Power Flow Card Plus for Home Assistant

There's a new Power Flow Card for Home Assistant and it's everything I could have wished for. Check out this video to find out why I love it and how you can install and configure it.
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How to install HACS: • How to install HACS in...
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Power Flow Card Plus Repo: github.com/fli...

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

⚠⚠Update! ⚠⚠The card is now available in HACS without the need to add it as a custom repo. Please ignore that part from 1:59 - 2:28. Just choose the 'Frontend' tab at the top of HACS, click on the Explore and Download Repositories button in the bottom-right, and search for Power Flow Card Plus.

[@k3nw00d-fjr13hundred]

LOL - Glad I read the comments, been ripping my hair out (well whats left of it) trying to get the repository added, Thank you :)

[@lucafelix]

Hey there, I am "flixlix", the developer of this card :) Thank you very much for showing it off! With the version 0.1, I added a UI Editor, so it should now be much easier to configure now :)

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Hi! No problem at all, it's still king of the power flow cards :) You have been working so much on it that my video was out of date before it was even published! I've not managed to play with the UI editor yet because it's erroring, but I think that's because of the conflict with card-mod. Great work though thanks!

[@Alcatraz2k]

Very nice but shame I can't add more hanging off of home. I'd love to be able to add all my smart plugs etc, then have an entity for 'everything else'

[@MartynDews]

I have managed to get what I need using the YAML code but for the future the UI would be great. I have card-mod and I see there's an issue with that which has been fixed and submitted. Any idea when that will make it through so the main card will receive this benefit?

[@javierglm95]

Very nice tutorial. Thank you and also the author of the power flow plus card.

[@AutomanUK1]

Very informative as always thanks for this. One point of note though "inverted_entities" does not work you need to add "invert_state" to each entity that needs reversed... example invert_state: grid

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Yup, the way you configure it has changed a bit since I made this video. There's also a gui configuration interface for it too now which takes away most of the hard work! If it changes much more then I might have to do an updated video :)

[@mikelaskey8335]

Another great video thanks. Very easy to setup, replacing my old power flow card.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Glad it helped

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Sorry, that was a default KZbin reply and I didn’t mean to send it and it doesn’t make much sense! I meant to say thank you and it should be even easier to set up soon when the GUI configuration is completed

[@mikelaskey8335]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech ah cool, yeah the video was neat, and I had it setup and working in about 20 minutes. The only thing which would make this power flow card even better is to be able to add more individual entities, removing the current limit of 2, but hey, that's just a wishlist item really.

[@alisterg3582]

Thanks for posting this - So much easier to setup than the Tesla Power Cards and looks so much nicer against what I was previously happy with! Cheers

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Glad it helped!

[@MrKlawUK]

I have a dedicated home energy page to show simple things like my solar inputs and battery charge/discharge. The main energy page is good for solar generation curves etc but the power flow is poor - kwh not instantaneous kw is the biggest issue. Will definitely take a look at this new option.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

I have a 'solar' dashboard too, which is really power meters all loosely related to solar (so battery, solar inverter, forecasting, etc). This power flow card plus is still taking pride of place on the dash.

[@TiberiusDarkforge]

Great video. FYI - I think that CO2 Signal has been replaced by Electricity Maps. Cheers

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Yes it has, but if you search for CO2 Signal, it flags up Electricity Maps so you can find it the same way.

[@czi2011]

Thank you, I will definitely try to follow along. Recently I have installed one Shelly 3 EM on 3 phases of my solar inverter output and another one in the breaker cabinet of my house consumption, now I am struggling quite a bit with template sensors how to calculation export to or import from grid. For example: Shelly shows power negative if power factor is negative, that is nonsense in my opinion.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

It’s all gui-based configuration now since I made this video, much easier! There’s an option to reverse the flow for a sensor too like in your case where it’s negative when it should be positive

[@vaughanza]

Thanks great video

[@info27001]

thank you very much

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

You are welcome

[@feline-fox]

Hi, have been following along with your Octopus mini videos so I can view my live usage in HA, however I wanted to try this card out but am a bit stumped on what entity to use for the grid - or do I need separate hardware for this?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

If you are using the bottlecapdave integration then you should have a sensor called sensor.octopus_energy_electricity_xxxxxxxxxx_xxxxxxxxxxxxx_current_demand but with different values instead of the xs. That is your grid import/export power.

[@henrikthg35]

nice video.... I'm just starting to explore the power flow card... How did you make the simulated power "card" ? share the code or a video on this... When I got the perfect energi dashboard... I can start add real values instead of simulated.... But to start !!!! simulated power please !!

