I never comment on anything on RUclips but I had to on yours. You seriously do, by far, the best how to videos I've ever seen! Clear, to the point full with all details. Very well done my friend. Thank you for the discount on the sense monitor, I just purchased it. I'm setting up my new generator and that's how I found you. I bought the DuroMax duel fuel.12000EH and will be running it off natural gas with the regulator I bought for my generator.... New video idea? You decide. Either way, you do a awesome job, thank you!
I suspect the current probes need to be connected to the monitor first because these clamp-ons are likely current transformers. The clamp-on core makes a magnetic path between the coil on the inside and the one wire 'coil' on the outside. They produce a current proportional to the current they are clamped to. So now the voltage on their open wires (assuming you forgot to plug them in first) is I times R. Where I is the current they are sending back to the monitor unit and R is the resistance of the open wires. A small I times infinity is a large number of volts on those open wires. Certainly not infinite volts and maybe not a lot of current, and isolated from other grounds, but it might change your train of thought if you got your fingers on it. Once connected, the monitor unit provides a few hundred ohms of R and the I times R value is manageable for the monitoring circuits and less startling to you. I love your videos. I know everything about everything but oddly I've learned a lot by watching.
nice! the thing with the current transformer (ct) clamps to be connected FIRST on the monitor and then on the mains is due to CTs might build up a high voltage on their secondaries if they are open.
For best signal strength the antenna orientation should be the same as on your router. Most routers have their antennas vertical (up & down) and therefore the Sense antenna should be positioned in the same orientation.
Easily best "sensible" description of Sense Installation and beautiful wiring in the main breaker box. Curious to know your thoughts on two 200A box used for the house...where to use "Sense" monitor?
Wow! Very cool! I want one but for $275 I'm hesitant. awesome install video and thanks for showing the app results. Btw... @8:13 I never even noticed that. Good stuff.
Yeah I totally get that! I held off for a few years before I finally bought one myself. I have to say that I am glad that I did though. Sense isn't perfect but it is really nice for monitoring things like your well, sump pump, garage door, lights, oven, water heater, etc. etc. It can save some money if you find areas to eliminate some power usage but overall I just like being able to see what is going on at any given time and it helps with spotting problems.
It's nice that some breakers allow the second wire to be connected on the same terminal for sure! Unfortunately not all breakers allow it though and it is still somewhat frowned upon depending on who you ask.
@@BenjaminSahlstrom Yeah, I got electric heat in basement and curious how much it really uses. + Dehumidifiers going in summer. I may pick it up this spring. I'll use your link. Thanks!
Tandem breakers are not usually 240V, they provide 2 120V circuits. I believe the Sense needs to connect to both 120V (ie 240V) phases to work correctly.
You can get 240-volt tandem Breakers. There are actually four individual breakers on the setup and to inside Breakers are tandem and the two outside Breakers are tandem giving you two individual 240-volt Breakers in a space where you normally would have one 240 volt Tandem breaker. I have used these and they are very helpful in limited space boxes.
To make room you need to replace two breakers with two tandem breakers. You would have to rewire 4 circuits. Doing so will free up two breaker slots. The freed up slots would have to be on each phase.
You can only double tap that breaker if wires are same size & material so if the sense wiring is not #10 copper you can't double it up on that 30 amp breaker with a #10.
Just ordered one today. Looking forward to finally "seeing" how my Home Electrical System is consuming power. Only issue I expect to run into is my Main Square D QO Panel is virtually maxed out of slots on the Neutral Bar (Lots of doubled up spots. One with a single connection would have room for a second wire... But it is somewhat buried alongside the other wires in the panel.). Thinking if the Monitor doesn't need the Neutral for "Monitoring" purposes I could more easily "Piggyback" into an existing Neutral Connection (the same one I'd be sharing the Neutral bar with anyway... Just via a 3 Lever Wago, that connects to my Video Doorbell Transformer.).
Good to see the Green Store shelves at 2:34 rather than the orange ones :) Non-Midwesterners be like, whats menards, i think it may be a Nascar driver. Ya I loved this part... They are still live, if i would toucht that it would be.... very .. unpleasent." Meh aint but a lil ting.
Menards is awesome! We are blessed to be about 25 minutes away from the one in Marshall, MN. They built it in 2010 or so and before then the nearest Menards was more than an hour away. They seem to always beat the orange and blue stores on price!
@@BenjaminSahlstrom Green all the way. I have 3 with 20-30 minutes from my location. I was at a new one in WI and thre was a flat escelator (google menards with escelator). That store was crazy large.
