Brultech ECM-1220.H Driver Development

[beelzerob]

I uploaded a new driver. Now you have watts and kWattHours per channel and total. The way I tested it is I was watching Watts, and then I turned off the lights. Yup, 300 watts went away. Neato!

By the way...I think now that I won't actually have a problem calculating the costs, even if the driver is offline....at least, if you have a basic rate X kWh plan like me. The device gives me kWattHour values since the last unit reset...so I don't have to be online logging it.

I'm still going to see if I can parse logged data so I can apply day/night and weekend rates, etc, and peak rates. But I'm glad to know that at least I'LL be ok.

[beelzerob]

So Dean, now that I've got this running and want to play with it a bit...are there any widgets other than text widgets that will display float8 values?

I guess the "logic" (or math in this case) server will help because I can create the Card equivalent of the value...but for now, I'd have to produce a card-valued field in the driver itself in order to use widgets to display the amps I'm reading, right?

[Dean Roddey]

You can use the progress bar but the field has to have min/max ranges to tell it how to interpret the value as a percentage of a range.

[beelzerob]

Hmmm...I guess I could set a range, since the CT's have a specific range. 0 to 200 amps. I think you can get higher range CT's, so that'd have to be a configurable item.

I'll give it a try. Not as pretty as the digital VU meter, though....

[Dean Roddey]

The nice thing about the progress bar is that you can make it look any way you want, or almost any way. It's extremely flexible. I think I included the images to support a thermostat type progress bar in the latest builds, right? If so you could use a thermostat. If you look in the System\PBars scope (I think) any that are currently available would be there.

[beelzerob]

Is that stuff in newer builds? Under images I only found a couple types, and they were all horizontal.

Now you know what'd be REALLY cool? Is if the progress bars (or digital VU meter) showed the delta when they changed...you know, that ghosting kind of image when it changes? Or at least one of those little tiny red markers for where the top of the bar is that lags behind just a frame when the bar changes?

Anyway, it's workable for now, and I already got a "oooo" from the wife when she saw it....but I'm still hoping for some graphing widgets, of course.

[rdf]

Originally Posted by beelzerob

...
Anyway, it's workable for now, and I already got a "oooo" from the wife when she saw it....but I'm still hoping for some graphing widgets, of course.

Woot for you, Rob. WAF already. Congratulations.
How did you have the info presented when she looked at it?
I like you idea about markers for high/low use points, too.

Ratz. Guess I might have to buy something ELSE for the abuilding house, now. Thanks, guys. Yer really helping out on the old credcard balance ....

[IVB]

Originally Posted by rdf

Ratz. Guess I might have to buy something ELSE for the abuilding house, now. Thanks, guys. Yer really helping out on the old credcard balance ....

Just pull a wifey-move on her. "This one will *save* us money, just like when you buy stuff on sale. We can't afford NOT to get it!"

[beelzerob]

Originally Posted by rdf

Woot for you, Rob. WAF already. Congratulations.
How did you have the info presented when she looked at it?
I like you idea about markers for high/low use points, too.

Ratz. Guess I might have to buy something ELSE for the abuilding house, now. Thanks, guys. Yer really helping out on the old credcard balance ....

Heh..I'm almost embarrased to show you because you're going to think my wife is too easily impressed.



Those who followed the other post may recognize the simple kitchen timer. Since I made that for her, I just kept adding to the interface as needed. Her folks came to visit and I had to rig up something quickly where they could change to the input needed with ease between the Wii, DVD player, 2 Tv inputs, etc. It worked well enough.

So I just stuck the power displays on the bottom. The move up and down once a second, so they're pretty quick to respond.

I could have listed the readings per channel, but that really has no meaning for us, so I just put totals. I could put the kwH reading too, but that's just a number that very slowly rises...so not as interesting. At least, not until I get the $$$ part working too.

Hey, if you cave into getting this latest "cost savings", make sure you go to cocoontech and buy it through there, you'll get a good discount on it.

What can I say though...this is one of the neatest devices I've gotten in a while. It'll be even NEATER when we start using this data. One thing I've wanted to answer is just how much power the whole-house fan uses because we tend to leave it on a LOT because bringing in the outside air feels so nice.

[rdf]

Hey, you guys are GOOD. Nice idea, IVB .... "like when you buy stuff on sale ..." heh.

I do recognize the kitchen timer, Rob. I'm proud that the one-click quick buttons made the cut. I think they're a great idea. Also a great idea to have those "need to do these fast and easy" tasks like the video selection on there. I really like it when folks provide screenshots; this has given me some more ideas for controls that less technically oriented folks could use. Thanks mucho.

I like they way you presented the data. I hope we get some more choices in display widgets, too. Dials. We need dials .. with tick marks, like the windspeed indicator on a weather station display.

OK. I'm done now. Thanks, gents.