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

I've had a few requests for a demo on how to create the sim power entities so I'll probably do that in a few weeks. It's just some helpers and some template entities reading the helper values.

[@kurzz6474]

Hello, I'm new to Home Assistant and I'm devouring all the information available, thank you very much for the clear video, I have PV and a Huawei inverter and I would like to add this card to monitor performance and consumption, I followed the instructions exactly, I managed to install the Power Flow Card Plus through HACS, I can already see it in Settings - Devices and Services, but I don't have this card on Dashboard .... how should I add it to the Dashboard? I think this is a stupid question, so forgive me, but I can't help myself, thanks for the information in advance.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Look at 03:02 onwards in the video where I edit the dashboard and add a card. Since I made this video you can now configure the card using the GUI instead of importing the configuration like I have done, but adding the card to a dashboard is the same process.

[@kurzz6474]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech I was so careless i looked at it and didn't see it.... I am studying..., thank you very much once again, I already have it and I'm going to configure it.

[@robsolway3827]

Installed a few days ago and have found that the information being pulled about each entity is not accurate. Someone has suggested this is because the wrong entities are set up? How would you change the entities and which entities should data be being drawn from?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

The entities are changed by selecting them in the GUI - this card now has GUI setup since I made this video. As for which entities you should use, that really depends on the devices monitoring your power. You must use power entities (not energy) and you only need really at a minimum your grid import and export power to set up a basic flow card.

[@daveroberts2247]

thank you great just a question is this live data or is it hourly as with the standard card i new and just learning.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

The standard cards built in to HA are energy (kWh). This is for power (watts) which is as live as the sensors you have. Mine update every 10 seconds.

[@waterloowar]

I have two battery pack connecting to the inverter. but the power card can allow me to choose one of them only. how can I show the combined son percentage?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

You have to create a template sensor (either in configuration.yaml or by creating a 'helper' template sensor in the GUI) which adds together the values of the two batteries and then takes an average. I do this but I weight the values. So your two options would be: {{ (states('sensor.battery1_soc')|int(0) + states('sensor.battery2_soc')|int(0))/2|int(0) }} That's an untested mean average of the two battery SOCs, which is accurate if they are both the same capacity. If they are not the same capacity then adjust the below to match yours. I have a total capacity of 21.7kWh. One battery is 13.5kWh, the second is 8.2kWh, therefore the larger battery represents 13.5/21.7 of the total capacity available, or about 62%, the other battery is the remainder: {{ (states('sensor.battery1_soc')|int(0)*(13.5/21.7)) + (states('sensor.battery2_soc')|int(0)*(8.2/21.7)) }}

[@ashzgtx]

but how is not reflecting the EV charger into the home power ? The EV is taking power from home and that is taking from Solar + Grid right ? why its not reflecting ?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Are your source sensors displaying the correct values? You need to make sure that they are displaying the values you are expecting first because the card will only display what they are showing.

[@samjarman3136]

This is great. Do you know if there is any option to add more than 2 things coming off the home? For example, I would like heat pump, ev charger 1, ev charger 2, water heater.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

If you open an issue to make a suggestion for that on the Github page (github.com/flixlix/power-flow-card-plus) then you might find others who are also interested in that feature. I'd suggest mocking up a drawing to show how you think it might be best set out because extra bubbles might start to get crowded in that card so it would need to be done carefully.

[@fambjornbak]

@speakToTheGeekTech I'm watching your videos with great interested. I see you got other interesting videos on customizing the built-in Energy Dashboard but you can't replace the built-in power-flow diagram, right? You have to use it on another dashboard, right?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Home Assistant only has a built-in Energy (kWh) flow card which is fixed and shows total energy values over whatever period you choose on the energy dashboard. This video is all about Power (watts) flow, so live power running between things and you have to use third party cards on your dashboard for that, and you can't add them to your Energy dashboard either (because they're power not energy). I hope that clears things up for you unless I've misunderstood?

[@fambjornbak]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech 😊of course (k)W vs kWh

[@themorfill]

I'd love some help setting up this on my triple plant AC Coupled Inverter system.

[@warrentaylor405]

Hello, I have enjoyed your video, for which thanks. I am new to Home Assistant, and would like to install this for my Solax PV installation and for my MyEnergi system (Libbi, Zappi and Eddi). I live in Bristol. I am on the Octopus Econ 7 tariff. I have some questions to which you maybe can give an answer. I don't use social media, and I wonder if you would accept an email instead? Thanks, Warren

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Sorry, no, I don't do private / personal support at this time.

[@warrentaylor405]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech OK thanks.