I would like the perspective of a realtor insofar as how the presence of "smart" gadgets impact one's ability to sell their house. There are so many of them, including Wi-Fi thermostats. Etc. (Already, I have a Nest Wi-Fi Doorbell, and it is great.)
Could you do an install vid for the sense solar version? If your not an electrician do you recomend having an electrician install this device? What if you have a small main box, where do you install it? you do great work and teach well too. subscribed
NIce Video but get some insulated gloves to work near the hot terminals and a tandem breaker is only stabbed into one side of the two poles it will only provide 120v.
You talked me into getting this close to a month ago. It has only found a couple of things. And when other things turn on it thinks named things are on but it's wrong. How long until it starts working correctly? Thank you for all of your precious time!!!
Can you have multiple Sense monitors on a single account? Example: Sub-metering for multiple sub buildings using 200A single phase panels all tied into a single meter 3-phase service?
I like watching your videos. I am converting a property to a 5-unit apartment. I have a main 200A breaker box and I plan on installing a sub panel in each apartment. Can I install Sense in each panel to give me the use of energy cost for each unit so I can bill them separately?
I just installed Solar to my home, and I was asking my installer what to use to monitor both the Solar "produced" kWh and the "grid" kWh consumption. They reccommended this product. I am going to locate your other video as I am needing the Sense-Solar option....after a quick scan, I am not seeing that other video for a better "promo" for a Sense Solar product. Is it on the video on the way? Thanks for posting! Also subscribed!
I would be surprised if it would be acceptable when installing two wires on one terminal, if they are different sizes. For example, one #14 wire and one #10 wire (one on each side) I would think you could possibly have the smaller wire not having the same torque pressing down on it as the #10 just because of the angle created by the two different wire sizes. Does that make sense? Personally I would want to use the two-pole 15 just for the sense meter. I get it that you could be pressed for space but I would exhaust the twin breakers first. But, that's just me.
Not preferred but piggybacking ok as long as you don't exceed total breaker capacity. I've seen it done many times without issue. You video is well done, thank you.
Hi Benjamin, thanks for your great vidios. I've learned all my single phase electrical in high school FFA in the early eighty's when high school taught vocational subjects. I'm learning more from you. I have many sub panals around my farm yard, some daisy chained from the 200 amp main panel and some on there own branch from Main panel. I purchased the sense moniter from your website. I see your vidio calls for mounting in main panel but what if there is 300 feet of distance between them? I use large guage 0-2 cable between them but will the little antenna still moniter and differentiate the loads? From the other panels? I really liked your video about sub panal neutral return to main panel only. And your ground rod resistance test and generator grounding.
Does this unit allow for extra current transformers for individual circuits? I remember you showed a power monitor before with that capability, is this the same?
They do not have individual circuit monitoring unfortunately but you are correct that you can add "smart plugs" such as this one amzn.to/2TrA6Z5 that will allow you to monitor everything that is connected to that device. Here is the video where I explain that process: ruclips.net/video/qS5_92F6LSY/видео.html
Thanks! I got one with your link for $25 off. Will you be doing a follow up review after using it for a longer period of time? I am curious to see how well the detection algorithm works. Thanks!
I've had mine close to a month and only a couple of things have been found. Also, it sees other things as known named things. Dishwasher shows up as an Iron and we know the iron is right. I still have Hope.
First off thank you for the awesome video! Next I have a main 200 Amp breaker at the road. This is 150 feet from my house. Will the sense communicate from that distance to my home WiFi. I took my phone out on WiFi and it still works great at that distance. Just wondering if you have an idea of how far the sense monitor will communicate?
Great video. Thanks for sharing. Wondering if the Sense would monitor usage if using a generator as input via a GenerLink device during an off-grid scenario.
Do not put 2 different wire sizes under the same lug of a breaker! The smaller one will be too loose. It is a guide for what sizes can be secured if they are the same size. 2 #14's, 2#10's, etc. You cannot fit 2 #8's under 1 lug because it would be tilted to one side. Consult a QUALIFIED electrician for best installation results.
Exactly. The other problem is that in most houses the 240V circuits are at least 30 amps (dryer, stove, etc ..). Nobody really installs 240V 15 amp circuits these days. If there's a short, your 14 gauge stranded wire will become a well done steak before the 30 amp breaker trips.
The only double breaker in my panel is for my generator interlock. I really don't understand why this thing uses such low power needs to be connected to a double pole breaker to power it in the first place.....
