I’ve been diving into the world of energy monitoring lately, and I wanted to share my experiences and tips for anyone looking to set up a similar system. My goal was to track the energy usage of all the lights in my apartment, which are spread across two circuits. I decided to use the TO-Q-SY2-163JZT devices for this purpose, and I couldn’t be happier with the results!
First, I replaced both circuits with these energy monitoring breakers. They provide real-time data on energy consumption, which is exactly what I was looking for. The next step was to combine the data from both breakers into a single entity so I could track the total energy usage for my entire apartment. I achieved this by creating a template sensor in Home Assistant that adds the energy readings from both breakers.
Here’s the configuration I used:
yaml
{{ (states(‘sensor.hallway_light_breaker_1_energy’) | float) + (states(‘sensor.hallway_light_breaker_2_energy’) | float) }}
This setup allows me to monitor the combined energy usage of both circuits in one place. I then added this new entity to my energy dashboard, which gives me a clear view of how much energy my lights consume each day, week, and month.
One thing I learned is that combining data from multiple sensors can provide a more comprehensive overview of your energy usage. It’s also important to ensure that your sensors are properly configured and that the data they provide is accurate. I recommend double-checking your sensor settings and verifying the data periodically to make sure everything is working as expected.
If you’re looking to set up a similar system, I highly recommend using Zigbee devices for their reliability and ease of integration with Home Assistant. They’ve been a game-changer for me, and I hope they can help you achieve your energy monitoring goals too!
Happy monitoring! 