How to Read Landis+Gyr UltraHeat T550 and UH50 Meters with Home Assistant via ESPHome

To integrate a Landis+Gyr Ultraheat T550 or Ultraheat 50 (UH50) heat meter with Home Assistant, you’ll need a Kamst-IR Gateway from Smart Gateways. By default, this gateway comes with firmware for reading Kamstrup meters. However, Smart Gateways can pre-install a custom ESPHome firmware that makes it fully compatible with the Landis+Gyr Ultraheat T550 or Siemens Ultraheat 50. This allows seamless integration with Home Assistant.

Please note that the ESPHome firmware is specifically designed for Home Assistant and is not compatible with other home automation platforms.

Introduction of the Landis+Gyr T550 / Ultraheat Home Assistant integration

The Smart Gateways Kamst-IR Gateway is a powerful tool for integrating heat meters like the Landis+Gyr Ultraheat T550 or Ultraheat 50 (UH50) into Home Assistant. These meters are also sold under the Siemens brand, which means the same setup works seamlessly with Siemens Ultraheat T550 and UH50 models as well. The gateway comes equipped with ESPHome firmware, an open-source firmware that allows easy and secure communication with Home Assistant. Thanks to ESPHome, the device is automatically discovered by Home Assistant, enabling a plug-and-play experience without complex configuration.

Once the Kamst-IR reader is installed and configured, it attaches magnetically to the infrared port of your Landis+Gyr or Siemens heat meter. This provides real-time access to essential heating data such as:

• Total energy consumption (MWh or GJ)
• Total water volume used (m³)
• Real-time heat consumption (kW)
• Inlet temperature (°C)
• Outlet temperature (°C)
• Temperature difference (ΔT)
• Water flow rate (m³/h)

When placing your order at Smart Gateways, make sure to mention in the order notes that you’d like the Ultraheat firmware for Landis+Gyr meters pre-installed. This ensures your device is ready to use out of the box. If you have any questions or want to confirm compatibility, feel free to contact Smart Gateways for more information or tailored advice.

This guide explains how to set up a Smart Gateways IR reader with ESPHome for Home Assistant and configure it for optimal functionality.

Requirements

Before you begin, make sure you have the following items ready:

• A Landis+Gyr Ultraheat T550, Ultraheat 50 (UH50), or a compatible Siemens-branded model
• A Smart Gateways Kamst-IR reader with Ultraheat firmware
• Home Assistant, with the ESPHome add-on installed
• A micro-USB power supply to power the IR gateway
• A stable Wi-Fi connection

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Follow these steps to connect your Landis+Gyr or Siemens heat meter to Home Assistant using the Smart Gateways Kamst-IR reader with ESPHome firmware.

1. Prepare ESPHome on Home Assistant

1. Ensure ESPHome is installed in Home Assistant. If not, install it via the Add-ons Store under Settings > Add-ons.
2. Connect the Smart Gateways UH IR reader to a USB power source, but do not attach it to the heat meter yet.
3. The IR reader will create a Wi-Fi access point named “Smart Gateways UH Reader”.
4. Connect to this Wi-Fi network using the password: smartgateways.
5. A browser window will appear prompting you to select your home Wi-Fi network. Choose your network and enter the password.
6. If no browser appears, navigate to http://192.168.4.1 manually and configure the Wi-Fi settings.
7. The device will restart and connect to your Wi-Fi. The blue LED on the gateway will blink every second once connected.
8. In Home Assistant, navigate to Settings > Devices & Services and add the new ESPHome device.

2. Attach the IR Reader to the Heat Meter

1. Locate the optical interface on your heat meter. It consists of a dark and a light LED.
2. Align the IR reader’s dark LED with the meter’s light LED, and vice versa.
3. Attach the reader securely to ensure proper data transmission.
4. The green LED will blink during data reading, and the red LED will indicate data reception.

4. Add the UltraHeat Gateway to the Home Assistant Energy Dashboard

1. The default unit for energy consumption in the home assistant energy dashboard is m³, whereas the meter displays values in GJ. This means we have to change the usage to m³ in order to add the gateway to the energy dashboard.
2. To correct this, edit the ESPHome configuration:unit_of_measurement: "m³" accuracy_decimals: 3. This way the usage can be tracked in the energy dashboard as gas usage.
3. Reflash the ESPHome firmware to apply the changes.
4. Restart Home Assistant and confirm that values are displayed correctly.

Note: When ordering, make sure to mention in the order notes that you want the Ultraheat firmware for Landis+Gyr meters pre-installed.

Need help? Reach out via smartgateways.nl/en/contact for support or additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need to flash the ESPHome firmware myself?
No, when ordering from Smart Gateways, you can request that the Ultraheat firmware for Landis+Gyr or Siemens meters is pre-installed. Just mention it in the order notes.

Can I use this IR reader with Siemens Ultraheat meters?
Yes. The Landis+Gyr Ultraheat T550 and UH50 are also sold under the Siemens brand, and the IR reader with the correct firmware works seamlessly with those models too.

What if the Smart Gateways reader doesn’t show up in Home Assistant?
Make sure:

• The IR reader is connected to your Wi-Fi network
• The ESPHome add-on is running in Home Assistant
• You’ve checked under Settings > Devices & Services for new devices

If the device still doesn’t appear, try restarting the reader and check your router’s connected devices list.

How often is data updated in Home Assistant?
Sensor values are typically updated every minute. This interval can be changed in the ESPHome configuration.

What kind of power supply do I need?
You’ll need a standard 5V micro-USB power supply, like a typical phone charger. Make sure it supplies at least 1A of current. You can order a USB Power adapterset with usb cable optionally.

How is the IR reader attached to the meter?
The IR reader uses a built-in magnet to attach securely to the optical port of the heat meter. No tools or adhesives are required.

Is my data secure?
Yes. The communication between ESPHome and Home Assistant is local, and can be encrypted. No cloud connection is needed.

Can I modify the firmware myself?
Yes. The device uses ESPHome, which is open source. You can access the configuration via the ESPHome dashboard and make changes as needed, such as adjusting sensor update intervals or adding new sensors.

Where can I get support?
If you need help or have technical questions, you can contact the Smart Gateways team through their contact page. They’re happy to assist.

Conclusion

With this setup, you can easily integrate your Landis+Gyr Ultraheat T550, Ultraheat 50 (UH50), or compatible Siemens heat meter into Home Assistant using the Smart Gateways Kamst-IR reader and ESPHome. This integration gives you real-time insight into your district heating usage, helping you to monitor energy consumption, improve efficiency, and automate heating controls within Home Assistant.

If something isn’t working, check that the IR reader is properly aligned with the heat meter, confirm your Wi-Fi credentials, and verify the ESPHome setup. For more help, consult the ESPHome documentation or contact the Smart Gateways support team.

Start enjoying smarter heating with your Home Assistant heat meter integration today!