I have just got an Octopus Home Mini.
https://octopus.energy/blog/octopus-home-mini/
It gives you readings for Smart Meter import for 30 mins and 5 mins in the app. I can now see the drain from the grid when Home is needed power and there is a delay. Would this help any of you on HA?
I am currently exporting from 18:00 - 19:00 as good solar today. But still importing every now and then?
Well done.
I asked for one a year ago but they won't give me one or an IHD as my meters are not smart.
They installed them 46 months ago but still can't make them work.
I live half way between Skipton and Keighley, not in the middle of nowhere!
Home Mini has support in HA via the Octopus plugin
https://github.com/BottlecapDave/HomeAssistant-OctopusEnergy#docs
The home Mini also showed this after the export finished. Still looks like a bit of delay hence export when in ECO and supplying home 🙁gggrrr
Daveb01, how close to 0W of grid import/export do you expect any battery inverter system to get?
5.0 Wh over 30 minutes would be less than 250 Wh (0.25 kWh) over a whole day, which seems pretty good to me.
If your household loads fluctuate on a regular basis then the GE grid meter needs to detect the change and the inverter needs to respond. This control loop is never perfect, so there will always be some grid import/export, albeit small values.
As an example Nespresso machine kicking in
I applied for my home mini about 3 months ago and it arrived about a month ago. Works well as as above, is useful extra source of data in HA via the Bottlecap Dave Octopus integration.
TBH I use my inverter import and export entities to see live (20s delayed - GivTCP poll frequency).
The Bottlecap Dave integration is I think getting Octopus mini data off the Octopus cloud so there will be a lag
does octopus have an API you can get access to the mini data?
pacemaker does octopus have an API you can get access to the mini data?
In the Bottlecap Dave integration you get current consumption and demand if you have an Octopus Mini:
pacemaker - yes, I believe the Octopus API gives you access to the OHM data; this is what the HA integration uses. https://developer.octopus.energy/docs/api/
@geoffreycoan - as well as an OHM, I have a Hildebrand Glow, which posts live updates from the meter to MQTT every 10 secs. I win! 🙂
geoffreycoan I've just been told that my Mini (which I don't remember ordering!) is arriving soon. Is it worth using this in HA/Predbat in preference to the other Octopus integration(s)?
James L When the Home mini arrives and you’ve paired it into your account and wifi (its pretty straight forward, all done via the Octopus app), you can then reconfigure the Octopus Energy integration to say you have a home mini. There’s a config tick box to say you have a mini.
https://bottlecapdave.github.io/HomeAssistant-OctopusEnergy/setup/account/#home-mini
Reboot HA and you get some extra sensors for ‘live’ consumption.
https://bottlecapdave.github.io/HomeAssistant-OctopusEnergy/entities/electricity/#home-mini-entities
With that you could then use these live sensors for dashboards. I decided to not use this sensor for tracking import power and continued using the inverter import power entity, primarily because the Octopus mini sensor is only updated every minute (and the data has to go from your meter to the mini to Octopus and then back again into HA), whereas the inverter entities are populated every 20 seconds from GivTCP and it gives me a view that’s consistent with what’s happening to the battery.
What I did do is to use current_accumulative_consumption entity to populate the Energy dashboard in Home Assistant. I was previously using the inverter import entity but swapping to the Octopus mini one gives me consistency with the Octopus bill
One big drawback of the HA BottlecapDave integration with the mini (which I think is down to Octopus limitation according to Dave) is that your export meter data isn't available for today (e.g. the kWh exported today), you can only get the previous day. Versus the import meter will show kWh consumed today and the cost of it.
In order for me to have some idea of export I have to take that data from the givtcp integration sensor.givtcp_INVERTER_export_energy_today_kwh. Then do my own maths to figure out the export value in £ for today.
TX200 yes you just have to configure the energy dashboard with the right sensors.
There’s a guide on the Octopus Energy integration that walks you through how to populate import information in the dashboard, with different sensors if you have an Octopus mini or not.
https://bottlecapdave.github.io/HomeAssistant-OctopusEnergy/setup/energy_dashboard/
I just realised the guide only covers import, not export, but if you are on a single rate tariff like Octopus Outgoing you just configure it as a flat rate tariff and use the sensor.givtcp_INVERTER_export_energy_today_kwh sensor:
If you have multiple export rates such as Octopus Flux you need to create a utility meter to wrap the givtcp export sensor, and create different tariffs. Then create an automation to swap between the tariffs at the appropriate times.
