I recently set up a swimming pool monitoring system using OpenHAB 2.5, and I wanted to share my experience and setup details with the community. After facing some issues with my Zodiac Tri Pro system, which was showing incorrect pH and chlorine levels, I decided to switch to the Flipr Start device. It’s a great investment for pool owners, offering accurate real-time data on pH, redox potential, and chlorine levels through a floating sensor in the pool.
The setup involved creating a Python script to fetch data from the Flipr API and integrate it into OpenHAB. Here’s a brief overview of the steps I took:
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Python Script for Data Fetching: I wrote a script to authenticate with the Flipr API and retrieve the latest pool data. The script outputs the data in JSON format, which is then parsed by OpenHAB.
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OpenHAB Configuration: I configured the Exec Binding to run the Python script every 1000 seconds. This ensures that the data is updated regularly without overwhelming the system.
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Items and Rules: I created items to store the pool data and a rule to update these items every 10 minutes. The rule uses the JSONPATH transform to extract specific values from the JSON response.
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Sitemap Setup: I added the pool data to my sitemap, including charts to visualize temperature, pH, redox potential, and chlorine levels over time. This makes it easy to monitor the pool’s condition at a glance.
I’m very happy with how this setup has improved my pool maintenance routine. It allows me to automate the pool pump based on solar panel electricity usage, ensuring energy efficiency. If anyone has suggestions for improving this setup or alternative solutions, I’d love to hear them!
Thanks to the OpenHAB community for providing such a flexible and powerful platform for home automation!