RRTP & home automation/smart home solutions

[Jennifer]

I've been part of the RRTP program for three or four years now. I've just decided to do more with home automation and make my condo into a smart home. I've purchased the Smart Things hub, which supports both Z-Wave and Zigbee protocols, and apparently works well with the app IFTTT (now known as IF).

Can anyone offer any guidance or first-hand experience on how they've automated their home to turn off certain devices when electricity prices spike? I know ComEd lists two smart meter connected devices (SMCD) that they support, though only one is apparently necessary for purchase (Rainforest Automation's EMU-2). https://www.comed.com/documents/technology/connected-devices_list.pdf?FileTracked=true But as best I can tell, this devices really just reports the real time price and electricity consumption. From what I've gleaned from ComEd's website, the smart meters use Zigbee.

I haven't yet gotten my system set up, so I'm wondering if anyone can tell me:

* Can I connect my meter directly to my Smart Things Hub, or do I need to connect it to the EMU-2, which would also be connected to the hub?

* Do I even need one of ComEd's SMCD devices, or can I simply set IFTT to monitor ComEd's real time prices and then take certain actions (turn off window AC and other high-energy items) when prices spike?

* Do you have any smart electrical outlets you'd recommend?

* Other suggestions?

Thanks!

Jen

[chrisd...@gmail.com]

Working on the same thing, though with a Control4 system not SmartThings. 

My initial response is that you won't be able to directly link your Smart Things Hub to your smart meter, it will have to go through a hub.  While they both are ZigBee, there are different flavors of Zigbee with different security.  You're going to need something like the EMU-2 and then either write or have someone write a driver for Smart Things to integrate the EMU-2.

There currently isn't anyway I'm aware of to have IFTTT monitor ComEd's RTP.  Would that ever be nice and make this much easier!

Smart outlets... Well I've got a mix in my home and they include Wemo Insight Outlet, and Ubiquiti mFi Power. They both have +/- but if you want easy then go with the Wemo.  

I'll update as I get some things done with my project. 

[Mark Beckstrom]

Perhaps you or another reader has the answer to question.  What is the difference between our RRTP meters and the "new" ComEd Smart Meters.  My understanding is that our RRTP meters are different.  While they are a type of smart meter they are not the Smart Meter.  ComED web site says Smart Meters have a serial number that begins with a 2.  My RRTP meter starts with a 1.  

So in the project being worked on, does the RRTP meter actually have the ability to communicate using ZigBee or any other means?

Or perhaps you are a ComEd customer that has already been upgraded to the new Smart Meter?  My area is not scheduled for the upgrade until 2017-2018.

Thanks

On Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 10:25:10 PM UTC-6, Jennifer wrote:

[Rex Irby]

My area - Elmhurst has been upgraded and I was not because of the RRTP program - We have dumb meters that are TOU (Time of Use) only in that they do not communicate wirelessly - only via a handheld optic reader direct connected when they "Read" the meter. 
As far as I know ComEd will not make them smart as they are in our RRTP program.  This was info I gathered in the Early Fall of 2014.

If anyone out there in the RRTP program has a "Smart" wireless communicating ComEd meter please let us know, I too would like to have something more than what we have now.

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[John]

I have the smartThings device as well and I also do NOT have the SmartMeter yet.  I started using the Aeon Labs Energy meter http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Zwave-Climate-Control/Zwave-Thermostats/Aeon-Labs-DSB09104-ZWUS-Z-Wave-Smart-Energy-Meter.html which is currently on sale I believe.

It doesn't bring price into the system to use, but at least allows me to see what my current energy use is (wattage) and current cumulative energy use is (kilowatt hours).

[Mark Beckstrom]

OK I see that this is a metering device that is independent of the RRTP meter.  This could be used on any metering system, Smart, RRTP or old monthly dial meters.  Might be something to look at if the RRTP meter has no connectivity.