Didn't you used to have one outside on your main panel? Is this one working together with that one, or did you just move it inside where it's not in such harsh conditions (iirc it was in a ziplock bag, lol)?
Nice catch! I am impressed that you noticed! You're correct. My original Sense unit is outside in the first panel on the property. That way it can monitor all of the electrical usage on my property including the well which is fed from that outdoor panel. The problem with that outdoor one is that it isn't the best example of how to install Sense and it wouldn't apply to as many people. That is why I decided to install Sense in my regular panel just for the sake of making this video. I might make a proper "how to install Sense outdoors" video sometime but I didn't want to promote the way I installed it out there. It has been working perfectly though for almost two years and you are right that I did put it in a bag to hopefully help protect it from moisture. Also, the ambient conditions here in MN can get nasty at down to -30 degrees so that is well below the minimum 5 degree recommendation. The instructions actually say 32 degrees but a guy from their support team said it should be fine down to 5 degrees as long as it is installed while it is above 32. I'm sure my unit won't last as long out there but it is worth it to me to be able to monitor the well. Thanks for the comment!
Not that I am aware of. I don't think that multiple units are designed to work together. I'll be taking the unit I installed here out as I think I am going to install it at my parents place.
I watched your other video on installing a generator interlock and breaker and you had the Sense on your outdoor panel. Not sure where you live but it looks like up north. When I looked at the installation webpage at Sense it mentioned that you should not put it where the temperature can go below 32F or above 154F. I live just outside of Houston, Texas and we rarely get below freezing but it can happen in some years. Have you had an issues with your outdoor unit if it gets below freezing where you live?
You mentioned that you later installed your Sense unit outside on your main panel. How did you waterproof the antenna? Stick it out the bottom of the main panel? I need to do a similar installation.
Would this setup allow for individual circuit monitoring? The App briefly displayed individual circuits but I could not tell if this was enabled. How would this work if it does?
I have a subpanel being fed by only a single 120v line. I only want to monitor power usage from that location. How would I connect the Sense amp meters in such a situation?
What you didn't mention is what someone who has no 240v breakers in their panel would do. Given that my panel is full with only 115v breakers, you'd have to piggyback onto two 115v breakers on each leg (left & right) of the panel. If I wanted to use a device like that, that's what I'd have to do. I can't imagine I'm the only person in this situation.
No, the phases alternate as you go down so you could connect to two adjacent breakers on the same side. If you are unsure borrow a good meter and measure for 240v.
Sense can be installed on a sub panel if you want but it can only monitor power that is used down stream of that point. If you install it in the first panel on a typical property you will be able to monitor the main panel as well as any sub panels that are fed from there.
@@BenjaminSahlstrom Here is a good use case. I am building home shop/LLC. Installing a dedicated sub-panel in the garage for shop tools. Want to monitor only the power we use for the home shop for expense/tax purposes. Don't care about the main panel as we've established usage patterns that work well with our particular utility savings plan. Counting on Sense to deliver the data I need to segregate costs and enable good cost accounting.
Is there anything like this that is cheaper?....and not Wifi enabled?....to only capture the 2 wires from the emergency generator feed to its 30A, double-pole breaker....maybe with the display near the panel......don't need it on my cell phone via WiFi. And only want to know total generator load.
You load the app into your wireless device, stand close to the sense device and initiate the app. The app will detect the sense monitor and then walk you through connecting it to your network.
Ben thanks for the video I’m about to order one of my own but I was wondering if I could get the solar model and use the additional pair of cable clamps to monitor the usage from a backup generator instead of from solar panels. My generator leads won’t fit in the same clamps with the service entrance cables at the same time. Such as how you showed before with the 10 gauge wires that your generator supply’s power through. If that makes any sense!
Sorry for the slow response! To be honest I don't know for sure if that would work or not. I kind of think that it probably would but I would recommend contacting Sense as they have very good customer service from my experiences with them. Did you order one yet?
@@lesgray3355 Yes! Definitely a great question. Also, since you haven't ordered just yet I might have a better promotion coming up in the next few weeks that should be a slightly better deal on Sense. I only heard about this after I had already posted this video. I'll be posting about it if I get access to the better coupon so stay tuned.
It looks like the FAQs in the sense.com website say that the solar leads cannot be used to monitor the generator. It states that you would get erroneous readings. I'm thinking it may be because the inverter power is a square wave from the solar source as opposed to a sine wave for the commercial power. I'm not sure about this as far as the square and sine wave but the FAQs appear to say don't use the solar sensors for should not be used for generator.
