Remote boiler monitoring, temps and pressure

[metallica21156]

So my goal is to monitor my boiler remotely. I have been using privateeyepi to monitor temps. I also have 2 other sensors i want to add. One is a 0-5 volt pressure sensor and another is a thermocouple that i have a break out board of max31885. I also have some Arduino boards laying around that i can use if needed. The sensors for temp im using is the ds18b20. I would also if possible be able to bring up a dashboard on the pi that shows everything as well. Has anyone else already done something like this?

[neilgl]

For the dashboard on pi I am using openhab

[jeremyb]

I have done this with my own heating and power monitoring solution using Raspberry Pis and InitialState as the dashboard.

Screenshot 2020-04-29 at 17.42.06.png (104.22 KiB) Viewed 465 times

I use the Hive heating control system but wanted to monitor boiler performance. I get the current thermostat setting and temperature reading via the Hive API, and everything else is measured directly using temperature sensors.

I have created a monitor for the oil tank (using ultrasonic transducers) and with the addition of the Lechactal board, measure the house voltage and power consumption.

I have tried using OpenHab, but found InitialState much easier (although you do have to pay). I view this on an old iPad.

[neilgl]

Openhab2 is open source so no need to pay - I like that

[jeremyb]

One of the nice things about InitialState is that it allows you to view readings on a timeline, to scroll back and forth in time, and to compare different time ranges. This is really useful when monitoring trends.

I create a separate log file of all readings so that I can provide some analytics (e.g. oil consumption vs boiler on time, power consumption over time, etc.).

Displaying the analysis is my next part of the project.

[jeremyb]

One of the nice things about InitialState is that it allows you to view readings on a timeline, to scroll back and forth in time, and to compare different time ranges. This is really useful when monitoring trends.

I create a separate log file of all readings so that I can provide some analytics (e.g. oil consumption vs boiler on time, power consumption over time, etc.).

Displaying the analysis is my next part of the project.

[neilgl]

And a nice thing about openhab2 is that it easily integrates with grafana (free) to plot timelines of readings that you can scroll back through or select time ranges etc.

[bensimmo]

just been setting openhab2 over the past two weeks and honestly, it's still unfriendly and poor.

I tried setting up an mqtt, doesn't seem to really work, it doesn't figure out stuff and gets in a complete mess.
it doesn't detect much on my network (I have tasmota's, sonoffs, ESPEasy etc).
it can see Alexa and Google homes that's about it.
bit shite really.
that was after I had to fix the initial setup as their server didn't work and errored during the boot setup phase with the openhabOS setting and I had to over ride them.
and the document during that initial setup did not mirror what was in front of me.
been more hassle than its worth.

going to dump it as see if Hass has come along.

I like the simplicity of the initialstate setup you have.


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Any pictures of the sensor setups etc.
how much coding did you have to do, python, JavaScript, Node-Red?

[neilgl]

For openhab2, are you using paper UI to add Things, Channels and items with auto-linking? - pretty easy. Also I just used stock Raspbian, no other server. The mqtt binding is also easy to use I found - mqtt server running on the same pi. All my esp8266 and so off and Tasmota easily configured and working. Rules easy to use too.

[bensimmo]

using the openhabOS, the initial setup failed to to certificate error during their scripts.

followed their instructions once I fixed that.
properui etc setup their mqqt thing, pointed everything at and boom nowt get autodetected.
(I can see we server and devices to monitor if they are online, Alexa and Google and my TV).
anything mqtt does not seem to work, which defeats the point of it.
It gets mqtt info as I can remotley subscribe to it., but does openhab like it. nope.

been way to much faff so far.

[neilgl]

Probably you did not want to use Openhabian...All mqtt working fine for me.

[jeremyb]

My setup is written entirely in Python.

I worked as a programmer 35 years ago, using Pascal, PL1 and Z80/8086 assembler. Learning Python was not too difficult, especially given the range of examples on the web. When I started programming in the 80's, all I had was books.

I use 3 separate Raspberry Pis to capture the data from my boiler (furnace for my American friends), from multiple temperature sensors (I use DS18B20 - which are brilliant and very reliable) and DHT22 inside (which is not as good, but al least gives me humidity).

All GPIs from the boiler use relays to isolate between AC mains and DC 3.3V.

Accessing my Hive data is via a web API and parsing the json package from Hive (I have had to learn how to do this, and parsing json was way more difficult than expected).

AC power and voltage uses the Lechactal board with.a current clamp. I also modified one of the boards to read mains frequency, which was OK for a while but this is currently not working.

The oil volume uses a HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, but this has proved a little unreliable due to the harsh environment in the oil tank. I have just ordered a sealed version and will report back.

I also tried the Pi Zero W, but found that it was too unreliable.

[jeremyb]

My next task is to build a weighing platform using load gauges so that I can monitor the amount of propane gas in outside bottles.

[bensimmo]

My next task is to build a weighing platform using load gauges so that I can monitor the amount of propane gas in outside bottles.

Buy a load of Wii Balance boards , hahaha

I jest but I set one up to weigh myself using a Pi via Bluetooth. It wouldn't be recommended unless you can find a better way to link them.

[jeremyb]

I have some strain agues and a board coming from China. About £7 then just need a couple of paving slabs and some epoxy.