Build-your-own-P1-meter-reader

Workshop documentation on building your own ESP32 based P1 smart meter reader

Connect hardware on breadboard

Be carefull how you connect the jumper, see colors below...

• 5V Lilygo to pin 2 jumper/P1 (yellow/RTS)
• GND Lilygo to pin 3 jumper/P1 (green/GND)
• Pin 25 Lilygo to pin 5 jumper/P1 (black/TXD)
• resistor 330Ohm between 3.3V Lilygo and pin 5 jumper/P1 (black/TXD)
• (Optional) Capacitor between pin 3 and pin 5 jumper

Prepare your laptop for ESP32 development

1. (Chess laptops) Request for administrator access on your laptop

2. Install the Arduino.cc IDE software and launch the IDE and allow firewall access
3. File > Preferences, check the “Display line numbers option“
4. Add the URL https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json to the “Addition Boards Manager URLs” field and press the “Ok” button

5. Tools > Boards > Boards Manager, install the "esp32" board package

6. Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries, install the "ArduinoOTA", "button2" and the "PubSubClient" libraries

7. Download the TFT_eSPI.zip from the sketch folder on this github (or https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/TTGO-T-Display) and unzip in your libraries folder 8. Close and re-open Arduino IDE 9. Select the proper board from Tools->Board->Board ”ESP32 Dev Module”

When Connectivity to the board does not work:

• Install the CP210x USB to UART driver and make sure you reboot your machine afterward (I suffered strange behaviors using the driver without rebooting) https://www.silabs.com/products/development-tools/software/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers
• After rebooting open the Arduino IDE and select the proper board from Tools->Board->Board ”ESP32 Dev Module”

Test your laptop and ESP32 setup

• Load the example sketch “TFT_Clock” into the Arduino IDE from File->Examples->TFT_eSPI->160x128->

- Try compiling it by pressing the Verify button:

- When ok, connect the Liligo to your laptop: - Connect the Lilygo with the USB cable - Via Tools -> Port, check if the correct COMxx port is selected - Upload the sketch by pressing the Upload button:

- Wait till the sketch is compiled and uploaded - A clock should now be visible on the display

Test to see if the Lilygo can Display a picture

• Download the example sketch TTGO-T-Display.zip from the sketch folder on this github and unzip into your Documents/Arduino folder.
• Load the example sketch TTGO-T-Display.ino into the Arduino IDE from File->open or by double clicking it in the folder just created.
• Try compiling it by pressing the Verify button
• When ok:
  • Connect the Lilygo with the USB cable
  • Via Tools -> Port, check if the correct COMxx port is selected
  • Upload the sketch by pressing the Upload button
  • Wait till the sketch is compiled and uploaded
  • Open the monitor
• The picture of innovatos should now be visible on the display

Test to see if the Lilygo can read values from the P1 port

• Download the example sketch esp_p1meter_h.zip from the sketches folder and unzip into your Documents/Arduino folder.
• Load the example sketch esp32_p1meter_h.ino into the Arduino IDE from File->open or by double clicking it in the folder just created.
• Change the wifi details in settings.h with the details provided.
• Change the port from 38 to 25 in settings.h
• Try compiling it by pressing the Verify button
• When ok:
  • Connect the Lilygo with the USB cable
  • Via Tools -> Port, check if the correct COMxx port is selected
  • Upload the sketch by pressing the Upload button:
  • Wait till the sketch is compiled and uploaded
  • Open the monitor Tools->Serial Monitor
• Connect your Lilygo to the P1 port simulator, ask the for help from our ioteers
• Values about energy usage should come in

Advanced Extra: combine the print_test and p1 meter sketch to display the P1 values on the Lilygo display

• Open both the sketches “TFT_Print_Test” and “ESP_P1meter_h” and find a way to combine the necessary code from the examples.
• Do not forget to save it under a new name like “my_P1_display”

Advanced Extra: combine the p1 meter sketch and SimpleWifiServer example sketch to display the P1 values in a webserver

• Open both the sketches “SimpleWifiServer” and “ESP_P1meter” and find a way to combine the necessary code from the examples.
• Do not forget to save it under a new name like “my_P1_webserver”

Advanced Extra: Use the p1_meter_reader_h sketch and send values to a MQTT server

• Open “ESP_P1meter_h” and find a way to switch on the MQTT connectivity.
• Change the MQTT server detais in the seetings.h
• Do not forget to save it under a new name like “my_P1_mqtt”

Now also think about pushing the data to a cloud or home automation system like Azure, home assistant or Domoticz

Note:

• When connecting to a real live P1 meter values need to be inverted. Find the line in the sketch that contains Serial2.begin and add ",true" to invert the signal
• You can use home assistant to receive the values and create an energy dashboad. Details are in the original github: https://github.com/bartwo/esp32_p1meter. To install home assistant best use the docker version.