Check brultech.com - I've been happy with their 32-channel GEM ("Green Eye Monitor") at home to monitor two breaker boxes, and the 7-channel ECM-1240 at another site. These are costlier and more work to install, since you have to choose and install appropriate current-transformers on every circuit of interest. Also may not be as play-and-play in terms of easy monitoring with a phone app, but I wanted to roll my own software anyway, and appreciated the communication protocol & data formats being easily available.
You would have to watch the monitor and as you turn on the item you would have the potential to list in the app what it is. However if you turned on a 1500 W hairdryer and then you turned on a 1500 W heater you really would not know the difference you would just know that you're using that power.
Where I live, the breaker boxes are inside a cocnrete wall basically, i cant place the antenna like it says on the installation, without that, it would be uesless right ? :(
I have 2 electrical boxes in my house, I have 440 volts 4 hundred amps split between the two boxes. Wouldn't I need to have a Sense Home Energy monitor in each box to find out how all of the electric is being used?
I don't think you have 440 volts. You most likely have 240v feeding two 200 amp mains. If you can find a spot to put the current transforms that captures both panels you would only need one.
You suggested using a tandem breaker as an alternative to a double pole breaker. That will not work. A tandem breaker uses the same phase for both circuits. A double pole breaker uses both phases.
If you switch to generator power the top main is shut off. So the two top white clamp on leads are not reading anything. So how do you get this monitor to read generator power if I'm feeding the panel with a 30A Double Pole breaker with a inner lock switch ? The 30A breaker is now feeding the panel. So how do you get the two white clamp around top terminals to read anything. Thanks.
If you watch the second video he refers to in this one, it shows you how he runs the leads from the generator through the current Transformers parallel to your main circuits which will give you a reading when the generator is running if the house is being powered by the generator.
WOW...don't think I've ever seen such a well organized and implemented panel...looks like a data room panel.
Ha! I totally didn't get the thumbnail updated before this went live! Oops!
That’s the prettiest wire lay down inside the panel. Keep up the good work
I never comment on anything on RUclips but I had to on yours. You seriously do, by far, the best how to videos I've ever seen! Clear, to the point full with all details. Very well done my friend. Thank you for the discount on the sense monitor, I just purchased it. I'm setting up my new generator and that's how I found you. I bought the DuroMax duel fuel.12000EH and will be running it off natural gas with the regulator I bought for my generator.... New video idea? You decide. Either way, you do a awesome job, thank you!
Here's the link for $25 off! store.sense.com/discount/BENJAMIN?aff=3
Oooo the wire management in that panel 👌
I suspect the current probes need to be connected to the monitor first because these clamp-ons are likely current transformers. The clamp-on core makes a magnetic path between the coil on the inside and the one wire 'coil' on the outside. They produce a current proportional to the current they are clamped to. So now the voltage on their open wires (assuming you forgot to plug them in first) is I times R. Where I is the current they are sending back to the monitor unit and R is the resistance of the open wires. A small I times infinity is a large number of volts on those open wires. Certainly not infinite volts and maybe not a lot of current, and isolated from other grounds, but it might change your train of thought if you got your fingers on it. Once connected, the monitor unit provides a few hundred ohms of R and the I times R value is manageable for the monitoring circuits and less startling to you. I love your videos. I know everything about everything but oddly I've learned a lot by watching.
Nobody cares, where some insulated gloves like you a required to do and it won't matter!
nice! the thing with the current transformer (ct) clamps to be connected FIRST on the monitor and then on the mains is due to CTs might build up a high voltage on their secondaries if they are open.
For best signal strength the antenna orientation should be the same as on your router. Most routers have their antennas vertical (up & down) and therefore the Sense antenna should be positioned in the same orientation.
Easily best "sensible" description of Sense Installation and beautiful wiring in the main breaker box.
Curious to know your thoughts on two 200A box used for the house...where to use "Sense" monitor?
Your box wiring is beautiful!!! 😳😍😳🥰
Excellent video. Thorough without any drawn-out fluff. Great job!
Awesome vid plus $25.00. 10/10 bro! Always great content. Solar Generator is next on my list, I know you have a vid on that as well!!
Wow! Very cool! I want one but for $275 I'm hesitant. awesome install video and thanks for showing the app results.
Btw... @8:13 I never even noticed that. Good stuff.
