ESP8266 Smart Energy Meter

This project aims to build a smart energy meter, getting readings from our ferraris energy meter (which we are not allowed to modify) by detecting a red stripe on a spinning wheel using an IR-diode and an IR-receiver.

Setting up the API

On the machine that shall run the API, clone the repository and install the requirements listed in requirements.txt (maybe you will want to use a virtualenv or something like this). You are now ready to run the API using

python3 api.py

You can test if it works correctly using curl:

curl localhost:8080/tick

You can use the provided systemd service file as an example to run the API as a systemd service.

Setting up the ESP

Upload the sketch to the ESP, connect the IR-LED, the IR-receiver and the resistor like shown in the wiring diagram. Attach the ESP to your computer and hold it to the Ferraris counter. Find a position that works best (where you have a clear change in the readings when the red stripe passes). Fix it. Set the correct IP, WiFi-password and name in the ESP as well as a threshold level that works for you. For me, the reading would drop from 200 to 100 while the red stripe was on, so I chose 150 as a threshold.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Martin Kompf for inspiring me to do this project as well as useful info on the IR-led and receiver.