Plugwise on Bwired

Forum about Questions, discussions and announcements regarding the Bwired website owned by Pieter Knuvers
Bwired
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4704
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:07 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Bwired »

Real-time energy reading on Socket level. The Plugwise device (Circle) is placed between the plug and the socket of the device and then it sends, receives, measures, and switches.
Since 20-8-2008 some of my devices are monitored on power usage with a Zigbee 2.4 ghz based Plugwise system.

For months together with Chak we tested this system and mainly the software which came with it (source). We gave Plugwise a lot things to work on, and they did the job. The main problem with Plugwise was that there was no connectivity possible then only with standard (Source) Plugwise software. Plugwise now created a webserver within there software which makes it possible to control and monitor over the Internet. It's also very easy to extract information from the Plugwise system with a simple XML.

Nice (or not [:)]) to see for example that our wash-machine is using 2.2 watt when its not on.
If its washing then the energy usage is >30 watt, and when the wash is done (On but ready) the powerusage is 6 watt.
Now it is even possible to create events like a message when the wash is done. It's also possible to switch off a plug when the alarm is on or there is no one at home. This way you can save energy.

Check the readings on:
http://www.bwired.nl
http://www.bwired.nl/plugwise.asp
http://www.bwired.nl/weblog.asp?id=212
http://www.bwired.nl/weblog.asp?id=250

Of course Plugwise has it own webserver version, but I created my own stuff so it would fit on Bwired.
Everthing is also logged in my database (Mysql).

Image

Image

<b>XML Sample</b>

Code: Select all

<%
  format 'Appliance.PowerUsage' as '{0:0.00}'
  format 'Appliance.TotalUsage' as '{0:0.00}'
  format 'Module.PowerUsage' as '{0:0.00}'
%>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<items type="array">
<% foreach Plugwise.Appliances %>	
      <item>
		<moduleid><%=.module%></moduleid>
		<datetime><%=system.date%> <%=system.time%></datetime>
		<device><%=.Name%></device>
		<powerusage><%=.PowerUsage%></powerusage>
		<powertotal><%=.TotalUsage%></powertotal>
		<powerstate><%=.PowerState%></powerstate>
		<id><%=.Id%></id>
	</item>
<% /foreach %>
</items>
Below is the pdf wich explains the webserver usage, Plugwise is still working on this part.
domoticaforum.eu/uploaded/Bwired/200882 ... Engine.pdf
http://www.plugwise.com

Image
User avatar
TANE
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Posts: 4806
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:46 pm
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by TANE »

Pieter,
that looks great.
Do you also have the controlling option via you website?
Pieterpaul
Member
Member
Posts: 145
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:00 pm
Location: Netherlands

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Pieterpaul »

How do you communicate with these devices? Do you have a ZigBee interface on your PC, or do they communicate over the electricity network?

/PP
Bwired
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4704
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:07 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Bwired »

that looks great.
Do you also have the controlling option via you website?
User avatar
Snelvuur
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Posts: 3156
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:01 pm
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Snelvuur »

Thats really neat, now i could send a sms message when the dryer is done, or through a speaker of some sort.. thats something my gf would love to see..

@chak: since i read that your busy with this also, do you have it connected with homeseer like pieter does?

// Erik (binkey.nl)
Bwired
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4704
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:07 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Bwired »

How do you communicate with these devices? Do you have a ZigBee interface on your PC, or do they communicate over the electricity network?
The Plugwise energy management system comes standard with an USB stick receiver which handles all the communication with the plugs on socket level. I still use the program which comes with Plugwise and I interface through XML with it's webserver.
Check this image I made on how the plugwise network is working.

<b>Mesh Zigbee Plugwise netwerk</b>
Image

<b>Plugwise USB Stick Receiver</b>
Image
Pieterpaul
Member
Member
Posts: 145
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:00 pm
Location: Netherlands

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Pieterpaul »

I assume the 'source' only runs under Windows? Can you communicate with it through (IP) sockets rather than through a webserver?
Bwired
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4704
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:07 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Bwired »

No, for now only the webserver, checkout the manual (pdf) I added to the topic.
Alexander
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 1532
Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:19 pm
Location: Netherlands

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Alexander »

So that is brilliant. Suitable for wash dryers and wash machines, but not ideal in situation where the plugs can be seen directly.
Pieterpaul
Member
Member
Posts: 145
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:00 pm
Location: Netherlands

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Pieterpaul »

I am more worried about the Windows part. Setting up an additional windows server just for these things would certainly offset any gain these modules provide [:)]
User avatar
Snelvuur
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Posts: 3156
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:01 pm
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Snelvuur »

if your geeky enough to want this, i think you allready have a nice server running no? :-)

// Erik (binkey.nl)
Alexander
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 1532
Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:19 pm
Location: Netherlands

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Alexander »

I'm also wondering what the power usage of these plugs are. Can't find any information about that on their site.

Like connecting a plug to an coffeemachine that in standby is lower in usage than the plug itself.
Pieterpaul
Member
Member
Posts: 145
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:00 pm
Location: Netherlands

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Pieterpaul »

yes, but i'm too geeky for it to be a windows server [8D]
Bwired
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4704
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:07 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Bwired »

I'm also wondering what the power usage of these plugs are. Can't find any information about that on their site.
Like connecting a plug to an coffeemachine that in standby is lower in usage than the plug itself.
0.6 Watt Online
0,3 Watt Offline
Bwired
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4704
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:07 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Plugwise on Bwired

Post by Bwired »

I am more worried about the Windows part. Setting up an additional windows server just for these things would certainly offset any gain these modules provide [:)]
I know Plugwise is thinking about the next Plugwise version Which will have a small network server (probably Linux??) which comes instead of the current USB plug. I hope it will also be possible then to monitor the complete power usage.
Post Reply

Return to “Bwired Forum”