Yeah I totally get that! I held off for a few years before I finally bought one myself. I have to say that I am glad that I did though. Sense isn't perfect but it is really nice for monitoring things like your well, sump pump, garage door, lights, oven, water heater, etc. etc. It can save some money if you find areas to eliminate some power usage but overall I just like being able to see what is going on at any given time and it helps with spotting problems.
It's nice that some breakers allow the second wire to be connected on the same terminal for sure! Unfortunately not all breakers allow it though and it is still somewhat frowned upon depending on who you ask.
@@BenjaminSahlstrom Yeah, I got electric heat in basement and curious how much it really uses. + Dehumidifiers going in summer. I may pick it up this spring. I'll use your link. Thanks!
That's whats so nice about his videos, the details and tips just kind sprinkled throughout the video.
Tandem breakers are not usually 240V, they provide 2 120V circuits. I believe the Sense needs to connect to both 120V (ie 240V) phases to work correctly.
You can get 240-volt tandem Breakers. There are actually four individual breakers on the setup and to inside Breakers are tandem and the two outside Breakers are tandem giving you two individual 240-volt Breakers in a space where you normally would have one 240 volt Tandem breaker. I have used these and they are very helpful in limited space boxes.
To make room you need to replace two breakers with two tandem breakers. You would have to rewire 4 circuits. Doing so will free up two breaker slots. The freed up slots would have to be on each phase.
Thanks for the info, man! I bought one with your discount code. ❤️
Do you like it? what's the benefit of having one?
$25 off code still works!
Great! Used it! 👍
Benjamin - WIll you ever show us how to install a solar panel system from the lens of an electrician?
Tons of good info.
Your well spoken and clear. Not too fast but concise
You can only double tap that breaker if wires are same size & material so if the sense wiring is not #10 copper you can't double it up on that 30 amp breaker with a #10.
Just ordered one today. Looking forward to finally "seeing" how my Home Electrical System is consuming power.
Only issue I expect to run into is my Main Square D QO Panel is virtually maxed out of slots on the Neutral Bar (Lots of doubled up spots. One with a single connection would have room for a second wire... But it is somewhat buried alongside the other wires in the panel.). Thinking if the Monitor doesn't need the Neutral for "Monitoring" purposes I could more easily "Piggyback" into an existing Neutral Connection (the same one I'd be sharing the Neutral bar with anyway... Just via a 3 Lever Wago, that connects to my Video Doorbell Transformer.).
Thank you so much!!! You saved me $40 and made it the best deal I could find anywhere. It's on the way to my house!
That's what I like to hear!
Good video one thing though is when turning the main breaker back on all the other breakers should be off and then turned on to not over load the main
Good to see the Green Store shelves at 2:34 rather than the orange ones :) Non-Midwesterners be like, whats menards, i think it may be a Nascar driver.
Ya I loved this part... They are still live, if i would toucht that it would be.... very .. unpleasent." Meh aint but a lil ting.
Menards is awesome! We are blessed to be about 25 minutes away from the one in Marshall, MN. They built it in 2010 or so and before then the nearest Menards was more than an hour away. They seem to always beat the orange and blue stores on price!
@@BenjaminSahlstrom Green all the way. I have 3 with 20-30 minutes from my location. I was at a new one in WI and thre was a flat escelator (google menards with escelator). That store was crazy large.
Ordered the Sense Monitor. Looking forward to checking it out.
I would like the perspective of a realtor insofar as how the presence of "smart" gadgets impact one's ability to sell their house. There are so many of them, including Wi-Fi thermostats. Etc.
(Already, I have a Nest Wi-Fi Doorbell, and it is great.)
Excellent explanation. No BS too... love it!
Could you do an install vid for the sense solar version? If your not an electrician do you recomend having an electrician install this device? What if you have a small main box, where do you install it? you do great work and teach well too. subscribed
NIce Video but get some insulated gloves to work near the hot terminals and a tandem breaker is only stabbed into one side of the two poles it will only provide 120v.
Excellent job explaining how to install!
You talked me into getting this close to a month ago. It has only found a couple of things. And when other things turn on it thinks named things are on but it's wrong. How long until it starts working correctly?
Thank you for all of your precious time!!!
this was so soooo helpful…thank you!!✨
I got a 240-1,000 amp breaker for my sense 💁🏻♂️
Should work fine
that rode mic is pretty good
Great video. Now I'm going to have to go spend some money.
Good video!👏👏👏👏
Can you have multiple Sense monitors on a single account? Example: Sub-metering for multiple sub buildings using 200A single phase panels all tied into a single meter 3-phase service?
