Configure RPICT for EmonCMS

Overview

We provide here a step by step guide to change the configuration of some RPICT boards to use them with Emoncms.

This page only applies for the following models:
RPICT7V1 Version 2
RPICT4V3 Version 2
RPICT8
RPICT3T1
RPICT3V1

All other boards (RPICT3, RPICT7V1 version 1, RPICT4V3 version 1) should have their parameters modified using a sketch upload.

Preliminaries

The Raspberrypi must use the software image provided by Emoncms. Refer to Emoncms website to find out which SD card image to use.

Steps

-1-

Before we start any work we will have to close down emonhub so we can have free access to the serial port.

$ /etc/init.d/emonhub stop

-2-

Grab the configuration that you need for your board using one of the command below. Note the example below if for sketch version 2.5 (replace B2 with B1 in the link if using sketch version 2.4)

RPICT7V1

$ wget lechacal.com/RPICT/config/B2/rpict7v1.conf

RPICT8

$ wget lechacal.com/RPICT/config/B2/rpict8.conf

RPICT4V3

$ wget lechacal.com/RPICT/config/B2/rpict4v3.conf

RPICT3V1

$ wget lechacal.com/RPICT/config/A0/rpict3v1.conf

RPICT3T1 & RPICT4T4

$ wget lechacal.com/RPICT/config/A0/rpict3t1.conf

-3-

Edit the file using nano. For example:

$ nano rpict7v1.conf

modify the line that says

format = 0

into

format = 1

For newest board (after October 2017) it is possible to use the emonhub format. format = 3. Then follow this guide to configure emonhub.

Save and exit the file

-4-

Get the latest lcl utility program.

$ wget lechacal.com/RPICT/tools/lcl-rpict-config.py.zip
$ unzip lcl-rpict-config.py.zip

-5-

Write the configuration to the board:

$ ./lcl-rpict-config.py -w rpict7v1.conf

-6-

Once the configuration write successful start the emonhub again

$ /etc/init.d/emonhub start

Output as float [OPTIONAL]

By default the Emoncms format only has integers. One might find better to use floats instead.

To do this use the format parameter as follow:

format = 2

Once complete you will need to inform the emonhub that it should read floats and not intergers. This indicated with a 'f' in the datacode parameters.

An example below:

 [[11]]
   nodename = my_RPICT7V1
   firmware = v2.5
   hardware = RPICT7V1
   [[[rx]]]
      names = Realpower1, Realpower2, Realpower3, Realpower4, Realpower5, Realpower6, Realpower7, Irms1, Irms2, Irms3, Irms4,Irms5,Irms6,Irms7,Vrms
      datacode = f
      scales = 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1
      units =W,W,W,W,W,W,W,mA,mA,mA,mA,mA,mA,mA,V