Energy Monitor by Outlet/Plug?

[jkmonroe]

I have seen some of the 1-wire projects and photoreceptor hacks, but I have no way to get a wire into the BR, which is my hold up. And the GC iTach is just too expensive for something this simple.

So I was thinking ZWave, since it could be as easy as a USB stick in my CQC server. These little guys (http://www.amazon.com/Aeon-Labs-Aeotec-I...B008VWAPU4) wire in behind your existing switch/receptacle and will do on/off and report wattage (see: http://www.perceptiveautomation.com/user...6&t=10214).

I was thinking that I could get a range for high value, anything over xW and CQC will understand that it is on, under xW and it is 'off'. From there I could trigger actions, report status (TV is on), and do basic on/off control. For the on/off, I was thinking that since the TV just goes to standby after a power failure, if I ever turn it off, I would start a countdown timer and then just turn it back on so the remote would work.

It is all still a work in progress, though.

[Dean Roddey]

It won't be just sticking a USB stick in the server. You'll need a USB stick with Leviton software, plus the VRCOP to do it.

[sic0048]

If you just want to know if a device is on or not, look at the current sensors that are out there. Many have an adjustment where you can set the threshold so the "standby" status of the tv wouldn't trigger it, but the fully on status would. It is a simply contact closure type of device.

Something like this..... http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p...&_from=R40

[jkmonroe]

I ordered this today:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007UZH7B8/ref=...2YYDUNOMLK

It will be here Saturday, but the VRC0P won't be here until Tuesday. I'm hoping it does what I want, but if not at least there are some other options.