SmartPlug Help File

This is the Help "file" for the Python Application whose main page is: *Python Control of Smart Plugs - OpenCircuits

Help file for smart plug application ( Ver4 )

Application Features

• Works with multiple smartplugs.
• Provides on, off, timing, and energy recording functions from a graphical user interface ( gui )
• Supports graphing of data.
• Supports csv output of data.
• Saves data to a sql lite database that you can use any way you wish.
• Highly configurable.

Two Applications

This program is actually 2 main programs ( I may merge them later ). The first program is for control of the smartplugs and capture of data, the second for the graphing and processing of the data. The main routines may be run by respectively running: smart_plug.py graph_smart_plug.py

Download and Install

There is really no install program. Currently the application is intended for those who have at least a little familiarity with Python coding and can just insert the downloaded code into their development environment and run it. For most of you it will not run due to dependency problems. You will need to add them. Pretty much read the error messages and install the missing code. I use Anaconda Spyder so my preferred tool is conda ( conda install pyHS100 ). If conda does not work or you do not use it use pip. pyHS100, a library for smart plugs is pretty likely to be missing ( pip install pyHS100) . Depending on your installation there may be more.

Much of the application is configurable through the parameter.py file, but the default should give you an application that runs, including a default database. You probably will not be able to talk to your smartplugs, because the parameters do need to be told what and where ( tcpip address ) they are.

So to tell the application about your plugs. You should know the address of each plug. If not you might want to use an application like advanced ip scanner ( google it ). The smartplug gives up very little information on my scans, but run the scan with the plug plugged in and out, and the address that appears ( or disappears ) it the address of your device.

The section of parameters.py that locates the device looks like this:

       self.device_list       =  [
               { "name": "device_1",  "tcpip": "192.168.0.209", "more": None, "gui_label": None, "gui_combo": None  },
               { "name": "device_2",  "tcpip": "192.168.0.209", "more": None, "gui_label": None, "gui_combo": None  },
               { "name": "device_3",  "tcpip": "192.168.0.209", "more": None, "gui_label": None, "gui_combo": None  },
                                 ]

it is a list of dictionaries. The entry above is for 3 devices ( but I only have one, so the tcpip address is repeated ) For now only worry about the tcpip address and the name for the device; put in as many devices as you wish to control.

With the edited parameter file saved, restart the application. You should be able to "talk" to your devices. Not working? Double check or email me.

In the future I may try to add some autodetect features. There is a routine to discover the plugs in the pyHS100 library, but it does not work for me.

First Use of the SmartPlug Application

       The application is set up with a default database, but it need some information
       on your devices.

       .........

How to Use the Parameter File

You need a text editor sutiable for .py files to manage the parameter file ( parameters.py ) This includes most text editors. I particularity like:

   notepad++
   geany

You can also use the editor that comes in many python development environments, the simples of which may be Idle. But there are many many others. If you are reading this you probably have some experience.

   A couple of gotchas to watch out for.
       * Python cares about capitalization, use the capitalization indicated in the default
         files and the example code.
       * Python also cares a lot about how lines are indented.  Do not change the indentation from
         the sample files, and always indent using spaces ( not tabs. most text editors will use spaces
         automatically for .py files, even if you use the tab key )

   First time editing of the parameters.py file

       Use your chosen text editor to open the file parameters

specify in parameters.py with

   self.ex_editor          =  r"D:\apps\Notepad++\notepad++.exe"   # use r" or the backslashes will not work, or you can use forward slashes instead they may be wrong
   but they work.

Working With Database Files

• Create a directory for your data and database -- application comes with defaults

• Run database definition routine button wf1

      You need to name a database, application will default
      You also need your sample file input, start with the one from
      the step above.
      look at output.......

System Buttons

                   * The edit functions work only after you have configured parameters.py for your systems text editor

<Edit Log> >Open the application python log file using the system editor specified in parameters.py file <Edit Parms> >Open the application parameters.py file using the system editor, after the file has been modified

                   the system can be quickly restarted using the Restart button.

<Restart> >Quickly restarts the system after the parameters.py file is changed or any time you want to restart the system

                   from its current defaults

Debugging

       Watch the console for error messages and in particular look for modules that may be missing ( I do not provide these, pip or conda should install them )

Work Flow Overview

Just a bit of theory the may be helpful - Some Definitions

Databases

   These encode data in a structured and efficiently searchable format.  It also easily select subsets of
   data and can sort those results.  There are lots of different kinds, but one fairly standard one is a SQL or
   relational database.

Database File

   The file ( or one of the files ) where database information is kept.  We are using sqllite, which keeps a whole database
   in one file.  This makes it very easy to move and/or backup a database.

Table, Record, Column

   in a SQL data base data is stored in Tables ( many tables may be put in one database ).  A table consists of records ( also called rows. )  Each row is information about some "thing".  For example if the "thing" is a person a record
   might contain the person's first name, last name, date of birth.... The table is much like a spread sheet with
   the information on each person in a row.  Each of the items ( first name, last name, date of birth.... ) is called a column.

SQL - Structured Query Language

   This is the language used by relational databases.  Typically the system generated the required SQL and runs
   it.  The user interface often shows the SQL which is quite a bit easier to read than it is to write.
   It may give you useful feedback on what the system is doing.