There’s a speak to the geek video on this - you can see the remnants of this setup on the left corner as I have Export Peak, Day and offpeak all configured with the different rates on the energy dashboard.
geoffreycoan
Also worth noting that the OHM does not support export metering for all meter types. See the 4th FAQ https://octopus.energy/octopus-home-mini-faq/#ohmfaqs
I have an Aclara meter, and have to use my AIO export metering on for my Energy dashboard
Just got my mini and I have a dumb charger aka a Polar Chargemaster
After installing in home assistant MIni is spotting it which seems a bit crazy as its dumb
Not that it matters as I control it with a shelly but its a little weird
Just as a follow up.
Think Ive worked out what my charger is doing popping into the data for the mini - its the Octopus Intelligent API named as my charger but is in fact for my car but in the setup I had to give charger type so seems that fed in.
It has hooks for delayed start boost etc
Just received my mini, instructions would have been nice, but eventually found them online.
Q code wouldn't work.
How long does it take to completely set up?
on the dashboard screen I have Home, battery and solar. I can see data on the app but the mini is still flashing green after about 10 minuits.
By the way mine is a white box not pink thank god..
I wish mine was white or Black and not pink 😀
Mine worked as per instructions and Q code. It took a while to be visible in app. I think I did mine after 6pm, and it was all working the next day.
In the app you have to click the Usage tab, the you should see live:
Last 30 mins or last t mins.
I was going to screen shot it but I am exporting Solar so it says -1,994 at moment and 0.0w or £0.00 so not worth showing you sorry.
Mines been flashing green for over an hour now, so I think its time to contact octopus.
Wavy Davy Mine took some time - a few hours. Green means it's connected to your wifi and is now searching for the meter signal so make sure it is close enough to the meters. I think Octopus need to authorise the mini to connect to the meter signal which means accessing the meter details in their database and downloading them to the new mini.
Windy Miller Do you have to contact them to connect it or do they pick it up automatically?
I would leave it until tomorrow and see if it’s sorted, then give them a call after 9:00 if not🤞
I had absolutely no problems installing my mini. There was some brief instructions in the box from what I remember, I scanned the QR code, it opened in the app, went through an enrolment to my wifi and I think it connected automatically to the meter (about 2m away through the garage wall). Can’t remember when the live data appeared in the app, next day at most.
Annoyingly it doesn’t show same day export figures, it does for import, but not export. I can see negative import figures (i.e. export) in the last 5/30 minutes display in the app but this doesn’t accumulate in the export today.
Other than that, its worked flawlessly. And its pink, but its in the garage so I don’t see it.
geoffreycoan Annoyingly it doesn’t show same day export figures
Yes I too was disappointed that it didn't show export. I still have to go to the meter cupboard to see my export reading. Eon even still want a photo of the reading to pay the export. Go figure!
Windy Miller It seems it is less sensitive than the IHDs.
It'll have the interference from the wifi radios to deal with, which the IHD doesn't.
Zigbee (comms to meter) and 2.4GHz wifi (comms to Octopus/you) occupy the same frequency range and the channels aren't the same. https://www.metageek.com/training/resources/zigbee-wifi-coexistence/
Windy Miller Very likely.
I don't know the specs of the OHM but if it doesn't have 5GHz radios as well as 2.4GHz then its a bit of a design flaw.
Its also the way the gas meter communicates with the DCC box on the electricity meter so there's lots of potential for interference.
I hate Zigbee. So much.......
Which app does it use, octopus or octopus R & D?
I did get it installed on R & D but couldn't get it to show any data.
I can't get it installed on Octopus because it didn't come with a QR code anywhere and that is the only option to install it.
Wavy Davy setup guide https://octopus.energy/octopus-home-mini-faq/#ohmsetup
Suggests you don’t need the QR code just click the link that opens the octopus app
geoffreycoan When you start the app and go to add device you have to scan the QR code, there's no other option. There is a QR code on the back of the device but it's not recognised by the app. It's just a link to "octopus energy/home" which doesn't work.
I would paste a pic but for some reason it won't let me. Even tried a screenshot of it, no luck.
@"geoffreycoan"#p59755The link still won't work for me, but I have the app installed. When I open it and go to add device I get a scan QR code window. I get a message QR code not recognised.
