I have several engage units so I know how they work. The problem is the drains are very short and spikey, not likely to show up on the 10 second update meters, either web or console. Thanks for your help but I didn’t ask you to educate me on how my own monitors work.
My real time monitors show each phase separately..
First, keep in mind that this is a public forum and I tend to write my responses to everyone, not just the person I'm in dialog with.
Second, I have no idea what you know or don't know.
Third, I didn't realize you were trying to debug the "short spikes".
I think it was you that suggested the Sense system IDing your issue. Sorry I have been baseline focused. The Sense system might ID anything that cycles. It might not ID it right but it can probably separate it out.
Regarding the short spikes.
Anything that isn't constant, or very long stable cycles, is a LOT more work to debug.
Personally, I have not focused on much stuff that cycles, because I know what most stuff is that is cycling, and there is either not much I can do about it (Heat, A/C, Frig) or doesn't use much, lights on motion sensor, toaster, hair dryer etc.
That's not say it's not worth digging into something if you have no idea what it is, and want to know. It could be a faulty appliance.
Also keep in mind, how most of these monitors work (sorry if I'm insulting you again). The monitors themselves sample at a very high rate (maybe many times a second). They average the values over that period and then report that value. They are not the max value in that period. That period could be 10s or 15 minutes. For finding a short spike that will be difficult. Think of the charts as "Total Usage" during that period. Versus the Rear-Time as actual instant current.
There is a few ways to find those spikes. Now you did say there were clearly on the charts. Well you know what phase it's on. Move the two coils to first 2 circuits on that phase. And monitor it however long it takes for them to show up. Keep moving the coils until they show up.
If there are multiple things in the circuit just turn them off one by one until it's gone. I know that can take a lot of time.
Another way is a binary search. Depends how often the spikes happen on how practical this method is. Put the coils back on the mains. Turn off HALF the breakers. Is the spikes there or not. If the spike is gone you know it's in the half you turned off. If still it's there the Spiky circuit is in the half you left on. Now flip breakers (if needed) such that only the half with the Spike are On. Now repeat and turn half of those off. Binary search will zero in on the culprit circuit quickly.
Now looking back at your chart, my best guess is your heating system. I see you're in CT under the same Arctic blast I am. If you have Forced Hot Water, I bet those are circulation pumps coming on for different Zones (sometimes more than one on at a time). Or if Forced Hot Air, a Blower, possibly a two speed blower. Older Forced Hot Air tend to have longer cycles than your display shows. Newer Forced Hot Air are Variable Speed. So my Guess is Circulation pumps on forced hot water because those come off and on more often than blowers. Is the Spike frequency increasing as it gets colder, are they absent in summer? I can't think of anything else cycling that often pulling that amount of watts.
If it is long enough to show on the chart it should be easy to see on the real-time display. But the real-time display might not show the same value as the height on the chart because it averages the power used over that much longer period. Sorry if I'm insulting you again and you knew that. Cheaper monitors vs expensive ones might vary in how accurately they report.
