Smart Energy Monitoring System

An IoT-based system to monitor energy usage in real-time using ESP8266/ESP32 and SCT013 current sensors integrated with Home Assistant.

📊 Overview

This project allows you to build a smart electricity meter from scratch that:

• Tracks energy usage in real-time
• Displays data in meaningful visualizations
• Sends alerts when power usage exceeds thresholds
• Helps conserve energy and prevent wastage
• Integrates with Home Assistant for smart home automation

🛠️ Hardware Requirements

Component	Details
Microcontroller	NodeMCU (ESP8266), D1 Mini, or ESP32
Current Sensor	SCT013 30A 1V Non-Invasive AC Current Clamp Sensor
Other Components	• MicroUSB Cable • General-purpose PCB • 10µF 16V capacitor • Two 10K resistors (1/4 watt) • One 33 Ohm resistor (1/4 watt) • 3.5mm female audio jack (optional)

Caution

This DIY project involves AC voltage/current, which can be lethal. If you are not experienced with electrical work, seek professional assistance.

🔧 Installation Guide

Step 1: Set Up Home Assistant

Install Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi or other supported device. Follow the official installation guide.

Step 2: Install ESPHome Add-On

1. In Home Assistant, go to Configuration > Add-ons, Backups & Supervisor
2. Click Add-On Store
3. Search for "ESPHome" and install it
4. Start the add-on and enable:
   • ✅ Watchdog
   • ✅ Auto-update
   • ✅ Show in sidebar
5. Open the ESPHome Dashboard

Step 3: Create and Flash the Firmware

1. In ESPHome Dashboard, click + New Device > Continue
2. Name your device (e.g., "smart-power-meter") and click Next
3. Select your microcontroller type (ESP8266 for NodeMCU/D1 Mini or ESP32)
4. Click Skip to edit the YAML directly
5. Replace the default configuration with the Smart-Energy-Monitoring.yaml file from this repository
6. Modify the WiFi credentials and voltage settings (change from 230V to 110/120V if needed for your country)
7. Click Save and then Install > Plug into this computer
8. Download the compiled firmware
9. Flash the firmware using ESPHome-Flasher tool

Step 4: Hardware Assembly

Connect the SCT013 sensor to your ESP8266/ESP32 following the circuit diagram:

Step 5: Sensor Calibration

1. Clamp the SCT013 sensor on the phase wire (usually red) from your electricity meter
2. In ESPHome Dashboard, click Logs under your device name
3. Note down several "Measured Current" values and take the average
4. Edit your YAML file to add calibration under the sensor section:

   filters:
     - calibrate_linear:
         - 0 -> 0
         - [average_value] -> [actual_current]

5. Save and install the updated firmware wirelessly

Step 6: Configure Home Assistant

1. Go to Configuration > Devices & Services > Add Integration
2. Search for and select ESPHome
3. Enter the IP address of your sensor (found in ESPHome logs)
4. Select the appropriate area for your device
5. Add the device to your dashboard

⚡ Automations

The Automation.yaml file in this repository contains example automations for:

• 📱 Sending notifications when energy usage exceeds thresholds
• 🔌 Turning off non-essential devices during peak usage
• 📊 Logging energy consumption data
• 📈 Creating daily/weekly/monthly reports

Add these automations to your Home Assistant configuration or modify them to suit your needs.

📊 Energy Dashboard

Use Home Assistant's built-in Energy Dashboard to:

• Monitor daily, monthly, or yearly energy usage
• View hourly breakdowns of consumption
• Track energy costs (with proper configuration)
• Identify trends and optimize usage

🔄 Expanding the System

To monitor individual appliances:

1. Build additional sensors with the same configuration
2. Clamp them on the power cord of specific devices
3. Integrate them into Home Assistant for granular monitoring
4. Create appliance-specific automations

❓ Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Inaccurate Readings	Double-check calibration using a multimeter
Connection Issues	Verify WiFi signal strength where the sensor is installed
Sensor Not Detecting	Ensure the SCT013 is properly clamped and oriented correctly

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• ESPHome project for making firmware creation simple
• Home Assistant community for integration support
• All contributors and testers who provided feedback

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Project Status

• Initial documentation
• Circuit design
• ESPHome configuration
• Sample automations
• Advanced usage tutorial