Eco Client!!!!

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Julian

We have a customer that is currently using CClient and is very pleased with it.

We are just about to remove all his X10 lighting and replace it with CBUS.

The thought occured to me - if we set up Client to monitor the state of a CBUS lighting circuit the we will know when it is on or off (or dimmed)- if we know the energy consumption of the lamps and the tarrif then we can graphically represent the time dependent usage of the circuit and presumably then the whole house (assuming the whole house id on CBUS). Is this all possible......

[juwi_uk]

Hey I\'m an optimist so anything is possible!

But returning to the here and now, no it\'s not possible in the current Client as apart from the log file I don’t retain data so trending via data warehousing is not possible.

However in the next release I\'m developing now you have the plugin API. A plugin could be written to snapshot state changes (light X on/off/dim etc) to a datastore, process that in some way and render the results to a graphical chart image all within the confines of the plugin code. This image can then be presented as a runtime floorplan image and update in real-time. This is a feature of my plug-in API that makes objects on the floorplan very extensible so if you don’t like my gauge, label objects etc you can render your own via a plugin; I even impressed myself of the possibilities here! :0)

Ingo is heavily into CBUS stuff so if he can be coaxed away from his Modbus and simulator work then maybe he can also comment.

Regards

Julian

[Ingo]

Before the Modbus Plugin I also thought of having a text field that a user can populate for each CC object. This field would then hold the wattage of the device and as you switch object On|Off then you get an idea of the power usage.

The drawback of this is that it\'s too static and you will never put all your devices on \'management\' so it it would at best give you an idea of power usage. Things in my house like normal plugs, geysers, pool pump etc are not on \'management\' and I don\'t forsee putting them on anytime soon. The next step was to get a Modbus Power Meter and Modbus/TCP Gateway and this was the start of the Modbus Plugin. Realtime power usage of every phase as well as lots more information all graphically displayed on a floorplan.

If you really want to do Energy Management then spending a few extra bucks is the best way to go.

Ingo

[juwi_uk]

The CurrentCost unit I have started to interface is £50 so doesnt break the bank either. It clips around the main phase to give an indication of whole house power consumption.

Julian