Our family's restaurants use a substantial amount of power over 4 locations. We're considering solar installations where practical.

I think it would be beneficial to create a profile of how the power is utilized throughout the day... from 10AM to 11PM.

I think all locations use 3 phase power.

It would be nice to have a monitoring system that could be connected/disconnected easily to move between sites.

Hopefully with the profiles we could size the solar components to fit each site.

WARNING: Electrical jargon is mostly Greek to me.

I did minimal AI work to get suggestions and the recommendations given don't seem very expensive or that complicated. Advances in home automation seem to have made the task easier.

Does anyone know of a company selling such a ready to use package for this task?

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by gamb00ler

There are loads of WiFi energy meters available this is one of many

50 minutes ago, Crossy said:

There are loads of WiFi energy meters available this is one of many

Thanks for that link.

AI did mention Tuya and also said it is supported by Home Assistant... which I have running on a Pi while I learn what it will do.

I have a 3 phase Tuya app installation that may fit your requirements.

Won't be home until later and will send the info tomorrow. :)

The question I posted prompted me to consider if a years worth of data for generation capacity, production and consumption would allow AI to produce the balance of solar components that would yield the greatest savings. It should be a cake walk for a good AI.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by gamb00ler

Just see your electric bills by units and you know your usage? Not see how hard that is. For specific measurements you could just check the meter and then check X hours later again to know a difference as well. For specific devices the output is usually known too or you can use a simple watt meter.

You should know this in the first place to have a costs overview, to know your overhead... Not see how the daily flow would add value of data to that either, anyone can understand that the usage would be higher if it's the most hot part of the day and using AC. Anything else would be equipment or machines used.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by sunrisecoconuts

48 minutes ago, sunrisecoconuts said:

Just see your electric bills by units and you know your usage? Not see how hard that is. For specific measurements you could just check the meter and then check X hours later again to know a difference as well. For specific devices the output is usually known too or you can use a simple watt meter.

You should know this in the first place to have a costs overview, to know your overhead... Not see how the daily flow would add value of data to that either, anyone can understand that the usage would be higher if it's the most hot part of the day and using AC. Anything else would be equipment or machines used.

A very workable solution is easy to achieve as you suggest. But, an ideal solution is much more complicated. If one has the data and the AI tools an optimal solution can be computed. Computers are much better at multivariate analysis than humans.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by gamb00ler

24 minutes ago, gamb00ler said:

A very workable solution is easy to achieve as you suggest. But, an ideal solution is much more complicated. If one has the data and the AI tools an optimal solution can be computed. Computers are much better at multivariate analysis than humans.

There will be no "ideal" solution.

What is an acceptable payback period for you?

If the restaurants are pretty much the same the usage should be pretty much the same.

Are the hours of operation mostly during the day or night?

Is most of the load from AC?

I have the unit below, and it tracks the total usage as well as the individual appliance usage.

"The perfect is the enemy of the good enough."