I like watching your videos. I am converting a property to a 5-unit apartment. I have a main 200A breaker box and I plan on installing a sub panel in each apartment. Can I install Sense in each panel to give me the use of energy cost for each unit so I can bill them separately?
Could you do a video on adding Flex Add On Sensors. I’m especially interested on how to use one Add On Sensor for 240V.
That is the sickest *structured* wiring layout I have ever seen. Who is your electrician? ;)
I thought it was kind of dumb to put the breakers on the bottom farthest down from the power but I have only been an electrician for 40 years.
Great video - thank you. Please, what are the constrains when using a single pole tandem breaker?
I just installed Solar to my home, and I was asking my installer what to use to monitor both the Solar "produced" kWh and the "grid" kWh consumption. They reccommended this product. I am going to locate your other video as I am needing the Sense-Solar option....after a quick scan, I am not seeing that other video for a better "promo" for a Sense Solar product. Is it on the video on the way? Thanks for posting! Also subscribed!
I would not recommend this solar installer. Most solar installations come with the option of monitoring both consumption and production. see enphase.
I would be surprised if it would be acceptable when installing two wires on one terminal, if they are different sizes. For example, one #14 wire and one #10 wire (one on each side) I would think you could possibly have the smaller wire not having the same torque pressing down on it as the #10 just because of the angle created by the two different wire sizes. Does that make sense? Personally I would want to use the two-pole 15 just for the sense meter. I get it that you could be pressed for space but I would exhaust the twin breakers first. But, that's just me.
You can connect it to any two 15 or 20 single breakers. Just make sure they are next to each other so they have 220 volts across them.
Can you read? The breaker said what was permissible do you think the engineers do not understand your concern?
Great Job! Will be checking out your videos. Any difference between set up if you buy the sense with solar monitoring?
Not preferred but piggybacking ok as long as you don't exceed total breaker capacity. I've seen it done many times without issue. You video is well done, thank you.
I have a sub panel tapped off my main box. Will this be able to read both boxes or do I need a second sense.
Hi Benjamin, thanks for your great vidios. I've learned all my single phase electrical in high school FFA in the early eighty's when high school taught vocational subjects. I'm learning more from you. I have many sub panals around my farm yard, some daisy chained from the 200 amp main panel and some on there own branch from Main panel. I purchased the sense moniter from your website. I see your vidio calls for mounting in main panel but what if there is 300 feet of distance between them? I use large guage 0-2 cable between them but will the little antenna still moniter and differentiate the loads? From the other panels? I really liked your video about sub panal neutral return to main panel only. And your ground rod resistance test and generator grounding.
Does this unit allow for extra current transformers for individual circuits?
I remember you showed a power monitor before with that capability, is this the same?
They do not have individual circuit monitoring unfortunately but you are correct that you can add "smart plugs" such as this one amzn.to/2TrA6Z5 that will allow you to monitor everything that is connected to that device. Here is the video where I explain that process: ruclips.net/video/qS5_92F6LSY/видео.html
Thanks! I got one with your link for $25 off. Will you be doing a follow up review after using it for a longer period of time? I am curious to see how well the detection algorithm works. Thanks!
I've had mine close to a month and only a couple of things have been found. Also, it sees other things as known named things. Dishwasher shows up as an Iron and we know the iron is right. I still have Hope.
Great informative video!
Square D QO are rated for two wires on each beraker.
Only in the sizes specified.
you're the man thanks i appreciate the clear info
My local power company now has an app that does the same thing for FREE!
your local power company does not tell you which appliance is using how much power.
First off thank you for the awesome video! Next I have a main 200 Amp breaker at the road. This is 150 feet from my house. Will the sense communicate from that distance to my home WiFi. I took my phone out on WiFi and it still works great at that distance. Just wondering if you have an idea of how far the sense monitor will communicate?
HI Benjamin, do you have any solar videos in your series. I didn't see any but just wondering. Thanks.
nicely done. thank you !
excellent monitor thanks to your intell i bought one for my new long awaiting df generator
sorry i missed your coupon
Great video. Thanks for sharing. Wondering if the Sense would monitor usage if using a generator as input via a GenerLink device during an off-grid scenario.
Awesome video.. Thank You!
Do not put 2 different wire sizes under the same lug of a breaker! The smaller one will be too loose. It is a guide for what sizes can be secured if they are the same size. 2 #14's, 2#10's, etc. You cannot fit 2 #8's under 1 lug because it would be tilted to one side. Consult a QUALIFIED electrician for best installation results.
