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No-code, plug-and-play monitoring for your heat pump

Mars · 2024-01-26T06:00:00Z

The integration of smart technology in UK home energy management, especially for the control and oversight of heat pump systems, is an evolving field. However, this progress is shadowed by increasing frustration among homeowners due to the inadequacy of current heat pump control and oversight capabilities. As highlighted in multiple discussions on the Renewable Heating Hub forums, some homeowners have ventured into DIY solutions, such as modbus/RS-485 monitoring. However, these endeavours often prove to be complex and intimidating. For example, cathodeRay describes his experience setting up a modbus monitoring system. This process involves intricate steps like hard wiring a RS-485 to USB converter into the heat pump controller and utilising open-source software for data reading. Although this approach could be effective, it's not a feasible or realistic solution for the average homeowner. Amidst these challenges, there is a clear demand for monitoring systems that are both straightforward and affordable. Homeowners are looking for solutions that require minimal hardware and software knowledge. The emergence of smart technologies, like PlanetData by Planet Devices, aims to address these challenges in home energy management. PlanetData functions as a WiFi-enabled Modbus communication gateway, enabling remote access to RTU Modbus enabled heat pumps. It presently supports over 150 heat pump models, with the list continuously expanding, showing its adaptability to various systems. One of the key features of PlanetData is its ease of installation and use. It's a no-code, plug-and-play device that connects directly to the heat pump hardware and only requires power. This simplicity contrasts sharply with the complex DIY solutions some homeowners have attempted, involving intricate wiring and programming. PlanetData not only sends and receives data but also allows users to visualise the performance of their heat pumps via a user-friendly dashboard. This dashboard notifies users of any hardware errors, enabling timely interventions. The device can also handle peripherals like CT clamps and indoor temperature probes, providing additional data points crucial for calculating accurate CoP and other efficiency values. The device also features an optional mains voltage meter to provide a more accurate coefficient of performance calculation. These features empower homeowners with detailed insights into their system’s performance, far surpassing the basic metrics provided by standard heat pump installations. The ability to store historic data – hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly averages – allows homeowners to engage in predictive maintenance. Applications can optimise energy use and predict maintenance needs, enhancing control over energy consumption. For homeowners, PlanetData offers a solution that balances sophistication with user-friendliness. It addresses the gap in the market for an effective, accessible heat pump monitoring system. For installers, it provides a comprehensive tool for tracking, maintaining and controlling installations. PlanetData signifies a significant step in home energy management technology. While innovative, it also focuses on addressing the practical needs of homeowners and installers. As the UK moves towards more sustainable energy solutions, technologies like PlanetData could play a crucial role in making home energy systems more efficient, manageable and user-friendly.

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Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)

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benson

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26/07/2025 12:10 pm

@grantmethestrength thanks! Just had a play around and created a new dashboard as suggested. Work in progress...

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benson

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26/07/2025 12:23 pm

@mphb the only controls I'm struggling to locate on HA are zone 1 heating on/off, and holiday mode. Have you had any joy finding these switches at all?

edit- just found the zone 1 heating on/off control. Looks like holiday away isn't controllable via the svenar device as it is just listed as a sensor.

This post was modified 7 months ago by benson

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Grantmethestrength

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26/07/2025 1:29 pm

@benson

Just had a quick look at the source code for the svenar and these might get you on the right track. In Home Assistant go to settings, devices and services and then entities and search for enable heating and holiday.

This post was modified 7 months ago by Grantmethestrength

Kind Regards
Si
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Grant Aerona3 13kW
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Grantmethestrength

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26/07/2025 1:31 pm

Another handy tip always give your entities an area and a label makes it easier to find them when you start to add more stuff in HA.

Kind Regards
Si
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Grant Aerona3 13kW
13 x 435w + 13x 480w Solar Panels
Sigenergy 10kW Inverter
16kW Sigenstor battery

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benson

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26/07/2025 1:32 pm

After a bit more fiddling around (with thanks for pointers with home assistant- very much appreciated), here's what I have. Firstly, the svenar unit itself which was easy enough to connect up:

HA dashboard configuration thus far:

As mentioned above the only slight annoyance is lack of control of holiday away, from what I can see. Otherwise, seems a very tidy device which seems to provide everything I need, I think (?) and utilises the already good functionality in HA both on desktop and in the app. Only slight downside of HA is that it cannot be accessed away from the network without a subscription to the home assistant cloud, or another workaround. Plenty of guides on how to do that, though.

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Grantmethestrength

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26/07/2025 1:38 pm

@benson I use tailscale very easy to setup and rock solid.

