Innovative Open Source Battery Monitor for Pecron Systems

Open Source Battery Monitoring for Pecron Systems

In this discussion thread, a developer shares their journey of creating an open-source battery monitor specifically for Pecron E1500LFP batteries. Frustrated with the limitations of the official app, they reverse-engineered the Pecron cloud protocol to build a Python tool that allows for comprehensive battery status monitoring and automation. This tool enhances user control over battery functionalities through a command-line interface or via AI integration, particularly effective with services like Telegram.

Core Features

• Real-time Monitoring: Tracks battery percentage, voltage, temperature, power in/out, and estimated remaining time.
• Remote Control: Enables turning AC/DC outputs on and off through the command line.
• Alerts: Provides notifications for low battery levels via Telegram, ntfy, or webhooks.
• Automation Rules: Users can set custom automation rules, such as turning off AC when battery drops below a specified threshold.
• Home Assistant Integration: Functions seamlessly with the Home Assistant platform through MQTT auto-discovery.
• Historical Tracking: Logs all readings in an SQLite database, with the ability to export data for visualization tools like Grafana.

How It Works

The tool utilizes the same secure authentication flow as the Pecron app, connecting to the Quectel IoT cloud platform via MQTT/WebSockets. This means that users do not require BLE or local WiFi connectivity; it operates entirely over the internet, simplifying access and management.

Emerging Consensus

Users in the thread acknowledge the value of this project due to its ability to provide more control and flexibility over battery usage compared to the official app. Many express interest in using the tool alongside AI agents to further enhance automation tasks.

To explore this project further, view the original thread here.