A Raspberry Pi was chosen as the "Brains" of the energy monitor. Python code was written on the Raspberry Pi to read in the digital current input supplied by the Analog to Digital converter. The Python code imports the digital inputs that are connected to the GPIO pins into the Raspberry Pi. The Python code also processes the input and computes the apparent power being used by the energy monitor. The Apparent Power and sensed Current data is then uploaded to the online Xively database. 

 

The Current and Apparent Power outputs of the energy monitor can be seen here.

 

Components needed for the Raspberry Pi are:

• 1 x Raspberry Pi Model B Micro-computer

• 1 x Ethernet cable (for internet connectivity)

• 1 x HDMI cable (to connect to monitor)

• 1 x USB keyboard

• 1 x USB mouse

• 1 x Micro USB power cable (to power the Pi)