Update pool_heater.md

purcell-lab · web-flow · commit fce43bbc6b81 · 2025-06-10T15:07:08.000+10:00
diff --git a/docs/Software_and_control/Appliances/pool_heater/pool_heater.md b/docs/Software_and_control/Appliances/pool_heater/pool_heater.md
@@ -118,7 +118,6 @@ automation:
 1. **Daily Schedule**:
     - EMHASS optimizes heater runtime based on tariffs and solar forecasts.
 2. **Publish Schedule**:
-
 ```yaml  
 rest_command:  
   emhass_optimize:  
@@ -196,3 +195,357 @@ By integrating your pool heater with EMHASS, you can reduce energy costs, extend
 
 [^10]: https://github.com/siku2/hass-emhass
 
+
+---
+title: Pool Heater
+parent: Appliances
+layout: minimal
+---
+
+# Pool Heater
+
+<img src="https://r2cdn.perplexity.ai/pplx-full-logo-primary-dark%402x.png" class="logo" width="120"/>
+
+## User Guide: Integrating a Pool Heater with EMHASS for Home Assistant
+
+This guide explains how to connect your pool heater to Home Assistant and optimize its energy usage using the EMHASS add-on. Learn to schedule heating during low-cost periods, align operation with solar surplus, and automate temperature control.
+
+---
+
+### **1. Prerequisites**
+
+- **Pool Heater**:
+    - Must support on/off control via a relay (e.g., via a smart switch like Shelly, Sonoff, or Tuya).
+    - (Optional) Temperature sensor for pool water (e.g., Zigbee/Z-Wave sensor or DIY ESPHome device).
+- **Home Assistant**:
+    - EMHASS add-on installed ([setup guide](https://emhass.readthedocs.io)).
+    - Integration for controlling the heater (e.g., [Shelly](https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/shelly/), [localTuya](https://github.com/rospogrigio/localtuya)).
+
+---
+
+### **2. Home Assistant Integration**
+
+#### **A. Connect the Pool Heater**
+
+1. **Smart Switch Setup**:
+    - Wire the pool heater's power control to a smart relay (e.g., Shelly 1).
+    - Integrate the relay with Home Assistant (e.g., via Shelly's official integration or MQTT).
+    - Entity example: `switch.pool_heater`.
+2. **Temperature Monitoring**:
+    - Add a temperature sensor (e.g., `sensor.pool_temperature`).
+    - For DIY solutions, use an ESP32 with a waterproof DS18B20 probe and ESPHome.
+
+#### **B. Verify Entities**
+
+- Confirm these entities exist in Home Assistant:
+    - Heater control: `switch.pool_heater`
+    - Power consumption: `sensor.pool_heater_power` (via smart plug or energy monitor).
+    - Pool temperature: `sensor.pool_temperature`
+
+---
+
+### **3. EMHASS Configuration**
+
+#### **A. Define Pool Heater as a Deferrable Load**
+
+In EMHASS's `config.json` or web UI:
+
+```json  
+{  
+  "deferrable_loads": {  
+    "pool_heater": {  
+      "entity_id": "switch.pool_heater",  
+      "max_power": 4000,          // Heater power in Watts (e.g., 4kW)  
+      "def_start_time": "06:00",  // Earliest allowed start time  
+      "def_end_time": "22:00",    // Latest allowed end time  
+      "def_hours": [3, 12]        // Min/max daily runtime in hours  
+    }  
+  }  
+}  
+```
+
+- Adjust `def_hours` seasonally (e.g., `[^3][^9]` in summer, `[^6]` in winter).
+
+
+#### **B. EMHASS Sensor Generation**
+
+Once configured, EMHASS will generate optimization sensors for your deferrable loads[^3][^4]:
+
+- `sensor.p_deferrable0` - Power allocation for first deferrable load
+- `sensor.p_deferrable1` - Power allocation for second deferrable load (pool heater)
+- Values represent power in watts allocated to each load at the current time step
+
+---
+
+### **4. Pool Heat Pump Automation**
+
+This automation controls your pool heat pump based on EMHASS optimization results. It uses the `sensor.p_deferrable1` entity to determine when the heat pump should operate.
