Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about the P1MeterKit.
Installation & Setup
1. What exactly is the P1MeterKit?
The P1MeterKit is a device that reads the P1 port of your smart energy meter, providing real-time insights into your energy consumption and production directly in Home Assistant.
2. How do I install the P1MeterKit?
Installation is simple:
- Connect the RJ12 cable to your smart meter's P1 port
- Connect USB-C power if needed (DSMR v5 often provides power via RJ12)
- Connect to WiFi via the hotspot
- Add to Home Assistant
See the Installation Guide for detailed steps.
3. How do I connect the P1MeterKit to my WiFi network?
Upon starting up, the P1MeterKit creates a WiFi hotspot:
- Network name:
p1meterkit - Password:
p1meterkit
Connect to this hotspot and follow the on-screen instructions to select your home WiFi network.
Captive portal not opening? Navigate to http://192.168.4.1/ manually in your browser.
4. Does the P1MeterKit need external power?
It depends on your smart meter:
| Meter Type | Power via RJ12 | USB-C Required |
|---|---|---|
| DSMR v5.0 | ✅ Usually yes | Only if meter doesn't provide enough |
| DSMR v4.x | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| ESMR 5.0 | ✅ Usually yes | Only if meter doesn't provide enough |
How to tell: If the P1MeterKit LEDs flash rapidly when connected only via RJ12, your meter doesn't provide enough power — connect USB-C.
Energy Monitoring
5. Which energy meters are compatible?
The P1MeterKit supports:
| Standard | Compatible |
|---|---|
| DSMR 4.0 | ✅ |
| DSMR 5.0 | ✅ |
| ESMR 5.0 | ✅ |
This covers most Dutch and Belgian smart meters with a P1 port.
⚠️ Important: Only the P1 port works. Some meters also have an MBus port — this will NOT work with the P1MeterKit.
6. Can I monitor solar panel production?
Yes! The P1MeterKit reads all data from your P1 port, including:
- Energy consumed (tariff 1 & 2)
- Energy produced/returned to grid (tariff 1 & 2)
- Current power consumption
- Current power production
7. Can I monitor gas consumption?
Yes! If your gas meter is connected to your smart meter (most are in the Netherlands), the P1MeterKit will show your gas consumption.
Note: Gas data is typically updated every hour by the smart meter, not in real-time.
8. How often is data updated?
| Data Type | Update Frequency |
|---|---|
| Electricity | Every 1 second (real-time) |
| Gas | Every hour (meter limitation) |
9. Which entity should I use for the Energy Dashboard?
For the Home Assistant Energy Dashboard, use:
- Electricity consumption:
Energy Consumed Tariff 1+Energy Consumed Tariff 2 - Solar production:
Energy Produced Tariff 1+Energy Produced Tariff 2 - Gas:
Gas Consumed
See Usage Guide for detailed setup.
Power & Connectivity
10. Does the P1MeterKit require internet access?
No! The P1MeterKit works 100% locally on your network.
100% Local Operation
All sensor data stays on your local network:
| Data | Where |
|---|---|
| ✅ Energy consumption | Local |
| ✅ Gas consumption | Local |
| ✅ Solar production | Local |
| ✅ Home Assistant communication | Local |
| ✅ Automations | Local |
External Communication
The only external communication is for firmware update checks:
| What | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Version check | ESPHome/GitHub | Check if new firmware is available |
No sensor data is ever sent externally.
Disabling Update Checks
If you want to disable even the version checks:
- Adopt the device in ESPHome Dashboard
- Remove or disable the
updatecomponent in the YAML - Deploy the configuration
11. My P1MeterKit keeps disconnecting from WiFi
Try these solutions:
- Move the device closer to your WiFi router
- Use a WiFi extender if the signal is weak
- Ensure your router uses 2.4 GHz (5 GHz is not supported)
- Check for WiFi interference from other devices
💡 Need a wired connection? Consider the WaterP1MeterKit which supports Ethernet/PoE.
Home Assistant Integration
12. How do I add the P1MeterKit to Home Assistant?
Once connected to your WiFi, Home Assistant automatically discovers the P1MeterKit under Settings → Devices & Services.
If not discovered automatically:
- Go to Settings → Devices & Services
- Click Add Integration → ESPHome
- Enter the device's IP address (find it in your router's DHCP list)
13. Can I customize the P1MeterKit firmware?
Yes! The firmware is open source ESPHome. You can:
- Adopt the device in the ESPHome addon
- Customize the YAML configuration
- Add your own sensors or automations
See Usage Guide — ESPHome Configuration for details.
LED Indicators
14. What do the LED lights mean?
| LED | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| LED 1 | White | Powered via USB-C |
| LED 2 | Red (flashing) | Not connected to WiFi/Home Assistant |
| LED 3 | Yellow | Powered via RJ12 (from smart meter) |
15. LEDs are flashing rapidly — what's wrong?
If the LEDs flash rapidly when powered only via RJ12, your smart meter doesn't provide enough power. Connect a USB-C power adapter.
Comparison with Other Products
16. What's the difference between P1MeterKit and WaterP1MeterKit?
| Feature | P1MeterKit | WaterP1MeterKit |
|---|---|---|
| P1 energy meter | ✅ | ✅ |
| Gas monitoring | ✅ | ✅ |
| Water monitoring | ❌ | ✅ |
| WiFi | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ethernet/PoE | ❌ | ✅ (V2+) |
| Water leak sensor | ❌ | ✅ (V3) |
| Temperature sensor | ❌ | ✅ |
👉 Need water monitoring or wired connectivity? Get the WaterP1MeterKit!
Firmware & Updates
17. How do I update the firmware?
Updates can be done via:
- Home Assistant: Check for updates in the ESPHome integration
- USB-C: Flash via web flasher (see Firmware)
18. Is the firmware open source?
Yes! The complete ESPHome configuration is available on GitHub.
Gas Not Showing
19. My gas consumption is not showing. What should I do?
The gas meter communicates via MBus protocol. By default, MBus ID is set to 1. If your gas meter doesn't show data:
- Check physical connection — Is your gas meter actually connected to your smart meter?
- Wait at least an hour — Gas data updates hourly
- Try different MBus ID — Change to
2,3, or4in ESPHome configuration
See Usage Guide — Gas MBus Configuration for step-by-step instructions.
Warranty & Support
20. What is the warranty period?
The P1MeterKit comes with a one-year warranty from the date of purchase. See Warranty and Support for details.