Kind Regards
Si
——————————————————————————
Grant Aerona3 13kW
13 x 435w + 13x 480w Solar Panels
Sigenergy 10kW Inverter
16kW Sigenstor battery

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benson

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26/07/2025 1:38 pm

@grantmethestrength thanks! I did use that entity search function a lot when sorting which ones I wanted, albeit the midea nomenclature is rather confusing. I think that "enable heating" one basically means actual heating mode on the ASHP rather than turning the central heating on. Not quite sure what the holiday home setting does but it is the away one I need and that only appears to be listed as a sensor. I might email him and ask.

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benson

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26/07/2025 1:42 pm

Posted by: @grantmethestrength

↑

@benson I use tailscale very easy to setup and rock solid.

Is that a workaround whereby you need your own domain? I did have a look at that option and thought in fairness I don't mind paying what is a comparatively small amount to support the development of HA. Plus, I guess I'd have to pay to get a domain anyway? Granted it would likely be much less than the subscription.

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Grantmethestrength

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26/07/2025 2:41 pm

Tailscale is kind of like a vpn connection (on steroids) you down load it onto each device you want in your tailnet load the integration into home assistant and you now have secure access to your network and home assistant from anywhere in the world. And as a Yorkshireman the best thing is it is free!

Kind Regards
Si
——————————————————————————
Grant Aerona3 13kW
13 x 435w + 13x 480w Solar Panels
Sigenergy 10kW Inverter
16kW Sigenstor battery

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Grantmethestrength

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26/07/2025 3:49 pm

https://tailscale.com

Kind Regards
Si
——————————————————————————
Grant Aerona3 13kW
13 x 435w + 13x 480w Solar Panels
Sigenergy 10kW Inverter
16kW Sigenstor battery

👍

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Grantmethestrength

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27/07/2025 12:07 pm

I think I may have found it, it looks like it is holding register 5 bit number 5, which means you should be able to read and write to it but it is only in there as a binary sensor not a switch. If you replace the switch portion of heatpump.yaml this should give you the switch. Obvs back up before changing lol!!

switch:
  - platform: factory_reset
    name: Restart with Factory Default Settings
  # Register: 0 -> Bit 2
  - platform: modbus_controller
    modbus_controller_id: "${devicename}"
    name: "${entity_prefix} Power DHW T5S"
    id: "${devicename}_power_dhw_t5s"
    register_type: holding
    entity_category: config
    address: 0x0
    bitmask: 0x4
  - platform: modbus_controller
    modbus_controller_id: "${devicename}"
    name: "${entity_prefix} Function Setting Holiday Away"
    id: "${devicename}_function_setting_holiday_away_switch"
    register_type: holding
    address: 0x5
    bitmask: 0x20  # Bit 5
    icon: mdi:airplane
  # Register: 5 -> Bit 12
  - platform: modbus_controller
    modbus_controller_id: "${devicename}"
    name: "${entity_prefix} Weather Compensation Zone 1"
    id: "${devicename}_weather_compensation_zone_1"
    register_type: holding
    entity_category: config
    address: 0x5
    bitmask: 0x1000
  # Register: 5 -> Bit 13
  - platform: modbus_controller
    modbus_controller_id: "${devicename}"
    name: "${entity_prefix} Weather Compensation Zone 2"
    id: "${devicename}_weather_compensation_zone_2"
    register_type: holding
    entity_category: config
    address: 0x5
    bitmask: 0x2000

  # Register: 7
  - platform: modbus_controller
    modbus_controller_id: "${devicename}"
    name: "${entity_prefix} Forced Water Tank Heating On/Off"
    id: "${devicename}_forced_water_tank_heating_on_off"
    icon: mdi:fire-alert
    address: 0x7
    register_type: holding
    entity_category: config
    write_lambda: |-
      uint16_t value = 0;

      if (x == 1) {
        ESP_LOGI("main", "Set forced water tank heating ON");
        value = 1;
      } else {
        ESP_LOGI("main", "Set forced water tank heating OFF");
        value = 2;
      }

      esphome::modbus_controller::ModbusCommandItem set_payload_command = esphome::modbus_controller::ModbusCommandItem::create_write_single_command(${devicename}, 0x7, value);
      ${devicename}->queue_command(set_payload_command);

      return {};

Kind Regards
Si
——————————————————————————
Grant Aerona3 13kW
13 x 435w + 13x 480w Solar Panels
Sigenergy 10kW Inverter
16kW Sigenstor battery

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Grantmethestrength

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Posts: 182

27/07/2025 12:12 pm

If there any more sensors that are holding registers that you would like to have a switch for let me know, it is pretty easy to create. Might be worth reaching out to the creator and see if he will update the yaml. It is a cool little family project.

Kind Regards
Si
——————————————————————————
Grant Aerona3 13kW
13 x 435w + 13x 480w Solar Panels
Sigenergy 10kW Inverter
16kW Sigenstor battery

ReplyQuote