Hi All,

What are some good geyser monitoring solutions that you have had experience with?

I have a 5kW Huawei isite power-m inverter and one 5kwh battery. I’ve also installed 8 x 555 Jinko panels. By looking at my consumption it looks like I have around 20kwh that’s not going through the inverter and suspect the geyser is the main culprit but just don’t know if it’s possible that it’s drawing that much.

 

I want to install a monitor/timer that can tell me how much power my geyser is consuming and optimise by timing it. I am considering a heat pump but I need the current consumption data first, to make an informed decision.

 

Please share your experiences with the various geyser monitoring solutions. I have seen the Sonoff POWR3, CBI Astute and I see people are using Geyserwise as well but would like to get some tips on the pros and cons of each.

Any other suggestions are welcome as well.

 

Thanks in advance

Edited September 5, 20232 yr by AtishD
Typos

I've been using a Sonoff POW for years. Works perfectly for scheduling and monitoring. Consumption in real time helps as well as historical views of daily usages. Definitely helps with trending and gaining a more comprehensive understanding of just how much heating water costs in rand terms. Turning the geyser on and off from the APP also helps when I decide it would be shame to have my excess generation not contributing to anything. 

17 minutes ago, LumexClipsal said:

I've been using a Sonoff POW for years. Works perfectly for scheduling and monitoring. Consumption in real time helps as well as historical views of daily usages. Definitely helps with trending and gaining a more comprehensive understanding of just how much heating water costs in rand terms. Turning the geyser on and off from the APP also helps when I decide it would be shame to have my excess generation not contributing to anything. 

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like it ticks most of my boxes. Just wondering if there’s something which also has temperature monitoring 

Ive done exactly this. Using my Pow R2, bought one of these temperature sensors https://www.diyelectronics.co.za/store/temperature/297-waterproof-temperature-sensor.html?search_query=dsb18b20&results=1.

 

Then soldered it to the pins exposed on the board. Used ping IO4 (do not use IO5 as it is connected to the power measuring chip and it will damage it, i know :P). Extended the probe cable with alarm wiring, as they are thin and cheap. I think you can go max 10 meter. Attached the probe next to the thermostat against the tank side wall thing.
 

 

Using following esphome code

 

Quote

substitutions:
  name: sonoff_pow_r2_geyser
  pretty_name: "Solar Geyser"

esphome:
  name: ${name}

esp8266:
  board: esp8285
  restore_from_flash: True

# Enable logging
logger:
  baud_rate: 0
  #level: DEBUG

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    # https://esphome.io/components/api.html
    key: <generated from link above>

# Enable ota updates
ota:
  password: "State-Copper-33"

# Connect to Wifi and fallback settings
wifi:
  ssid: "<wifi ssid>"
  password: "<widi password>"
  fast_connect: true

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: ${pretty_name}
    password: "<password>"

# Wifi settings webui when fallback hotspot activates
captive_portal:

uart:
  rx_pin: RX
  baud_rate: 4800

time:
  - platform: sntp
    id: sntp_time

dallas:
  - pin: GPIO4

binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: GPIO0
      mode: INPUT_PULLUP
      inverted: true
    name: "${pretty_name} - Button"
    on_press:
      - switch.toggle: relay

switch:
  - platform: gpio
    name: "${pretty_name} - Relay"
    pin: GPIO12
    id: relay

status_led:
  pin:
    number: GPIO13
    inverted: yes

sensor:
  - platform: dallas
    address: 0xec3c01f096c01128                      <- You need to update this address, check the dallas docs on esphome for instructions
    name: "Geyser Temperature"
    id: temp
  - platform: cse7766
    update_interval: 30s
    current:
      name: "${pretty_name} - Current"
      id: curr
      # internal: true
    voltage:
      name: "${pretty_name} - Voltage"
      id: volt
      # internal: true
    power:
      name: "${pretty_name} - Power"
      id: power
      # internal: true
    energy:
      name: "${pretty_name} - Energy"
  - platform: total_daily_energy ############################
    name: "${pretty_name} - Total Daily Energy"
    power_id: power
    filters:
      # Multiplication factor from W to kW is 0.001
      - multiply: 0.001
    unit_of_measurement: kWh
    accuracy_decimals: 1

climate:
  - platform: bang_bang
    name: "${pretty_name} - Climate Controller"
    sensor: temp
    default_target_temperature_low: 5 °C
    default_target_temperature_high: 60 °C
    heat_action:
      - switch.turn_on: relay
    idle_action:
      - switch.turn_off: relay
    visual:
      min_temperature: 5
      max_temperature: 70
      temperature_step: 1

On home assistant you then get

and

On 2023/09/05 at 11:08 AM, AtishD said:

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like it ticks most of my boxes. Just wondering if there’s something which also has temperature monitoring 

I have installed the Tuya 16A Smart Switch with temperature and humidity sensor Smart WiFi Temperature & Humidity Switch | Grow Tents or Nursery (tuya-smarthome.co.za)

This currently works well for my needs.  Please note that it is rated at 16A which means the geyser element should not exceed 3kw (preferably 2kw).  Also note that the sensor is rated to a maximum of 55C (Sonoff sensor to 50C).

I believe the most reliable option is the Geyserwise Tuya module Geyserwise TSE1 Tuya Smart WiFi Module Geyser Controller Kit | LiveStainable which replaces the thermostat and can carry 3kw elements.

I've been using a CBI Astute and I wish it had more detailed stats that one could look at daily. Also you need to register as a Developer on the Tuya IoT platform in order to link it to HomeAssistant. I think it may be better to go with a GeyserWise setup instead of just a Geyser Monitoring system like the Astute. It makes sense to be able to control the temperature as well which you can't do with the Astute or Sonoff.
 

If anyone else has better solutions for this I'll be keen to try them out, I'm looking at upgrading my CBI Astute to a Geyserwise soon.

I have one geyser with a Geyserwise TSe + Geyserwala and another geyser with a Geyserwise TSE1 with Tuya Wifi. For the same money, I would say a standard Geyserwise (TSE) with the Geyserwala is the way to go. Both work well thou1gh. Both give temp info which is great. Pp Tuya is a pain for Home Assistant though. 

 

I have one geyser with a Geyserwise TSe + Geyserwala and another geyser with a Geyserwise TSE1 with Tuya Wifi. For the same money, I would say a standard Geyserwise (TSE) with the Geyserwala is the way to go. Both work well thou1gh. Both give temp info which is great. Pp Tuya is a pain for Home Assistant though. 

Thanks so much for the tip. Do you know if the Geyserwise monitors power consumption? This is important for me as I want to use this info to decide whether I should go with a heat pump. I can’t seem to find anything about power monitoring on the product descriptions.