Sorry, your browser does not support JavaScript!

Summary:how to use IAMMETER`s Wi-Fi energy meter in Home assistant

Home Assistant Energy Meter Integration: 5 Methods and Real Use Cases

Overview

This article introduces five different methods to integrate IAMMETER's Wi-Fi energy meters into Home Assistant, one of the most popular open-source home automation platforms. We also showcase real-world applications of these integrations to help users maximize solar usage and save on electricity bills.

MQTT Discovery is now supported starting from firmware version i.76.058.8, released on January 10, 2025.


Integration Method Comparison

No. Integration Method Interface Refresh Interval
1 Core Integration HTTP 1 min
2 Modbus/TCP Sensor Modbus/TCP 1 s
3 MQTT Sensor MQTT 12 s
4 HACS (Custom Integration) HTTP / Modbus/TCP 1 min (HTTP), 1 s (Modbus)
5 MQTT Discovery MQTT 6 s

1. Core Integration (Official Home Assistant Integration)

IAMMETER's energy meters are natively supported in Home Assistant.

Pros:

  • Easy to use and officially supported.
  • Compatible with IAMMETER cloud โ€” use both systems simultaneously.

Cons:

  • Limited support for newer Home Assistant features (e.g., Energy dashboard, device discovery).

2. Modbus/TCP Sensor

Ideal for users needing high-frequency real-time data (up to 1 reading per second). Great for automation and control loops.

Modbus YAML

Pros:

  • Highest refresh rate (1s).
  • Also compatible with IAMMETER cloud.

Cons:

  • Only one client can poll the meter simultaneously.

3. MQTT Sensor

A flexible MQTT-based integration option that supports user/password authentication.

MQTT Integration

Pros:

  • Multiple clients can subscribe to energy data.

Cons:

  • Cannot upload data to IAMMETER cloud simultaneously.

4. HACS (Home Assistant Community Store)

To overcome limitations in the core integration, IAMMETER provides a HACS-compatible custom integration.


5. MQTT Discovery

MQTT Discovery allows Home Assistant to auto-detect devices with minimal configuration.

Recommended for seamless and fast MQTT-based integration with IAMMETERโ€™s latest firmware.


Real-world Applications Using IAMMETER in Home Assistant

IAMMETER is committed to helping customers gain deep insights into their electricity consumption, minimize unnecessary energy waste, and ultimately reduce electricity bills.

In addition to offering multiple integration methods with Home Assistant, IAMMETER also provides practical application examples that users can easily follow. These include: controlling switches based on grid export power, monitoring solar PV generation and household energy flows, using surplus solar energy to charge electric vehicles, and heating water using solar surplus. The latter can be achieved by combining IAMMETER energy meters with the WPC3700 Wi-Fi Power Controller, which dynamically adjusts the power of the water heater in real-time based on grid power readings from the meter, ensuring optimal use of excess solar energy.

Some featured solutions are listed below:

Solar PV System Monitoring

Basic Wiring: Energy Meter + Smart Socket

Dashboard View in Home Assistant


Need Help?

If you experience any issues while using IAMMETER with Home Assistant, please visit our support forum and let us know. Weโ€™re happy to help!

Top