The Sense Energy Monitor is quite useful for tracking your home's electricity usage live. It's especially helpful for pinpointing where energy is going across different appliances. A topic that comes up a lot is how it deals with 'Always On' power usage and what kind of insights it offers on that front.
According to our research, the Sense device uses machine learning to figure out which appliances are running by looking at their unique electrical signatures. This can take a few weeks to nail down accurately. The learning process can be a bit hit or miss. Some folks find it really good at recognizing major appliances, while others run into some challenges.
One cool thing it does is track 'Always On' power usage. This is basically the electricity used by things that are always running, like fridges, WiFi routers, and devices on standby. This feature helps you spot where you might be wasting power, like electronics you could turn off or unplug when not in use.
The Sense device is generally pretty good at tracking overall energy use. Many people found its readings match up well with what their utility company reports, which speaks to how accurate it can be. However, it can struggle identifying some individual gadgets, especially with newer or more complex tech like certain HVAC systems or kitchen appliances packed with the latest features. But it has more luck with simpler, steady-load devices.
As for setting it up, if you've dabbled with electrical panels before, you might manage it yourself. But the manufacturer suggests getting a pro to install it, just to play it safe. Plus, you'll need a strong WiFi connection for it to run smoothly, as it relies on a solid signal.
So, while the Sense Energy Monitor does provide some great insights into your overall energy use, spotting individual devices might not always be spot on. Sense continually works on updates to make it better, so it's likely to improve.
If you're aiming to cut down on your electric bill by finding wasted energy, Sense could be helpful—just be ready for a bit of a learning curve and some tech tinkering.