I'm sure the qr code on the back is just a generic code, not an install code. When I scan it using a QR code reader it comes up with "http://www.octopusenergy/home". which gives a message "this site cannot be reached".
Have emailed octopus but no response yet. Cant ring them as its week days only according to the web site.
Wavy Davy @"geoffreycoan"#p59755The link still won't work for me, but I have the app installed. When I open it and go to add device I get a scan QR code window. I get a message QR code not recognised.
Strange, did you do exactly what I did:
Click the link to https://octopus.energy/app/devices/setup-home-mini
then click Open at the top of the screen to open the app from the page you are on - not open the app via the home screen etc
this on mine takes you to enrolment of the OHM in the app. I did not need to do add device etc
This is the front of the device I got
Still trying to upload a shot of the back.
Wavy Davy Hmm, I wonder if that is the Octopus Home Pro or CAD or whatever it is called?
My OHM is pink and looks like the one in the video, just a single light on it, no CAD display
Did you apply in the Octopus forum for the pro ? https://forum.octopus.energy/t/what-is-a-home-pro/9025
No I applied in the octopus app, will have to check my emails and make sure.
Having another close look on the back it does say "home pro".
No idea what that is or does. Will have to investigate further.
Wavy Davy I’m pretty sure you have been sent a Home Pro. I applied for one in the Octopus forum but haven’t got it yet, but from reading the forum they talk about the blue CAD lights.
It’s a new device, that’s much more powerful than the OHM. It can run MQTT for example.
Here’s the install instructions i found:
Connect to phone via Bluetooth.
Use Bluetooth to Configure WiFi
Mini uses WiFi to acquire certificates for your HAN.
Mini connects to HAN.
HAN = smart meter
Thanks Geoff, will have a go later, as I have some things to sort out first.
Will let you know how I get on.
Yeah that's definitely a Home Pro, which you setup in the Octopus R&D app (as it's still quite experimental I think).
Wavy Davy
That is indeed a OH Pro.
I have a OH Pro, an OH Mini, an Octopus IHD and a Hildebrand Glow IHD all hanging off my HAN at the moment. With no adverse effects - so far!
To get started with your OH Pro see the bottom section of https://smart-energy.octopushome.net/help (you will need to register/login)
(BTW Agile users may be interested in the "Optimising a GivEnergy system with Agile" section - tagging @geoffreycoan )
PianSom (BTW Agile users may be interested in the "Optimising a GivEnergy system with Agile" section - tagging @geoffreycoan )
I did get as far as creating and linking my givenergy system to Octopus R&D about 10 months ago when I realised I needed to be able to control the battery charging more intelligently than Eco mode. Then at the time on the forum the only options outside of the GivEnergy portal seemed to be Octopus R&D or Home Assistant, and others were reporting that R&D wasn’t working reliably, was leaving the inverter with Eco turned off, etc. So I went down the HA route.
It does remain an option alongside MyEnergy Optimiser and Wonderwatt but now these options are available I don’t know whether it’s used as much on this community ?
Unpairing my inverters off Octopus R&D was suggested by Octopus as one of the possible fixes for getting OIF to work for me. It wasn’t though
PianSom No, I power the device up, and it flashes CAD. although I can cycle through CAD, SDK and "ALL OK".
I cannot get it to show BLE.
I cannot get it to do step 4. it is not discoverable in step 3.
I thought I would reset it and start again.
If I long press the button I can get a flashing CAD or SDK but still cant connect or reset.
Thanks to all who advised and particularly Plansom who finally steered me in the right direction.
using this article, at the bottom I found better reset instructions and the position of a small reset hole, which worked!!
I re-installed it and now have it working.
article was "https://github.com/OctopusSmartEnergy/Home-Pro-SDK-Public/blob/main/Home.md"
It is saying "no meter connection", so maybe my meter isn't supported, or maybe it just needs more time.
Wavy Davy It is saying "no meter connection", so maybe my meter isn't supported, or maybe it just needs more time.
Mine's always said that (on the R&D website), even though it's connected fine and getting data. Do you see readings when you click on the "Charts" tab (with "Realtime" as the time window)?
I was going to say no, as it is a flat line, but then I realised it's the meter reading and the house load is being supplied by the battery at the moment. Looking back into the history there is a lump in the data, so yes it is connected.
Hook
Horses for courses.
I’ve been a Home Assistant user for many years now, so am well used to that being the main portal through which I interact with my home electronics. (Well, that and the tv remote!)