Exactly. The other problem is that in most houses the 240V circuits are at least 30 amps (dryer, stove, etc ..). Nobody really installs 240V 15 amp circuits these days. If there's a short, your 14 gauge stranded wire will become a well done steak before the 30 amp breaker trips.
The only double breaker in my panel is for my generator interlock. I really don't understand why this thing uses such low power needs to be connected to a double pole breaker to power it in the first place.....
I was wondering if you could use this device to see how much power you are using in an RV when boondocking with solar or with shore power hookup ?
Didn't you used to have one outside on your main panel? Is this one working together with that one, or did you just move it inside where it's not in such harsh conditions (iirc it was in a ziplock bag, lol)?
Nice catch! I am impressed that you noticed! You're correct. My original Sense unit is outside in the first panel on the property. That way it can monitor all of the electrical usage on my property including the well which is fed from that outdoor panel. The problem with that outdoor one is that it isn't the best example of how to install Sense and it wouldn't apply to as many people. That is why I decided to install Sense in my regular panel just for the sake of making this video.
I might make a proper "how to install Sense outdoors" video sometime but I didn't want to promote the way I installed it out there. It has been working perfectly though for almost two years and you are right that I did put it in a bag to hopefully help protect it from moisture. Also, the ambient conditions here in MN can get nasty at down to -30 degrees so that is well below the minimum 5 degree recommendation. The instructions actually say 32 degrees but a guy from their support team said it should be fine down to 5 degrees as long as it is installed while it is above 32. I'm sure my unit won't last as long out there but it is worth it to me to be able to monitor the well.
Thanks for the comment!
@@BenjaminSahlstrom Any benefit in having two?
Not that I am aware of. I don't think that multiple units are designed to work together. I'll be taking the unit I installed here out as I think I am going to install it at my parents place.
Nice connection video.
I watched your other video on installing a generator interlock and breaker and you had the Sense on your outdoor panel. Not sure where you live but it looks like up north. When I looked at the installation webpage at Sense it mentioned that you should not put it where the temperature can go below 32F or above 154F. I live just outside of Houston, Texas and we rarely get below freezing but it can happen in some years. Have you had an issues with your outdoor unit if it gets below freezing where you live?
"Hey there! Vsahl here"
Good info. Thanks.
You mentioned that you later installed your Sense unit outside on your main panel. How did you waterproof the antenna? Stick it out the bottom of the main panel? I need to do a similar installation.
Would this setup allow for individual circuit monitoring? The App briefly displayed individual circuits but I could not tell if this was enabled. How would this work if it does?
I have a subpanel being fed by only a single 120v line. I only want to monitor power usage from that location. How would I connect the Sense amp meters in such a situation?
What you didn't mention is what someone who has no 240v breakers in their panel would do. Given that my panel is full with only 115v breakers, you'd have to piggyback onto two 115v breakers on each leg (left & right) of the panel. If I wanted to use a device like that, that's what I'd have to do. I can't imagine I'm the only person in this situation.
At 3:00 min. mark he tells you what to do.
No, the phases alternate as you go down so you could connect to two adjacent breakers on the same side. If you are unsure borrow a good meter and measure for 240v.
The MCB and not on a Sub panel? Very cool
Sense can be installed on a sub panel if you want but it can only monitor power that is used down stream of that point. If you install it in the first panel on a typical property you will be able to monitor the main panel as well as any sub panels that are fed from there.
@@BenjaminSahlstrom Here is a good use case. I am building home shop/LLC. Installing a dedicated sub-panel in the garage for shop tools. Want to monitor only the power we use for the home shop for expense/tax purposes. Don't care about the main panel as we've established usage patterns that work well with our particular utility savings plan. Counting on Sense to deliver the data I need to segregate costs and enable good cost accounting.
So, it tells you what each appliance is drawing?
There is nothing wrong with piggybacking, I think running a whole new breaker for such a small amount of powe is frivolous.
Is there a way to add power cost data into the app to get a "real time" view of your energy bill?
Yep
Great video. Can that unit be used with solar panels, if not, why not?
Is there anything like this that is cheaper?....and not Wifi enabled?....to only capture the 2 wires from the emergency generator feed to its 30A, double-pole breaker....maybe with the display near the panel......don't need it on my cell phone via WiFi. And only want to know total generator load.
Very good video I want to buy one of those
Hello,
Can you show after finishing installation of the Sense device, what did it need to be done in order to connect Sense to the WiFi? Thx!
You load the app into your wireless device, stand close to the sense device and initiate the app. The app will detect the sense monitor and then walk you through connecting it to your network.
