Powerbar NG hardware

Projects
Participants
Skills	electronics, software, network, notbeingonfire
Status	Planning
Niche	Electronics
Purpose	Infrastructure

The space has relied heavily on two serially connected powerbars that provide a large number of switchable sockets used for hooking up devices/lamps to so that they are conveniently turned on/off via powerbar.ti infra. This infra is what the powerbutton(s) next to the door also talk to.

However, there's a few issues with the current implementation that would be good to address. Mainly: - There's quite a considerable delay between command-and-result - The powerbars are 'fickle' to keep connected to - The powerbars only have serial, neccesitating some 'box' to interface with them - There are , afaik, no spares.. A dead bar would be a problem at this point - There are only two bars, requiring long cabling for devices not conveniently located closeby

A solution has been found in the availability of a considerable amount of APC 7921 PDU's which are being phased out at a $dutch_ISP, making them relatively easily available. The units currently thrown out are in various states of defect, however. Mainly PSU or controller-issues. The good thing is that there seems to be an easy fix for the controller. The relay electronics interface well against an ESP8266/ESP32

So far, the following has been done: - Documentation has been written about the internals of the APC 7921 - A first PoC of an esp8266 board running ESPHome has been created that succesfully interfaces to the relay-board via i2c

ToDos at this point: - Research if Current Transformer can be used 'as is' in esphome - Prototype schottky-diode setup for combining Dual PSU 24VDC in the device - Design an approach for monitoring PSU-status on the ESP - Choose an approach for the LAN connectivity. Home-brew or pre-made module - Choose controller for driving 2-digit display. - Choose an approach for 24DC-> 3.3V conversion. - Create schematic/PCB - Decide upon software. ESPHome seems viable candidate that provides all required

Extra benefits expected from the new hardware: - Easier method of knowing state of any outlet, at any time - Integration with existing automation-frameworks are more straight-forward (HomeAssistant comes to mind) -- Enables adding non-powerbar-based outlets/lamps to be included more easily (Hue, Tradfri, Xiaomi, Sonoff) -- Allows telemetry/sensoring to be added via one infrastructure, one API)