On Tue, Apr 7, 2015 at 2:50 PM, John <adark...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have the smartThings device as well and I also do NOT have the SmartMeter yet.  I started using the Aeon Labs Energy meter http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Zwave-Climate-Control/Zwave-Thermostats/Aeon-Labs-DSB09104-ZWUS-Z-Wave-Smart-Energy-Meter.html which is currently on sale I believe.

It doesn't bring price into the system to use, but at least allows me to see what my current energy use is (wattage) and current cumulative energy use is (kilowatt hours).

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[Jennifer E. King]

John, thanks for mentioning the Aeon Labs Energy Meter. I'd seen it before and glossed over it. A couple questions, if you don't mind...

* I don't see it listed on the SmartThings site as an approved device. Did you use the community-developed device settings? I've only tried to do that once (with a Foscam camera) and failed miserably. Any thoughts on how difficult it was to integrate with SmartThings?

* I live in a high rise, and my meter is in a common area (about 25 yards from my front door) and I have a fuse box in my kitchen. Would this be installed at my meter's location or my circuit breaker box? I'm reading the instructions here http://aeotec.com/z-wave-home-energy-measure/135-home-energy-meter-manual-instructions.html and I'm not sure that I have a main breaker (just individual ones) or an incoming electrical cable that's visible.

* Does it work with IFTTT?

Thanks,

Jen

_______________________
Jennifer E. King
The Southgate Strategy Group
email: jennife...@gmail.com
phone: 773.929.5444
fax: 773.929.5443
Twitter: @JenniferEKing

On Tue, Apr 7, 2015 at 2:50 PM, John <adark...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have the smartThings device as well and I also do NOT have the SmartMeter yet.  I started using the Aeon Labs Energy meter http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Zwave-Climate-Control/Zwave-Thermostats/Aeon-Labs-DSB09104-ZWUS-Z-Wave-Smart-Energy-Meter.html which is currently on sale I believe.

It doesn't bring price into the system to use, but at least allows me to see what my current energy use is (wattage) and current cumulative energy use is (kilowatt hours).

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[John]

You definitely hit on the biggest issue with the Aeon Labs device, it is tricky to get setup.  It installs in your circuit breaker panel, and definitely needs a bit of room to fit. Once you get it installed and hooked up to your SmartThings hub, you do have to go into the web tool for smartthings (as opposed to the App on your phone) to tell SmartThings that it is an energy meter.  Once you do that it seems to work just fine.

Typically if you have a circuit breaker panel in your unit, you should have access to the main lines to hook this up, but I am definitely NOT an electrician and it would probably help (if not be almost mandatory) that you have one to talk to or do the install.

I don't believe IFTTT can use the energy information as a trigger but I haven't really tried.

I attached a picture of what the device looks like the in the SmartThings app for anyone who is interested.

[Jerry Fountain]

Does anyone know if there are any significant differences between the series 1 and series 2 versions of the aeon labs sensor?  Amazon has the series 1 via prime for a great price ($25 delivered).  For that price, it’s almost worth it for even monitoring individual circuits.

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[Mark Beckstrom]

From what I get from the web site the 1E is battery powered and the 2E is Mains powered.

Found this at http://zwave-products.co.uk/epages/c52574ce-7814-4e39-8602-e19657ce0eaf.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/c52574ce-7814-4e39-8602-e19657ce0eaf/Products/161

Important

Please note there are some significant differences between the current 2E and the previous 1E versions of this unit.

• Mains powered - The current 2E version is mains powered only, which means it must be wired into your mains electricity box, by a qualified electrician. There is no longer a battery option, and it is not USB powered like the previous 1E version.
• Improved accuracy - The 1E version could measure the current only, whilst the 2E version measures current, voltage, power and current direction. The 1E version has preset voltage info thus can compute the amount of power, but that could be inaccurate in some cases.

If you do not require the improved accuracy, and would prefer a battery or USB powered unit, we do still currently sell the 1E version. All available documentation is attached to the product pages to aid comparison.

From Aeon http://aeotec.com/z-wave-home-energy-measure