Home Energy Management
Main Applications at Home Energy Management
Bituo offers a wide range of smart energy sensors as monitoring devices for home energy management. Most of our products can be used at sub-power distribution boards and final distribution boards (consumer units) requiring no space at DIN rail. The energy sensors support IFTTT and Home Assistant to facilitate automation between our sensors and other smart devices to save energy.
The typical applications for our smart energy sensors include:
- Three-level system for home energy monitoring
- Smart home energy monitoring
- Dynamic load balancing at Home
- Self-generated energy optimization
- Electrical safety improvement
Three-level System For Home Energy Monitoring
The First Step of Home Energy Management Is Real-time Electrical Monitoring
Main Circuit
An energy sensor is installed at the main incoming line to monitor power and energy at a whole-home level. It saves energy and improves safety by providing not only energy imports and exports data but also all the essential real-time electrical data.
Branch Circuits
Energy sensors can be installed at the branch circuits that feed big loads and receive power generation. At level 2, each circuit typically connects to one device or multiple devices of the same type, such as air-conditioners.
Sockets / Plugs
For medium and small loads, it is economic to monitor via smart sockets or plugs integrated with energy monitoring modules. Real-time monitoring is also recommended at level 3 to support home automation and appliance health diagnosis.
Dynamic Load Balancing at Home
EV charger is a big load at home in terms of power. E.g. The incoming circuit of a house is designed at a rated current of 3P+N 40A, and an EV charger at the out-going branch circuit can have a rated current of 3P+N 16A (11kW) – taking account of up to 40% power consumption at home. If home appliances consuming high power and EV charger work simultaneously for a few minutes, the circuit breaker at the main branch will trigger to shut off the power supply.
With a smart energy sensor installed at the main circuit and a smart EV charger, the dynamical adjustment of EV charging power can be achieved easily. In Scheme A, both EV chargers and smart energy sensor connects to one IoT platform or an edge device to implement the automation. In Scheme B, the EV charger and the smart energy sensor connect to different IoT platforms, which then requires software like Home Assistant or API between IoT platforms to implement the automation.
1) Smart EV chargers with Home Assistant access or open API – such as using OCPP- are needed; 2) Home Assistant as a local controller at home can achieve the automation； 3）Several IoT platforms can be connected via API to conduct the automation without Home Assistant.
Self-generated Energy Optimization
Based on next-day and intra-day weather forecasts, it is possible to have relatively accurate solar energy generation planning at an hourly granularity. The solely ON/Off controlled loads – such as dryer and oven – can be scheduled for operation at an assigned time slot, drawing no power from the grid.
When the power generated by solar exceeds the total consumed power of solely ON/Off controlled loads and critical loads (fridge and Wifi router), the energy sensor will notice an energy export to the grid. Then, it is time to turn on the water heater and EV charger (continuously power-adjusted loads). Because solar power generation might change throughout the day, the power of the water heater and EV charger will be dynamically controlled to minimize energy exporting to the grid.
1) Smart EV chargers with Home Assistant access or open API – such as using OCPP- is needed; 2) Home Assistant as a local controller at home can achieve the automation； 3）Several IoT platform can be connected via API to conduct the automation without Home Assistant.
Electrical Safety Improvement
MCBs and RCDs can provide electrical protection against overcurrent, short circuit, and electrical shock. However, we believe it is not enough for the safety of humans and properties. E.g. Under-voltage and over-voltage status can happen sometimes at high-rise buildings. If home appliances operate at abnormal voltage status for a long time, it might shorten the whole life cycle of the appliances. Our energy sensor can send an alarm to you and the property manager, or tell the smart socket to further switch off selective home appliances. Moreover, an advanced model of energy sensors can detect high-risk loads at home- such as an e-scooter battery.