In that light, I think
Of course, your mileage may vary.
PianSom To your excellent summary of ways to get your energy data I would also add:
Personally I use the GivTCP inverter meter readings in Home Assistant. I found the Hildebrand Glow DCC integration was awful, the data used to arrive in lumps, certainly not consistently lagging by 30 minutes, so it was fairly useless and I ended up uninstalling the integration.
I didn’t have an OHM at the time and thought the Hildebrand Glow kit was very expensive for what it gave. Over a month the inverter meter readings are very close to the Octopus readings so that’s good enough for me so that’s what I use.
The OH Pro looks to be very exciting in terms of what it can do, but for the future.
SJB I have a Kaifa smart meter. My OHM displays negative live use figures in the Octopus app when I’m exporting, but these don’t accumulate in the ‘day’ view. The export data only appears sometime the following day
I think this is an Octopus limitation. There is no API or Octopus integration sensor for ‘current export accumulation’, only import
geoffreycoan Yes, that is the conclusion I was coming to. I have an EDMI meter, like you I can see when it is exporting but not the meter reading.
I'd like to record the export meter reading at midnight, but I've only been able to find the import meter in the Octopus Integration and the Geo Home integration (it's a Trio IHD).
I suppose I could calculate it from the DCC export data but it probably isn't worth the bother to get it right.
Meant to add I can also see the meter reading to more decimal places than looking at the meter itself.
Actually looking at the reading above I think the decimal point is in the wrong place. should be 9727.765kWh
Same on the Gas reading should be 3597.180. Also gas meter reads in m3 not kWh. the conversion is done by octopus.
Lots more OHM's available soon it seems
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/pink-octopus-energy-home-mini-smart-meter/
Windy Miller
lol - I recommend pihole. No ads for me!
Safari running on iPhone with 1Blocker and adguard extension installed and I rarely see any ads.
Windy Miller I've used adblock plus for years, works well enough
I've already got an OHM but a Octopus Home Pro arrived a week ago so got to get round to seeing what that can do for me. Anyone else using it?
geoffreycoan Anyone else using it?
Yup - running both (plus a Hidebrand Glow device!) here.
geoffreycoan Yes I do use adblock on my main machine but not on my tablets as too old. Generally I steer clear of sites where you are the product.
geoffreycoan I've used adblock plus for years, works well enough
Gave up on it a while back as the developer kept turning the "allow some ads" (or whatever wording it was) option back on silently (so he could make money).
I just use NoScript these days, which allows you to blacklist domains manually. Handy for crap like twilio....
geoffreycoan I have had OHM running since January. Setting it top was a challenge but I think many of the initial teething problems have been resolved now. Follow the instructions and let each stage run its course. Don't be impatient!
I have OHM, Mini and IHD sat beside each other and they all work together.
On OHM, there are nice chart displays on computer screen via Octopus R&D. I find it too crunched up on the app.
Nothing much has happened though over last 6 months.
You can download daily details on your import down to 30 min level. These matched my Octopus bill when it arrives.
There are some users who are coding the OHM but beyond me at the moment.
Worth looking at https://github.com/OctopusSmartEnergy/Home-Pro-SDK-Public/blob/main/Home.md
Also Octopus R&D discussion group: 'For the Pro User'.
You will need to have been granted access rights from Octopus R&D.
Rob
geoffreycoan Yes, I used to, but I've moved to EON now (better tariff for battery owners). Can't find (yet) a way to get this detail from there - although I've only just moved!
CW Should have downloaded the Octopus data before you left ….
The OHM won’t be any use now you have moved supplier.
I think your only other option is to download it from the GivEnergy portal. Normally you can only download a single day of data from the portal but there’s some scripts on this forum (need to search for it) that enable you to download a block of data in a date range
Personally though I only track my import and export on a monthly basis which is good enough data granularity for me. I just record the figures in a manual spreadsheet. Simply find the ‘export total’ figure for midnight the last day of the month and subtract from that the previous month’s last day ending reading.
For anyone who moves partially and I assume same for fully away from Octopus the mini stops working totally
Ive moved electric over to Tomato and still have Gas with Octopus but its not updating anymore - no huge issue but worth noting
[unknown] There is now a value in the HA Octopus Integration 'sensor.octopus_energy_electricity{{METER_SERIAL_NUMBER}}{{MPAN_NUMBER}}_current_total_export'. Only spotted it by accident - I really should read the release notes 🙂
