The document describes using a Raspberry Pi to track electricity usage from an Owl Intuition sensor in order to be notified of usage and analyze consumption data. A Python program interfaces with the sensor to collect usage data and send email notifications. The solution could be used in a school project to track building usage, identify high-demand times, calculate cost and carbon savings from reduced consumption, and teach programming with the Raspberry Pi.
1. Using the...
RaspberryPi and the
Owl Intuition Solution to
Track Electricity Usage
A PiFan Project
2. The Problem Statement
● Large bills
– £486.97 in 6 months!
● How do I track usage?
– Meter is outside.... not a simple solution
– Bills are quarterly/half-yearly.... too slow
3. Copied from www.theowl.com
The Owl Intuition Solution
● Always on
● Enables
– Tracking of usage
– Data collection
– Download of data
– Online graphs
– Great for analysis
● Great solution.... but I still need to go look at the usage
– I want to be notified
4. Solution Options
● Buy another electricity sensor
– :( I like the owl solution it works well
● Write a program on windows laptop to interface to Owl?
– It'll crash after a week :( blue screen, etc
– Not a windows programmer – how do I send mail or even get a compiler?
● Write a program on Linux laptop to interface to Owl?
– Better, but my laptop uses lots of power – kinda self-defeating
● Use the Pi!
– Low power
– Linux based
– Easy coding
5. The Solution The Owl Website
(for Config)
The Owl Sensor The Owl Sensor
The RaspberryPi
Transmitter Receiver
7. The Python Program on the RaspberryPi
● Written in Python to make it easier for the Pi
Community to use
● Instructions to interface kindly supplied by Owl
manufacturers
– Based on IP Multicast
● Email achieved using Sendmail
● Solution works nicely
● Program listing available here:
http://www.raspberrypiusers.com/?p=7484
8. School Project Idea
● There must be a link between:
– Eco-schools
– Computing
– Cost-savings
– Electricity
● Link school power usage profiles and share tips
– Calculate cost and profile of electricity usage, show effect of
switching off lights
– Show the impact on the environment
– How many carbon tonnes of trees does the school use?
– How many trees need planting to offset (5 per tonne per year)?
● Demonstrate Programming on the Pi or other computer
9. One Possible School Experiment Plan
● Monday ● Wednesday
– Hook up Owl Intuition & Pi to network – See if the electricity usage dropped
– Present to kids the effect of electricity use – Explain in terms of £ and trees
on the environment
– Highlight power used at night
● Tuesday ● Thursday
– Show kids the profile of Monday's – Review power usage again, plan to reduce
electricity usage for rest of day and night
– Identify peak times – Focus on the computing at work, show the
Pi, talk about how computers work and
– Explain the link of power usage at school, how the Pi is work
carbon offset and £ cost
● Talk about Python and
– Experiment by look around the school for Scratch Programming
items with power on
● Friday
– Review power usage and cost for the week
– See if the power usage has dropped per day
– Calculate £ savings if any
– Summarise how it all worked
– Show where to buy the Pi, Owl, etc – provide
leaflets for parents
10. One Possible School Experiment Plan
● Monday ● Wednesday
– Hook up Owl Intuition & Pi to network – See if the electricity usage dropped
– Present to kids the effect of electricity use – Explain in terms of £ and trees
on the environment
– Highlight power used at night
● Tuesday ● Thursday
– Show kids the profile of Monday's – Review power usage again, plan to reduce
electricity usage for rest of day and night
– Identify peak times – Focus on the computing at work, show the
Pi, talk about how computers work and
– Explain the link of power usage at school, how the Pi is work
carbon offset and £ cost
● Talk about Python and
– Experiment by look around the school for Scratch Programming
items with power on
● Friday
– Review power usage and cost for the week
– See if the power usage has dropped per day
– Calculate £ savings if any
– Summarise how it all worked
– Show where to buy the Pi, Owl, etc – provide
leaflets for parents
11. Information
● Contact: info@raspberrypiusers.com
● Python Program: www.raspberrypiusers.com
● Owl intuition electricity sensor: www.theowl.com
● Other points:
– This presentation was created on Linux using LibreOffice
– This slide deck and associated material is not affiliated with
raspberrypi.org, the RaspberryPi foundation or theowl.com in any
way
– PiFan created the Python program and has no prior Python
experience :D