Link

Thinking about one for the house, now that we have the EV's charging, I'd like to be able to see the actual use so I can determine the cost as well as what other devices are using and pct of total bill.

They have smaller system with only 8 modules for $50 less than in the link but I'm thinking, why not have a sensor on each leg or as many as possible.

We have AC, Pool Pump, Dryer, Oven and EV all on 240v circuits, as well as the normal TV's refrigerators (2) the 8 sensor would cover all those and the remaining would just fall into the uncategorized area.

I don’t know about all that. I do have very low draw bulbs in lights that are used routinely. I also don’t leave things on when not needed.

My electric bill is rather modest.

Are you going to forgo the AC, Pool or EV?
That's the only items in your list that will make a dent in the ROI for something like this, even as inexpensive as this seems. It's 'nice to know' information that's probably not actionable, and you can likely guesstimate accurately.
EV chargers can probably tell what you use.
Pool Pump is easy
AC can get close easily with most smart thermostats (run time)

The only way I see the point of this* is if you have Peak/OffPeak billing, and then I would invest in something that could manage rather than just track. I'd probably move before I spent the effort on that, because that bullshit isn't going to get better.

*I'm a DIY home automation guy, just installed a wifi dimmer yesterday & the kid torture tested the shop driveway light last night from my phone. I have also figured out that the benefit rarely comes close to cost, on paper. If you want to do it just to know, fire away - no pencil-pusher judgement for that. If you're getting 8, you'll eventually want 16 & replacing is double the risk of zapping yourself, so the $200 is 'saving' you >$50

Seems this one is supported on the DIY side. Emporia will feed info to HomeAssistant, but you have to send it to them first.

Or, you can do a little voodoo & flash it to ESPhome, then you have control & the data never leaves your possesion.
ESPhome software

My EV Charger that we have came with the car and doesn't have any reporting, it is a GM model and yes GM's charging platform information is non existent, as are the controls you can get in the aftermarket. So $400 for a new charger that supplies data, or, $200 for the top data information system from Emporia,

I could go for the lower cost unit at $99 but that monitors 4 stations which would cover EV, AC, Pool, Oven or Dryer.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
I could go for the lower cost unit at $99 but that monitors 4 stations which would cover EV, AC, Pool, Oven or Dryer.

The only people I know with it have solar panels with batteries so they're managing usage tightly to reduce purchasing grid power so they get a return on investment for their solar.

What do you hope to do with the data beyond the big 4 loads (i.e. the 8 or 16)? I've had a kill-a-watt for years and even that inexpensive device being moved around to monitor small loads didn't drive any decisions for me. Alternatively, I've seen people go down the rabbit hole of eliminating phantom loads and spend a small fortune swapping out the free (i.e. inefficient) transformers most electronics come with for higher performance without the phantom loads, but not sure if there was a ROI.

If you have a power contract with free nights and weekends, money spent on a pool timer and programming thermostats likely has a higher ROI than Emporia.

Power bills here in FL are always going up we'll see $200 in the winter and $600 in the summer.

Have a Nest Thermostat, all LED bulbs, the range is gas as is the water heater and it's on demand, pool pump is a Variable speed with timers set to reduce the speed just to circulate water, two years ago we increased the insulation in the attic and none of it is keeping up with the price increases.

Or maybe it is just keeping us from going even higher...

Having data for this summer knowing where the power is going exactly vs "well it's summer so it's your AC" doesn't help me plan for upgrades.

Tossing $15K at a 21 Seer heat pump, or $50K at all new windows, $70K at Solar without data knowing what is needed and where to make changes isn't prudent.

Lets say we find out that the garage fridge in the summer is working double time, or the AC, which is a 12 seer is 50% of power, knowing that then you could perhaps justify a higher seer AC unit.

Thinking the smaller unit is ecologically sound as it would cover the 240 use easily, and I might find the pool pump is a problem as the wifes always going to turn up the speed so the fountains are on and grandkids in the pool all summer..

Point is I have no clue what's really driving the bill and want specifics... I've read where people have found power savings after discovering things running and using a lot of power they didn't think was a culprit or, where they could save money.

Theres is also a brand called Meross that makes this, so curious if anyone has that brand vs Emporia.

Link Meross Energy Monitor

My Advice: Don't put cheap Chinese shit in your breaker box. Especially shit that requires some other wire to leave your breaker box to power it. Does that even conform with NEC?

there are other ways to measure power, outside of your breaker box.

The inside of your breaker box needs to be as clean as an operating table.

I have been using the Emporia system with 16 sensors for several years now. It works very well. Data has been consistent with my utility bill. Since I have a well for water, it has even helped detect a leaking toilet that caused the well-pump to cycle in the middle of the night. I was able to install it myself - but I have enough experience to work inside the breaker box and know what not to touch. No wiring outside of the breaker box - just the antenna that connects through a knockout.