Elnur HHR Storage Heater Review, Smart Controls & Storage Efficiency Tests

mmmmikey

Thanks @EssexHebridean and @FreeBear

As @FreeBear says I'm using a Sonoff POWR320D but this is on the input / charging side, not the output. I'm using the stock firmware and eWeLink and in my case this is working on the LAN, so no dependency on the remote Chinese servers. At some stage, I will flash with ESPHome for consistency with other devices and reduce the number of integrations I have to worry about - I just haven't got round to it yet.

On the output side I'm using a generic ESP32 relay module like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BC9PMVNL?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2

It's set up to work with ESPHome. In order to control the heater, I've connected one relay across the "Sun" switch and one relay across the "Moon" switch on the storage heater control panel. The output can then be switched on with a simple script that turns the Sun relay on, waits for 7 seconds and turns it off again (to simulate pressing and holding the button - you may need to experiment with the timing slightly). Similarly, the output can be turned off using the Moon relay. You need to set the Sun temperature as high as it will go and the Moon temperature as low as it will go on the heater to stop the heater thermostat over-riding this.

Hope this helps. I'm not sure where you are on the Home Assistant journey - it certainly has a steep learning curve! If this doesn't make sense, I suggest you familiarise yourself with ESPHome and the operation of the relay board first - there are lots of great resources online to help with this.

Panshmutley

Thanks All. Think I'm sorted on the input side. I went for zigbee as its a little less juice to run it. 30 amp as I have the slightly larger heater.

Happy to write my own automation etc..
Running HA on Rpi5, BCD integration from HACS for linking with Octopus Agile. Have the larger (literally) Sonoff controlling my immersion with 3 non continous 'slots'.

The output control was where I was stuck. Seen discussions on esp but electronics isn't my strong point. Keen to play though so thank you very much!

I'm sure I will have more q's once I've digested if you are OK answering. 

Thanks for replying and everyone coming back to me