Do you have a video on sense monitor for solar pane but I just thought about it and I think it’s got one from the manufacturer.
Going to use your code! Question, I have two 200 amp panels next to each other! Now what?
Would need more information. Is there a set of wires that feeds both panels that you can put the clamps around?
Ben thanks for the video I’m about to order one of my own but I was wondering if I could get the solar model and use the additional pair of cable clamps to monitor the usage from a backup generator instead of from solar panels. My generator leads won’t fit in the same clamps with the service entrance cables at the same time. Such as how you showed before with the 10 gauge wires that your generator supply’s power through. If that makes any sense!
Sorry for the slow response! To be honest I don't know for sure if that would work or not. I kind of think that it probably would but I would recommend contacting Sense as they have very good customer service from my experiences with them. Did you order one yet?
Benjamin Sahlstrom it’s not a dumb question is it? No I haven’t ordered yet still thinking about the generator sensing ability.
@@lesgray3355 Yes! Definitely a great question. Also, since you haven't ordered just yet I might have a better promotion coming up in the next few weeks that should be a slightly better deal on Sense. I only heard about this after I had already posted this video. I'll be posting about it if I get access to the better coupon so stay tuned.
That should work fine. It has no way of knowing what is supplying the power. So Solar or Genset shouldn't matter.
It looks like the FAQs in the sense.com website say that the solar leads cannot be used to monitor the generator. It states that you would get erroneous readings. I'm thinking it may be because the inverter power is a square wave from the solar source as opposed to a sine wave for the commercial power. I'm not sure about this as far as the square and sine wave but the FAQs appear to say don't use the solar sensors for should not be used for generator.
how does it know what the different devices are?
Its smart
Great work, pls did I need any App to monitor it
Are you able to feed off the existing breakers will it misread electricity?
how does this product detect exactly what is drawing power? at 9:54 you see kitchen aid refrigerator 98 watts?
Where is all your personal usage data stored? into the cloud?
that was a good video. are there any other products which do similar things? Is it possible to check how much each breaker is using?
Check brultech.com - I've been happy with their 32-channel GEM ("Green Eye Monitor") at home to monitor two breaker boxes, and the 7-channel ECM-1240 at another site. These are costlier and more work to install, since you have to choose and install appropriate current-transformers on every circuit of interest. Also may not be as play-and-play in terms of easy monitoring with a phone app, but I wanted to roll my own software anyway, and appreciated the communication protocol & data formats being easily available.
I have a small hotel with 50 rooms, and have 4 breaker pannels, can I still install this on my main breaker pannel?
How does the app read/recognise the specific equipment (hair dryer/ washing machine/ cooker/fridge etc)?
You would have to watch the monitor and as you turn on the item you would have the potential to list in the app what it is. However if you turned on a 1500 W hairdryer and then you turned on a 1500 W heater you really would not know the difference you would just know that you're using that power.
Where I live, the breaker boxes are inside a cocnrete wall basically, i cant place the antenna like it says on the installation, without that, it would be uesless right ? :(
I have 2 electrical boxes in my house, I have 440 volts 4 hundred amps split between the two boxes. Wouldn't I need to have a Sense Home Energy monitor in each box to find out how all of the electric is being used?
I don't think you have 440 volts. You most likely have 240v feeding two 200 amp mains. If you can find a spot to put the current transforms that captures both panels you would only need one.
I like that I would stare at the app ,thinking how much money I was spending .
That feeling subsides.
Could I use a 30 amp 2 pole breaker if a 15 amp two pole isn't an option?
They are not amp meters, they are call CT's (Current Transformers).
Who cares...
You suggested using a tandem breaker as an alternative to a double pole breaker. That will not work. A tandem breaker uses the same phase for both circuits. A double pole breaker uses both phases.
He's suggesting that you can make room in a full panel by doubling up two breakers leaving room for an additional double pole.
whats if you install it down stream besides not getting stats on the up stream panel?
I am having difficulty finding the "kit."
Do we need monthly subscription for app or its just one time device cost
If you switch to generator power the top main is shut off. So the two top white clamp on leads are not reading anything. So how do you get this monitor to read generator power if I'm feeding the panel with a 30A Double Pole breaker with a inner lock switch ? The 30A breaker is now feeding the panel. So how do you get the two white clamp around top terminals to read anything. Thanks.
If you watch the second video he refers to in this one, it shows you how he runs the leads from the generator through the current Transformers parallel to your main circuits which will give you a reading when the generator is running if the house is being powered by the generator.