Hi everyone, I wanted to share my journey and solution for achieving real-time power monitoring using a Tasmota-based IR sensor with Home Assistant. This setup has been a game-changer for optimizing my energy consumption and achieving zero export.
The Challenge
Initially, I faced the issue of slow data updates from my electricity meter. The built-in polling interval was set to 5 minutes, which was too slow for precise energy management. I needed near real-time data to respond immediately to changes in power usage.
The Solution
After some research, I discovered the power of Tasmota’s command functionality. By sending a Status 10 command via MQTT, I could trigger an immediate data refresh from the sensor. This allowed me to create a custom automation in Home Assistant that polls the sensor every second.
Here’s how I set it up:
- Automation Trigger: Set to activate every second
- Condition: Ensure the current power reading is available
- Action: Publish
Status 10to the Tasmota device
yaml
alias: Real-Time Power Monitoring
trigger:
- platform: time
seconds: /1
condition: - condition: state
entity_id: sensor.electricity_power
state: ‘not null’
action: - service: mqtt.publish
data:
topic: cmnd/tasmota_smartmeter/Status
payload: ‘10’
The Result
This setup now provides near real-time updates, allowing me to monitor and adjust my energy usage instantly. It’s been transformative for reducing waste and optimizing my solar setup.
A Tip for Others
If you’re looking to implement similar functionality, consider starting with shorter polling intervals and gradually adjust based on your needs. Also, ensure your Tasmota firmware is up-to-date for optimal performance.
I’d love to hear if anyone has alternative methods or improvements to this approach! Happy automating! 