Hi Guys,
Just wondering what the cheapest way would be to get a Non-invasive AC current sensor working and then move the data it collects to OpenEnergyMonitor software, which will be on an offsite server. They have prebuilt kits etc and some guides but they all seem to be geared up for complete home energy monitoring where as I am interested in monitoring a single appliance at any one time. I understand the majority of what they recommend is essential but do I need the raspberry PI to act as a receiver to the actual device that collects the info?
Have zero experience with this kind of thing and just started learning about everything so I apologise if something is bluntly stupid etc. Just to clarify, looking for the most efficient/cheapest way to collect data via a single current sensor and then move that info to OpenEnergyMonitor software.
Any help/advice would be appropriated.
every sensor is invasive to some extend (quantum mechanically speaking)
Check ebay for cheap sensors and build it with a tiny85?
How is the measure-HW connected to the offsite server ?
which will be on an offsite server.
That's where the trouble starts with regard to cost. You're going to need ethernet or wifi at some point. A cheap(ish) way is to use 434MHz radio communications to get the data back to a local PC and then have it send the data to the monitoring server, but once you've bought the radio gear and one or two arduinos (depending on whether you can get the PC to interface directly to the radio) you'll be up near Pi pricing territory.
The disadvantage of the Pi though is that it's using wired Ethernet, which may be awkward if you want to move the measuring from device to device.
Personally, I'd solve it with a wifi shield, but that certainly doesn't fit your low cost criterion.
if you think about the technology needed.
collect data
transmit data to modem
send over internet
collect and log
where is there any mention about how many devices are to be monitored ? the second signal is free as is the 10th or 20th. once the path is in place, the only costs are the detection sensors.
if you buy a car for 4 people for $20,000, a one person car does not cost $5,000
There are several Arduino clones with integral WiFi interfaces. Probably cheaper than using an official Arduino with a WiFi shield, but you haven't said what your budget is so I don't know if they're affordable for you.