Hey all, I wanted to share my recent success with automating my water heater. As someone who loves a warm shower first thing in the morning, I decided it was time to upgrade from a basic timer to something smarter. Here’s what I did:
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Setup: I installed a Shelly1PM and a Temperature Sensor Add-On. The Shelly controls the electrical heating element, while the sensors monitor the water temperature and outside conditions.
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Automation: I created a Node-RED flow to manage the water heater based on time of day and actual water temperature. This ensures the heater only runs when needed, saving energy and providing consistent hot water.
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Display: I added a WaveShare e-paper display to keep an eye on the current water temperature without needing to check my phone.
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Manual Override: I set up a ZigBee button for quick manual control. Pressing it switches the heater to manual mode, perfect for when my kids forget to turn it off after their showers!
So far, this setup has been a game-changer. I have consistent hot water when I need it, and my energy bills are lower than with the old timer. Plus, it’s been fun diving into Grafana to analyze the data!
If anyone has questions or wants more details, just let me know. It’s been a fun project, and I’m excited to see how it evolves over time! 