MMM-GasMonitor

mumblebaj

Why
I have in the last year moved “slightly” off the grid, solar, gas stove and a gas geyser. I am able to monitor my solar production using my MMM-Growatt module but was unable to monitor my gas usage and have the ability to order a refill in time before the gas runs out.

I recently ordered a Mopeka Pro Check Sensor from Amazon.com but it does not have an integrated API and only provides a Bluetooth connection to the app.

Solution
What I came up with was creating the MMM-GasMonitor module.

How it works

You have to work out your average daily usage. Instructions included on how I achieved this on the module Github page.
The module will starts off with 100% tank level (you can set this yourself to match your tank level in the input.txt file). At first run it takes the daily average and add’s it to the 100% giving you a starting point of, you know it, 100% :-)
Based on the refresh rate, I run daily as I worked out my daily usage average, it will calculate the new level and display it along with adjusting the Level monitor and color accordingly.

Some more examples

I am open to integrate any API into the module if anybody has one that they would like integrated to monitor their own.

As I could not find one for the Mopeka Pro monitor I went the manual calc method.

Enjoy!!

ankonaskiff17

@mumblebaj What is a “Gas Geyser”?

Another easy monitoring option is to put the tank on a scale. Track weight as % Full.
Not long before I retired we put in a remote pumping station that consisted of 2 3-phase pumps, 3-phase generator that ran on natural gas. Tank for gas had resistance type level sensor.
Used telemetry that sent us a common fault alarm and sent the local gas vendor live level indication.

mumblebaj

@ankonaskiff17 Cool. Yeah, I have the Mopeka Pro sensor on the tank at the moment and I can monitor via the Bluetooth app. But wanted something for the mirror so I could see it there. They do say those resistance level sensors are not very accurate as the liquid converts to gas and they don’t take that into consideration. What I read anyway. The Mopeka Pro is pretty good.

ankonaskiff17

@mumblebaj Our stuff was industrial grade and we had issues with the level sensor but related to day/night temperature & Sun impacting gas. but biggest problem with level sensor was related to it being a cylinder mounted horizontally…

An inch of drop at top of sideways cylinder a lot less than an inch of drop across middle of cylinder so engineers had fun plotting that curve