Guest post by Lepel86
I have district heating from HVC at home, equipped with a ‘smart heat meter’, a Multical 603 from Kamstrup. I wanted to integrate this information into openHAB to have the data available there. The water meter and electricity meter are already integrated. Last year, I discovered that the setting on the heating thermostatic valve inside the heat transfer set was incorrect, leading to a lot of unnecessary energy consumption. Now I can keep an eye on that!
I also looked into using a separate reading head and connecting it with a Raspberry Pi, but this method is much simpler and saves a lot of time. Within 10 minutes of receiving the package, everything was up and running, and the data was flowing into openHAB.
Here is a photo of the Kamstrup Multical. The reading head and gateway fit nicely with it.
To get the data into openHAB, I used the REST API. After installing the HTTP binding, I manually added an HTTP URL Thing:
In which you then enter the path to the Kamstrup IR gateway. I have currently set the refresh time to 10 seconds. Once the novelty wears off, the interval can be increased.
Next, I created channels for everything I wanted to log:
For example, for flow:
The names of the fields come from the JSON that you can view by entering the path in your browser:
http://<ip adress of the gateway>:82/kamst-ir/api/read
Next, it’s time to link all the channels to items:
Now that the data is coming in, I created a sort of dashboard for the information. When you click on the tiles, you get to see graphs.
openHAB Dashboard with Kamstrup Multical:
Graph of consumption per quarter-hour:
Graph of temperatures and flow:
I temporarily set the read interval of the gateway to 60 seconds. The meter runs on batteries, so I will increase it to 15 minutes later as recommended. But for now, I want to see more data. And if the battery runs out, they can replace it because I’m paying for the fixed costs.
Conclusion
In summary, integrating data from your Kamstrup IR gateway into openHAB can significantly enhance your ability to monitor and manage your district heating system. By using the REST API and setting up the HTTP binding, you can easily capture and log data such as flow rates, temperatures, and other metrics. Creating a dashboard with visual graphs provides a clear and intuitive way to analyze this information. Although I initially set the read interval to 60 seconds to gather more data, I’ll adjust it to 15 minutes in the future to conserve battery life, as recommended. With everything linked and operational, you’ll have a powerful tool for tracking your energy usage and ensuring efficiency, making sure you get the most out of your investment.
The Kamst-IR gateway is available on SmartGateways.nl
Measure Real-Time Energy and Water Consumption with the Kamst-IR Gateway
The Kamst-IR Gateway by Smart Gateways offers real-time insights into your energy and water usage. Designed for Kamstrup Multical heat and water meters, this gateway provides live data on district heating, underfloor heating, heat pumps, and is also compatible with FlowIQ Water Meters. With the Kamst-IR Gateway, you can precisely monitor how much energy or water you’re consuming while heating your home, showering, or filling a bathtub.
Beautiful Dashboards
One of the standout features of the Kamst-IR Gateway is its ability to display data through visually appealing dashboards. These dashboards offer comprehensive insights into your energy and water consumption, helping you identify potential savings. The gateway integrates seamlessly with popular home automation platforms such as Home Assistant, Homey, and Domoticz. Additionally, users have exclusive access to the Smart Gateways Kamstrup Gateway Dashboard for Home Assistant, where even more detailed data can be viewed.
Easy Installation
Installing the Kamst-IR Gateway is straightforward. It is compatible with all Kamstrup Multical and FlowIQ Heat and Water meters. The package includes a mounting bracket, though it is not always necessary for certain meter types. Thanks to the built-in magnet in the Infra-Red Module, it remains securely in place on most meters. Please note that there is currently no mounting bracket available for water meters.
Compatible with Home Automation Software
The Kamst-IR Gateway works with nearly all home automation software, including Home Assistant, Domoticz, and has its own Homey app. The gateway supports open standards like REST API and MQTT, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of systems and enabling integration with your preferred cloud services. MQTT support includes TLS encryption for secure data transmission.
Compatibility
The Kamst-IR Gateway is suitable for a broad range of Kamstrup Multical and FlowIQ meters. It supports various models, including:
- Heat Meters: Kamstrup Multical 302, 303, 402, 403, 601, 602, 603, 801, 803, 6M2, SVM S6, 66-C(DE), 401, SVM 10EL, Maxical III, Multical III, SVM 9EVL.
- Water Meters: FlowIQ 2101, 2102, 2200, 3100, 3200, 4200, Multical 21, 41, 61, 62, MAG8000, Water-Link digital water meters in Belgium.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I integrate my Kamstrup IR gateway data into openHAB?
To integrate your Kamstrup IR gateway data into openHAB, use the REST API with the HTTP binding. After installing the HTTP binding, manually add an HTTP URL Thing in openHAB, entering the path to your Kamstrup IR gateway. Set the refresh interval according to your needs to start receiving data. Mqtt is also possible but using the rest-api is more straightforware and you don’t need a mqtt broker.
What is the recommended refresh interval for the Kamstrup IR gateway?
Initially, I set the refresh interval to 60 seconds to gather more data. However, since the meter operates on batteries, the recommended interval is 15 minutes to conserve battery life. You can adjust this setting later based on your preferences.
How can I view and analyze the data from my smart heat meter?
Once the data is being collected, you can create a dashboard in openHAB to visualize it. I set up various channels to log different metrics and created graphs for flow rates, temperatures, and other data points. Clicking on the tiles in the dashboard will display these graphs.
Where do the field names for the data come from?
The field names are obtained from the JSON data that can be viewed by entering the path to the Kamstrup IR gateway in your browser. This JSON data provides the necessary field names for configuring your channels in openHAB.
What should I do if the battery in the meter runs out?
If the battery in the meter runs out, it will need to be replaced. Since you’re paying for fixed costs, the service provider should replace the battery as part of their maintenance responsibilities.
How do I link channels to items in openHAB?
After setting up your channels, you need to link them to items in openHAB. This step ensures that the data collected by the channels is correctly associated with the corresponding items in your system, allowing you to monitor and manage it effectively.
7. Can I use MQTT to integrate the Kamstrup gateway into openHAB?
It is possible to use mqtt to integrate the kamstrup meter into openHAB, but using the rest-api it is more straightforward and easy.