SONOFF POW Ring Evaluate – A WiFi CT Clamp energy meter examined with eWelink and Residence Assistant

The development of measuring the power utilization of family electrical units has change into more and more well-liked amongst Sensible Residence customers previously few years. We have now acquired the brand new SONOFF POW Ring Sensible Energy Meter Swap gadget for evaluation from ITEAD. Not like SONOFF’s current power monitoring units equivalent to POW Elite, SPM, DualR3, POW3, and POW Origin, this new gadget, additionally known as POWCT, makes use of a present transformer (CT) to measure the present movement, or complete energy being consumed. This technique supplies no bodily contact with stay wires and reduces the danger throughout set up.

Moreover, it may well measure currents of as much as 100A, which is considerably larger than earlier fashions. This makes it appropriate for measuring electrical energy utilization on the principal circuit breaker, power generated from photo voltaic panels, and even for Electrical Car (EV) dwelling chargers. The SONOFF POW Ring, which we’re testing in the present day, is just not solely a Sensible Energy Meter but additionally a swap, which signifies that in addition to measuring power utilization and administration, it additionally incorporates a small-sized relay. The POW Ring operates through WiFi and is managed utilizing the identical eWeLink software program as different SONOFF units. Earlier than we deep dive into the main points of the POW Ring, let’s check out a comparability chart with different members of the POW household.

SONOFF POW Ring unboxing

The principle gadgets that come within the field are the person guide, an antenna, the POW Ring unit, and a CT clamp. The POW Ring unit has slots for inserting the wires each on the backside and the highest. The antenna port is on the high and it’s elective to put in the antenna whether or not you wish to have an excellent wifi sign when put in in a cupboard. On the entrance, there’s an LCD display screen for viewing numerous knowledge, a single button to alter viewing worth and enter pairing mode, and LEDs indicating WiFi and energy standing. Aside from the SSMA connector for the antenna, there’s additionally an RJ9 port close by for connecting the CT clamp.

The underside slots of the POW Ring (L and N) are supposed to be linked to the facility supply. The NO and COM slots are relay terminals used to manage one other gadget. They function as dry contacts with a most specification of 2A. As seen within the picture, there’s just one RJ9 port for connecting the CT clamp, which signifies that it may well solely be used with single-phase energy. We requested SONOFF if there are plans for three-phase fashions, however they’re nonetheless contemplating it, relying on the demand. You’ll be able to present suggestions by means of their social media channels in case you are eager.

Some households promote extra energy again to the grid which entails electrical energy flowing in both path relying on utilization and manufacturing (e.g. from photo voltaic panels). There’s presently no bidirectional power measurement operate. SONOFF talked about plans to implement this function by means of software program upgrades sooner or later. The pictures beneath illustrate each wiring configurations: one with out utilizing the relay and one other utilizing the relay to set off a magnetic contactor to manage high-load electrical units.

SONOFF POWCT teardown

We’ve gone somewhat teardown of the SONOFF POW Ring (POWCT) and as listed within the specs, there’s an ESP32 chip inside. SONOFF has been striving to improve the inner chips of their new Sensible Residence units from the ESP8266 to the newer ESP32 since final yr. Aside from working sooner, it’s one thing DIY fanatics admire as a result of it ought to be simple to flash different firmware, whether or not it’s Tasmota or ESPHome, with clearly marked pins for this goal. This makes flashing firmware a simple course of. Nevertheless, we didn’t conduct any flashing experiments since neither challenge had ready working firmware for the brand new gadget on the time of the evaluation.

SONOFF Pow Ring evaluation with eWelink

We began by testing eWeLink (v.5.30) on an iPhone operating iOS 17.3.1. The pairing course of is just like including different SONOFF Wi-Fi units by urgent and holding the one button on the highest of the POW Ring for five seconds to enter pairing mode, indicated by flashing lights. From the eWeLink app, we then added the gadget as standard by tapping the “+” signal. The steps are roughly as proven within the photos beneath or you may see the complete element of their person guide.

As soon as the POW Ring was prepared to be used, we examined it by measuring the power utilization of the evaporative air cooler within the workplace (yeah it’s scorching right here in summer season!). We experimented with adjusting the fan’s velocity to watch power utilization updates. The info replace was nearly instantaneous, with the slowest noticed replace occurring inside 5 seconds. Equally, if we have been to make use of Residence Assistant, the replace velocity can be very comparable. We didn’t check bidirectional power measurement although because it’s not but out there till future firmware updates.

From the “Vitality Overview” display screen, we will view power utilization particulars in real-time, day by day, month-to-month, and yearly. Even when we cease utilizing the POW Ring, historic knowledge shall be retained for as much as 6 months earlier than deletion. This enables loads of time for us to obtain and retailer it regionally if wanted.

Two fascinating options we discovered when utilizing the eWeLink app to handle the POW Ring are the “Threshold Settings” and “Push Discover”. The Threshold Settings can work with the offered relay, permitting us to set thresholds for present, voltage, or energy. If these thresholds are exceeded and even fallen beneath, the relay shall be triggered to change the load on or off. Moreover, with Push Discover, we will arrange notifications if power utilization exceeds or beneath the thresholds we’ve outlined. This flexibility might show helpful in numerous situations.

SONOFF Pow Ring evaluation with Residence Assistant

We used Residence Assistant model 2024.2.4 operating on a Raspberry Pi 4. Including the POW Ring was accomplished mechanically by means of the mixing of AlexxIT Sonoff LAN (v.3.6). We’re fairly certain that on the time we examined, AlexxIT Sonoff LAN had not examined the POW Ring but. Nevertheless, the POW Ring nonetheless labored out of the field like different power monitoring merchandise from SONOFF. The info included present, voltage, wattage, and power utilization for the day and month. Residence Assistant fanatics can additional make the most of this knowledge for extra calculations or automation. There’s the swap on high, which is the relay we talked about earlier. Its major goal is to set off magnetic contactors to show units on or off, and might deal with a most of 2A present.

Conclusion

SONOFF has lastly launched a CT power monitoring gadget, the POW Ring, which supplies secure power monitoring with out the necessity to tamper with electrical wiring. It may possibly measure as much as 100A, ample for many households. With the included relay swap, we will simply management different units by means of Threshold Settings or create further scenes or automation. Followers of SONOFF/eWeLink will certainly admire this addition.

We’d prefer to thank ITEAD for sending the SONOFF Pow Ring for evaluation. The corporate is promoting the SONOFF Pow Ring sensible energy meter for simply $34.90 on their on-line retailer, and as standard, you can even use the CNXSOFTSONOFF coupon to get a ten% low cost on the gadget or every other gadgets from the ITEAD store.

Assist CNX Software program! Donate through cryptocurrencies, change into a Patron on Patreon, or buy items on Amazon or Aliexpress