PwrTool 500: Home Power Monitor – Crowd Supply Deal

Power too the People: Voidbox Industries Launches Open-Source Power Monitor for Home automation

For Immediate Release

[City, State] – In a move that empowers homeowners and DIY enthusiasts alike, Voidbox Industries, led by the innovative chloe Madison, has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the PwrTool 500, a groundbreaking open-source power and battery monitor designed for seamless integration with Home Assistant. This device promises to revolutionize how individuals understand and manage their energy consumption, offering unprecedented control and clarity.

“Conventional ‘smart shunts’ lock your data into proprietary apps and ecosystems,” explains Madison. “Even when modified, they typically require decoding undocumented protocols.PwrTool 500 is different thanks to its fully open hardware and software. With direct access to the sensors, firmware, and GPIO [General-Purpose Input/Output] you can configure PwrTool 500 to meet your system’s exact requirements with no vendor lock-in.”

The PwrTool 500 is not just another gadget; it’s a powerful tool for understanding your home’s energy ecosystem. Designed for off-grid energy systems and compatible with most 12-48 VDC setups, it can handle up to 500A peak current across 6-60 VDC. This robust device provides detailed insights into energy flow, generation, storage, and usage, enabling users to monitor and automate data-informed actions. Imagine optimizing your solar panel usage, identifying energy-hogging appliances, or automating battery backups – all with a single, user-kind device.

Madison first unveiled the PwrTool 500 design a year ago, showcasing a sophisticated build centered around the Texas Instruments INA238 16-bit power monitor chip and the Voidbox FLIPC3 Espressif ESP32-C3 microcontroller board. Beyond power monitoring, the device also tracks ambient temperature and humidity. It features a 45W N-channel MOSFET for lighting or load control and Qwiic/STEMMA QT compatible expansion for external sensors or daisy-chaining multiple pwrtool 500s.

What truly sets the PwrTool 500 apart is its commitment to open-source principles. The device connects to Wi-Fi and automatically registers itself in Home Assistant via pre-flashed ESPHome firmware. A header allows for easy switching between hot- and cold-side installation. The entire project, including schematic, board layout, and bill of materials, is available under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 license on the project wiki. A separate project file is also available for the FLIPC3 microcontroller board.

For those who prefer a ready-to-use solution, the PwrTool 500 is available for crowdfunding on Crowd Supply. This offers a convenient way to support the project and receive a fully assembled and tested unit.

The PwrTool 500 represents a critically important step towards democratizing access to energy monitoring and control. By embracing open-source principles and prioritizing user empowerment, Voidbox Industries is paving the way for a more enduring and informed future.

About Voidbox Industries:

Voidbox Industries is a company dedicated to creating innovative, open-source hardware and software solutions for a more connected and sustainable world. Led by Chloe Madison, the company is committed to empowering individuals with the tools they need to understand and control their environment.

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