Re: How suitable would Xap be for monitoring Gas + Electric?

["Gary" <questuk1@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Kevin,

I am learning a lot, at the moment still very much a prototype. I will
look into the NSLU2. All though at the moment it will run on a Mini
ITX PC.

regards

Gary

--- In xap_automation@xxxxxxx, Kevin Hawkins
<yahoogroupskh@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Gary,
>=20
>     xAP is essentially just the protocol used to transfer data
between=20
> nodes.  What you are after is an application that can interface with
xAP=20
> but provides database and graphing.  There are several commercial=20
> applications that can do this - usual HA Automation commercial=20
> favourites as well as some free ones.
>=20
>     On the free side you could use xAP Floorplan (recommended) and
I=20
> believe there's a xAP logger database application although I have
never=20
> used it.   You could of course roll your own as Dave suggested. 
Google=20
> provide a nice API for graphing and there are some neat Flash based=20
> gauge/graph applications too.
>=20
>     A different approach I highly recommend is OPNMax as long as
your=20
> data is presented via the xAP BSC schema.  This is a standalone
embedded=20
> device - actually a converted Linksys NSLU2 'Slug' - these are
available=20
> new for around =A350.     Once you load the free OPNMax software it=20
> becomes a xAP BSC controller with logic and scheduling and includes
a=20
> web interface and ftp server.   Also provided is a SQLite=20
> database/logger and a Java based graphing application, so viewable
in=20
> your browser.. as well as PHP and Perl scripting.  I log and graph
my=20
> energy consumption this way.   You should be able to count and
average=20
> your info as you can trigger scripts and DB actions on device change
.=20
> Pretty impressive as a standalone embedded xAP controller.
>=20
> http://www.opnode.org
> http://www.ukusa.demon.co.uk/Temperatures.jpg
> http://www.ukusa.demon.co.uk/Utilities.jpg
>=20
>     cheers Kevin
>=20
> Gary wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have been busy in interfacing my gas meter to my RS232 port and
> > would now like to interface it to xap. I would like to datestamp
each
> > pulse which comes every 22 seconds roughly and store this in a
> > database. Also would like some pictorial interface etc.
> >
> > This is just the 1st of various sensors, windows doors etc PIR.
> >
> > Any advice on how i can get xap to display the info, at first
just
> > starting with the Gas meter. Its needs a counter to keep total of
> > pulses, then average them and also output them graphically?
> >
> > And advice welcome?
> >
> > --- In xap_automation@xxxxxxx=20
> > <mailto:xap_automation%40yahoogroups.com>,
"Gary" <questuk1@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > OK thanks James, that's given me a much clearer view of Xap
and its
> > uses.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > >
> > > Gary
> > >
> > > --- In xap_automation@xxxxxxx=20
> > <mailto:xap_automation%40yahoogroups.com>,
James Traynor
> > > <james.traynor@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > It really comes down to what you want to do with the
data, but the
> > > short
> > > > answer is yes it should be part of the system. If all
you are
> > doing is
> > > > logging data to a database, and everything you are
going to
use the
> > > data
> > > > with is on teh pc connected to the PIC, then xAP isn't
going
to help
> > > you
> > > > much. However I would imagine you want to share the
data,
display the
> > > > data, maybe even IM the data or speak the data. That's
really
> > where xAP
> > > > will help you as alot of the connectors are done. I
don't know
about
> > > gas
> > > > but there is an app to xAP enable a currentcost
electricity
monitor
> > > > which will be probably be useful.
> > > > The .net framework will give you all the xAP elements
to your
> > > > application you will need to send and receive messages.
Floorplan
> > could
> > > > be used to log data and graph it too with some
scripting. Many
> > > > possibilities, mainly depends on platform and what you
want to
> > display
> > > > where. Remember though that xAP is a protocol, so is
ideal to get
> > info
> > > > from A to B, well A to everywhere really, but you still
need apps
> > > > for the receiving and sending!
> > > >
> > > > James
> > > >
> > > > Gary wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi,
> > > > >
> > > > > I haven't used Xap yet, but I am intending to
monitor my Gas
> > usage per
> > > > > minute and eventually my electric. I would like
real time
data and
> > > > > historical and it would be nice to have graphs.
> > > > >
> > > > > I had considered writing some code in Visual Basic
2008
express, but
> > > > > am wondering if all the hard work has been done
for me and
use Xap?
> > > > >
> > > > > The data will eventually be sent into my PC using
RS232 or
USB via a
> > > > > pic micro. But for initial trial will most
probably use parallel
> > port
> > > > > and just count the pulses.
> > > > >
> > > > > How suitable is Xap for this?
> > > > >
> > > > > Any ideas and thoughts welcome?
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards Gary
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
>




------------------------------------