[@malcr4841]

Hi, interesting video thanks. I would like to produce this in my HA, but as a novice it's beyond me. Can I ask how are receiving the underlying data for the card from the inverter and car charger? Regards

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

It really depends on the systems you have in place. For the grid data I have a Hildebrand Glow Display/CAD that gets live power data from my smart meter. For solar, I use the SolarEdge Modbus integration that talks to my solar inverter. For the battery, I use GivTCP which connects to my GivEnergy inverter, for the Pod Point I have an old Owl CT clamp monitoring the power over RF, and for Eddi I use the myenergi integration. All of those systems are brought together to display data in this single card. Each of those components have their own videos if you browse through the old videos on my channel.

[@papago777]

Hi, cannot see any Demo Panel like you have. How do I get it. Just see The circles static no flow animated.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

I had to manually create test power sensors in order to simulate that to demo in the video. It’s not something built in.

[@papago777]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech ok thanks

[@irvinbiala7709]

Nice video. However, do you know how can I add the value of individual loads to the grid power? I had a separate load that is not included where my grid meter is clamped.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

You'll need to create a template sensor by editing your configuration.yaml. Something along the lines of this: template: - sensor: - name: "Combined Power" unit_of_measurement: 'W' state: "{{ states('sensor.power_supply_1')|int(default=0) + states('sensor.power_supply_2')|int(default=0) }}" device_class: 'power' state_class: 'measurement'

[@philip_james]

Brilliant video thank you. I have got it installed and working but I can't find the SOC sensor on my Givenergy Gen 2 Hybrid. Could you point me in the right direction please

[@tarkadahl1985]

sensor.givtcp_saXXXXg0XX_soc

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

In Home Assistant navigate to Settings > Devices & Services, choose the devices tab, find the device named “GivTCP inverterid Power”, and one of the entities in there is called “GivTCP inverterid SOC”. Obvs substitute inverterid for your actual inverter id!

[@philip_james]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech Brilliant yes I've got it now thank you so much 👍😉

[@manumanu-ut9vo]

Thank you for the video, is it possible to add more individual devices? two its not enough for me

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Sadly not at the moment, I'd love to see more than two too.

[@jamesdean6451]

Sorry one last question. My battery is 8.2kw and the state of charge shows as a percentage. The only sensor option in givtcp I have shows in kw rather than as a percent. As a result it shows on the card as 8% which presumably the figure it gets from 8kw. Is there any easy way round this do you know? Thank you

[@jamesdean6451]

Ignore me, just found it. There was another option showing it as a % instead so will use that. Thanks

[@hollytreecook]

I have EPS output from inverter always on and have added to this card as an an individual feeding into the house. My question is whether the EPS output is additional to battery output to the house or it is included within it. Can I add a line from the battery to the EPS output (individual) and a powerflow line and the card somehow do the maths?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

The battery output power includes what is being supplied to the EPS circuit and is effectively rolled up into the 'Home' usage. And no you can't add a line from battery to EPS, but there is another card (GivTCP Power Flow Card) which can do this.

[@hollytreecook]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech Thanks. I shall try and get this working

[@hollytreecook]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech EPS appears but below Grid on the LHS. I can't get it below House on the RHS and to draw a line connecting to the battery/inverter. I can't get the lines from the additional item lines to House to be the same colour as their surrounding rings

[@lestaylor7767]

Please can you help, when I try to add the integration I have the message "Repository 'flixlix/power-flow-card-plus' exists in the store", I have tried to find it and go as far as removing HACS and re-installing but I am still getting the message. What am I doing wrong please?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Things are moving fast with this integration - only a couple of days after publishing it the developer has managed to get it officially added to HACS. You can miss out the step of adding the repository and just search for it under the front-end section of HACS.

[@lestaylor7767]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech Thanks - I thought I had messed it up

[@mrzah2000]

nice, but for water usage, how to set that up? It seems not possible like it is in the older Power Flow Card !? So maybe it is not perfect after all :)

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

I don’t have any water monitoring personally so I’ll have to set up a template sensor to try that out. If you’re confident it’s not possible turn raise an issue on GitHub and I’m sure it’ll be considered

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

I've just tried it out and it works perfectly for water so it still holds the crown! Here's the configuration I used: individual2: entity: sensor.sim_water_flow name: Water icon: mdi:water display_zero: true unit_of_measurement: gal/m color: '#53bad1' inverted_animation: true

[@mrzah2000]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech ahh ok, so you used individual, in the old Power Flow Card you could define Water entity. Oh well if this works who cares. Thanks a alot.