+
+#### **A. Complete Automation Code**
+
+```yaml
+alias: p_deferrable1 automation (Pool Heat Pump)
+description: Pool Heat Pump
+triggers:
+  - entity_id:
+      - sensor.p_deferrable1
+    below: 100
+    for:
+      hours: 0
+      minutes: 0
+      seconds: 0
+    trigger: numeric_state
+  - entity_id:
+      - sensor.p_deferrable1
+    for:
+      hours: 0
+      minutes: 5
+      seconds: 0
+    above: 100
+    id: above
+    trigger: numeric_state
+    enabled: true
+conditions: []
+actions:
+  - choose:
+      - conditions:
+          - condition: trigger
+            id:
+              - above
+        sequence:
+          - type: turn_on
+            device_id: 03a766ec3275e2c80020c5f5a3d8e603
+            entity_id: b7f0627d5ad30682167f4f358843c8d3
+            domain: switch
+    default:
+      - type: turn_off
+        device_id: b3b025341171b91f30d49135315dad53
+        entity_id: 90ee5ad67de0cda2edac93b903064b13
+        domain: switch
+mode: single
+```
+
+
+#### **B. Automation Step-by-Step Breakdown**
+
+**Triggers:**
+
+1. **Low Power Trigger**: Activates immediately when `sensor.p_deferrable1` drops below 100 watts
+2. **High Power Trigger**: Activates when `sensor.p_deferrable1` stays above 100 watts for 5 minutes (prevents short cycling)
+
+**Actions:**
+
+1. **Conditional Choice**: Uses the `choose` action to determine which device to control
+2. **Heat Pump ON**: If triggered by the "above" condition, turns on the Pool Heater Pump
+3. **Socket OFF**: If triggered by any other condition (below 100W), turns off Socket 1 as the default action
+
+**Key Features:**
+
+- **Hysteresis**: 5-minute delay prevents rapid on/off cycling when power allocation fluctuates around 100W
+- **Single Mode**: Prevents multiple instances running simultaneously
+- **Immediate Response**: Turns off devices immediately when power drops below threshold
+
+
+#### **C. Customizing for Your Setup**
+
+Replace the device and entity IDs with your actual devices:
+
+```yaml
+# Replace these with your actual entity IDs
+entity_id: switch.pool_heat_pump    # Your heat pump switch
+entity_id: switch.pool_auxiliary    # Your auxiliary device (if any)
+```
+
+
+#### **D. Setting the Power Threshold**
+
+The 100-watt threshold can be adjusted based on your setup:
+
+- **Higher threshold (200-500W)**: More conservative, ensures adequate power before turning on
+- **Lower threshold (50-100W)**: More aggressive, utilizes smaller power allocations
+- **Consider your heat pump's minimum power requirements**
+
+---
+
+### **5. Advanced Configuration Options**
+
+#### **A. Multiple Device Control**
+
+For complex pool systems with multiple components:
+
+```yaml
+actions:
+  - choose:
+      - conditions:
+          - condition: trigger
+            id: above
+          - condition: numeric_state
+            entity_id: sensor.p_deferrable1
+            above: 500  # Additional power check
+        sequence:
+          - service: switch.turn_on
+            target:
+              entity_id: 
+                - switch.pool_heat_pump
+                - switch.pool_circulation_pump
+      - conditions:
+          - condition: trigger
+            id: above
+          - condition: numeric_state
+            entity_id: sensor.p_deferrable1
+            above: 100
+            below: 500
+        sequence:
+          - service: switch.turn_on
+            target:
+              entity_id: switch.pool_heat_pump
+    default:
+      - service: switch.turn_off
+        target:
+          entity_id:
+            - switch.pool_heat_pump
+            - switch.pool_circulation_pump
+```
+
+
+#### **B. Temperature-Based Override**
+
+Add temperature conditions to prevent unnecessary heating:
+
+```yaml
+conditions:
+  - condition: numeric_state
+    entity_id: sensor.pool_temperature
+    below: 26  # Don't heat if already at target temperature
+```
+
+
