Renogy combines energy monitor with smart home control

  • July 25, 2022
  • Steve Rogerson

California-based Renogy has released an all-in-one energy monitoring and smart living device so users can monitor and control battery power levels, charge controllers, inverters and other connected devices at a glance.

Called Renogy One, it lets users integrate with IoT products so they can create smart scenes, which streamline daily routines to build smart and connected homes.

The touchscreen gateway can monitor and manage energy systems, while enabling users to configure smart life scenarios via the IoT.

With rolling blackouts projected to affect much of the US west coast, mid-west and Texas this summer, caused by aging power plants, water scarcity and burgeoning populations, many have opted to hybridise their current systems with solar power, or remove themselves off the grid entirely.

Similarly, costs for power have increased by 4.3 per cent since 2020, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration, while supply chain disruptions and conflict in Ukraine have driven the costs of living sky-high. As such, many are looking for ways in which to reduce energy expenses.

“The cost of living has risen at a dramatic rate over the past year in particular,” said Yi Li, CEO of Renogy. “Because of this, people are looking for ways to not only reduce the cost of energy through incorporating solar power infrastructure, but also have greater control over where that power goes and when to ensure stability. Renogy One enables users to not only understand the scope of their energy use through one simple interface, but to control and optimise their use as well, choosing where power is distributed and at what time. Ultimately, this should result in Renogy One users having more stability in their power supply when it’s needed, at a much lower cost than through traditional energy suppliers.”

Many centralised energy monitoring systems just monitor energy. In addition to this basic feature, Renogy One enables users to make the most of IoT technology. This means smart home products can also be automated and monitored.

Through this feature, users can set triggers to place their Renogy system into energy-saving mode or sleep mode. Additionally, it can be customised to alert homeowners when doors and windows are opened for increased security or to ensure they’re not left open while the air conditioner is running. Smart plugs and relays can also be incorporated and controlled by the system, ensuring appliances or devices aren’t still drawing power while in standby or idle mode.

Renogy One works with all Renogy products including solar panels, charge controllers, DC-DC chargers, inverters, battery storage and Renogy’s flagship Rego series. This means users can monitor and control their system from one panel. In addition, they’re also able to collect data and perform diagnostics across their systems with just a few taps.