[@jamesdean6451]

Thanks for the info. Just setting up now. At 3.40 you mention the read me, any idea where I find the read me file please? Thanks

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Yup sorry I should have clarified that - the readme is just the information on the GitHub repo that the developer has put together. It's in the description, but here it is too for convenience! github.com/flixlix/power-flow-card-plus

[@jamesdean6451]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech great, thank you

[@tarkadahl1985]

Just got to sort out that carbon intensity API to get the right values for your area next not the national value!

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Another donation!? Thanks very much! And yes, that’s on the to-do list. Got the template figured out, just need to write the script next. Sadly I can’t figure out how to get Home Assistant’s energy dashboard to use it (it only lets you use the co2signal one so far as I can figure out).

[@tarkadahl1985]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech let's drag Mick into it 🤣

[@seanscapes]

Not sure if you will still reply, i cant seem to figure out if this is possible. I don’t have solar, but i do have a battery. My ideal card would be that my home circle consumes power from the grid, when power fails, the house consumes from battery. I would also like the battery to charge from grid, instead of solar if that’s possible. Thanks!

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

The power flow card will only display what is happening, it won’t actually automate the systems for you. It really depends on your battery solution as to whether you can actually do that. If you have a GivEnergy battery then it’s all definitely possible.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

I should also add, if you're expecting your home to be powered from the grid during a power failure, you either need your whole home wired to an EPS output of your battery inverter (which limits the power to possibly 2.5kW so not a good idea in a lot of cases. I just have mine wired to my light circuits), or you need the new GivEnergy All In One/Gateway, or a Tesla Powerwall style device.

[@seanscapes]

I have an ecoflow device, I don’t wat to automate, i just want the card to show that the battery is being charged from the grid when my power is on, instead of solar. Because for some reason the card assumes you can only charge a battery system from solar and not the grid

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

I’m not familiar with your configuration but that isn’t the case. The card will display the correct flow to/from the battery either from grid or solar depending on what is happening, provided you have configured it correctly.

[@ruurdsanders]

Thanks for your video! How did you make simulated power card? Can in find the code somewhere online?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

For each power entity that you want to simulate you have to create a number helper (which you can display on the dashboard as a slider to control) and then a template power entity (in configuration.yaml) which uses the number helper as its state. You can then use your template power sensor entity anywhere you would use a real power sensor. I have had quite a few people ask me about how to do this so I may create a video on it, but it was really just intended to give me some fake data/sensors so as I could demo the power cards in the videos.

[@ruurdsanders]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech yeah I figured you did this with helpers but a nice guide might be nice. Would appreciate it 👍

[@ruurdsanders]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech I was wondering if you could share a guide to your power emulator. I'm prepping for a Home Assistant for Dummy's workshop and would love to show people how they can create an energy dashboard using fake power numbers. I'm doing this workshop with other (more experienced) folks but wanted to take this topic on myself

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

@@ruurdsanders I have created a video on that subject but it's not scheduled for publishing until September.

[@ruurdsanders]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech hmm that’s too bad, this workshop is already in August. Perhaps you can share how you created at least one and then I’ll figure it out from there?

[@chris2011ireland]

Strangely my battery power is showing as discharging when it is charging and showing charging when discharging. Any suggestions?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

You should set the invert_state option for your battery to true. You can add the line to your card configuration if you do it that way, or it should be a tick-box in the new GUI for the card.

[@chris2011ireland]

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech Thanks a mill, that sorted it 👍

[@henrybrennan3022]

I added this today and noticed that my grid power is the wrong way around. Any ideas?

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Try adding the line "inverted_entities: grid" to the configuration

[@henrybrennan3022]

I figured it out, thanks

[@bernardcharlesworth9860]

Nice. Can we run this on a pi.sorry but I am a newbie

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

Yes, if you have a Raspberry Pi 4 then it'll run perfectly. If you have a Pi 3 then it'll still work but much more slowly. Check out the other videos on my channel and look for the one about running Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi using an SSD. You can use a normal SD card if you like, but it might wear out quickly.

[@johnnyandersson5622]

There are som many errors in your example, if you do it correct there will not be two values on each bubble, only one arrow and a singel value should ever be present.

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

What you on about!? :) It's a customisable card which means you can customise it to your own preferences - in that respect there is no error in my configuration and 'correct' is therefore subjective. The double arrows and values I think you are referring to are taken from the original non-plus card's design philosophy which intentionally had two arrows in order to exactly match the energy flow card that's built in to Home Assistant. Even the example configuration and screenshot on the card's GitHub page shows that. The display_state option that allows you to alter that was actually only implemented in the March 26th release, way after I published this video.

[@ChrisW1234]

s.entries is not a function

[@SpeakToTheGeekTech]

You've got card-mod installed? There's a known conflict with that integration and the developer has submitted a PR to fix that