+#### **C. Time-Based Restrictions**
+
+Limit operation to specific hours:
+
+```yaml
+conditions:
+  - condition: time
+    after: "06:00:00"
+    before: "22:00:00"
+```
+
+
+---
+
+### **6. Monitoring and Troubleshooting**
+
+#### **A. Key Entities to Monitor**
+
+- `sensor.p_deferrable1` - Current power allocation from EMHASS
+- `switch.pool_heat_pump` - Heat pump status
+- `sensor.pool_heat_pump_power` - Actual power consumption
+- `automation.p_deferrable1_automation` - Automation status
+
+
+#### **B. Common Issues**
+
+**Heat Pump Not Turning On:**
+
+- Check if `sensor.p_deferrable1` is above 100 for the required duration
+- Verify EMHASS optimization is running and updating the sensor
+- Ensure device IDs and entity IDs are correct
+
+**Frequent On/Off Cycling:**
+
+- Increase the 5-minute delay in the trigger
+- Adjust the power threshold to create more hysteresis
+- Check EMHASS time step configuration (should be 30+ minutes)[^3]
+
+**EMHASS Sensor Not Updating:**
+
+- Verify EMHASS add-on is running and configured correctly
+- Check that the deferrable load is properly defined in EMHASS config
+- Ensure optimization is being published to Home Assistant sensors
+
+
+#### **C. Performance Monitoring**
+
+Track automation performance with template sensors:
+
+```yaml
+template:
+  - sensor:
+      - name: "Pool Heat Pump Daily Runtime"
+        state: >
+          {% set start = now().replace(hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0) %}
+          {{ ((as_timestamp(now()) - as_timestamp(start)) / 3600) | round(1) if is_state('switch.pool_heat_pump', 'on') else 0 }}
+        unit_of_measurement: "hours"
+```
+
+
+---
+
+### **7. Integration with Other Systems**
+
+#### **A. Weather-Based Adjustments**
+
+Modify power thresholds based on weather conditions:
+
+```yaml
+# In automation conditions
+- condition: template
+  value_template: >
+    {% if states('weather.home') == 'sunny' %}
+      {{ states('sensor.p_deferrable1') | float > 50 }}
+    {% else %}
+      {{ states('sensor.p_deferrable1') | float > 150 }}
+    {% endif %}
+```
+
+
+#### **B. Pool Pump Dependency**
+
+Ensure the heat pump only runs when the circulation pump is active[^2][^6]:
+
+```yaml
+conditions:
+  - condition: state
+    entity_id: switch.pool_circulation_pump
+    state: 'on'
+```
+
+
+---
+
+### **8. Resources**
+
+- [EMHASS Documentation](https://emhass.readthedocs.io)
+- [EMHASS GitHub Repository](https://github.com/davidusb-geek/emhass)
+- [Home Assistant Automation Documentation](https://www.home-assistant.io/docs/automation/)
+- [Pool Automation Community Examples](https://community.home-assistant.io/t/using-excess-solar-power-to-heat-swimming-pool/471158)
+
+By implementing this EMHASS-based automation, your pool heat pump will automatically operate during optimal times based on energy costs, solar production, and grid conditions, maximizing efficiency while minimizing operating costs.
+
+<div style="text-align: center">⁂</div>
+
+<div style="text-align: center">⁂</div>
+
+[^1]: image.jpg
+
+[^2]: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/using-excess-solar-power-to-heat-swimming-pool/471158
+
+[^3]: https://github.com/davidusb-geek/emhass
+
+[^4]: https://emhass.readthedocs.io/en/stable/intro.html
+
+[^5]: https://www.reddit.com/r/pools/comments/ukkdd9/pool_automation_with_home_assistant/
+
+[^6]: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/running-devices-when-energy-is-cheaper-and-greener/380011?page=2
+
+[^7]: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/poolsync-pool-heat-pump-integration/682888
+
+[^8]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1jqYmTeVRg
+
+[^9]: https://github.com/haufes/home-assistant-pool
+
+[^10]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRtfh1v-T6M
+
+[^11]: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/fully-automated-pump-management-for-water-pool/729960
+
