Configuration

Prerequisites

  • HomeAssistant server accessible on a web browser. If you bought the [OpenHEMS server on OpenHomeSystem](https://openhomesystem.com/product/openhems-server/) and plug it, it should be available from local network on http://192.168.1.202:8123/

  • Access to edit OpenHEMS configuration on OpenHEMS server. The simplest way is to use a sftp client like FileZilla available on Windows and Linux. With this you can copy file from the server to your PC, edit it with your favorite editor (Like Notepad++ on Windows or Gedit on Linux) and then push it back on the server.

Configure HomeAssistant

Open HomeAssistant on a web browser. If it’s first time it will ask you some informations about your house and will create an admin account. Please keep preciously the login/password.

In Parameters/Devices and services click Add an integration and add all the devices you want.

In Parameters/Dashboards, you can click Add a Dashboard to add 2 dashboard.

  • Default Dashboard to have a complete dashboard with all your devices watever you configured.

  • Web page and enter the same url but with “:800” at end like “http://192.168.1.202:8000/”. This is the OpenHEMS dashboard.

Configure OpenHEMS

Keep the web browser on HomeAssistant default dashboard. And get on OpenHEMS server the file openhems-sample/config/openhems.yaml. It’s a YAML file you must respect the format. It is not complicated to undertand bu it doesn’t like unexpected space or tabulation. Before editing it, backup it.

Edit server: block and set the values

  • loop_delay : This is the delay, in seconds, between 2 cycles of OpenHEMS check. Less it is best is the reaction but it will consumme more power.

  • network : Musk be homeassistant as it is the only available untill now.

  • strategy : This is a very important choice as it will the way we choice to consume power. Availables are:

  • offpeak : Use it if you want to switch on devices on specific rank hours during the day/night.

Edit network: block. For this part, value can be a recoverable value notice with an asterisk, in that case the value can be:

  • A number if it is a static value that will never change. It can be so if value really never change or it can be a solution if you have no sensor for it.

  • A Home-Assistant complete entity ID witch you can get on Home-Assistant dashboard. To do so, click on the device line you want to get on the dashboard. You will get a popup window, on top right, click on parameter buttons and copy complete entity ID (Click on the icon, will copy it).

First edit in: and add as many line like bellow for all electrical source. Usually there is the public grid and/or solar panel

  • id : A name witch can be what you want without special caracters.

  • currentPower * : This is the currrent power delivered

  • maxPower * : This is the maximum power we can get from that source.

  • minPower * : This is the minimal power we can get. Usually 0, but it can be negative if it can act as a battery.

  • powerMargin : This is the margin to maxPower and minPower we should not go above as a security.

Then edit out:. Each line correspond to a device.

  • id : A name witch can be what you want without special caracters.

  • class : Sensor type. Today just switch are available, but soon we will have variator when it can can be controlable power consumption or cycle when there is a user choice between few cycle.

  • currentPower * : This is the currrent power delivered

  • maxPower * : This is the maximum power we can get from that source.

  • isOn * : This is the “switch” button that we can test and use.

Save the configuration, put it on server and restart OpenHEMS server. To restart the server, you can run sudo systemctl restart openhems.service on the terminal or overwise switch off/switch on it.