RPI3 high average load

[steaktastic87]

Hi,

I currently use my rpi3 to run home automation software (homeseer) and i've been having delays in the system so decided to start investigating if i'm overloading the cpu on the rpi.

This is when I came across how to find out the average load and my values are 6.20, 6.37, 6.80 which for a quad core I understand is way too high. I'm not fluent in linux or rasberry pi but i've come along way from where I was a year ago yet you will have to slow dance me though how to find out what is causing this high load average or if its anything to be worried about. I know this value isn't the be all and end all of my rpi performance but i'm trying all avenues to sort my home automation out once and for all.

I can give more details on the setup if required or just tell me the commands and go from there . Any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks.

[MaxK1]

Use "top" or "htop" to show the processe(s) that are using the CPU - You may find your app using more than you think it should or some other tasks are running that you don''t need.

[steaktastic87]

Thanks, yeah I just discovered that with a bit of google and it shows most the processors are using 70% average but then one spiking up to 98% at times at about 30s intervals. I don't fully understand the rest of the info so probably best I get a screenshot, post tomorrow and someone could break it down for me.

I only have the homeseer software running with a few plugins and nothing else. Homeseer themselves supply a rebranded raspberry pi with a dedicated rpi version of the software with the limit of 5 plugins due to the cpu usage on a rpi. I run the full blown Linux version on stretch lite with 4 plugins (you have to buy each software licence individually, I got the full version so I could migrate to a pc if I needed to exceed 5 plugins at some stage). Many others have this same setup, but every setup is unique with the hardware (sensors, lights etc) they use so becomes a minefield trying to trace the source of the delays.

Everything seems to run as should except I get random delays with automated lights and trying to narrow down whether it's a processing que issue with the pi or something else although I've troubleshooted this for a year now on the homeseer forum and nothings improving.

[steaktastic87]

OK so i have a couple of images of the htop output, if anyone can just explain the columns for me, i know some are self explanatory but humour me. Thanks for your time