was still blinking and not long after the power went out again. So I unplugged from network and put it back on the next day and it was fine till today.
Not sure what is happening but it could be that it is trying to do an update o, which would be very strange, reset cause it is struggling to connect to a cloud server.
My Internet works fine and I was actually browsing the web when this happened. There was not any high loads with just my computer, fridge and a light on - same as every morning. The batteries were above 50% and it was nice and sunny with the PV charging it.
Of course now none of the stats are recorded since this thing needs to be connected to the Internet to get access to the monitoring site.
I suppose if I was on-grid with it then this would not be an issue.
Basically, if you want to go off-grid, stay away from Smile5.
 
 
 

Finally managed to get a picture. Just wire it to the AUX1 connections, and configure the assistant to use AUX1.

Thank you @plonkster. Placed an order for a Victron MultiPlus II GX 48/3000/35-32.

I have my setup in apartment & don't think that bit of fan noise is a problem, Multiplus II 3kva & later switched to a 5kva.
Neither bugs me