Shelly Wifi smart home devices now with AU/NZ Certification

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Shelly Wifi smart home devices now with AU/NZ Certification

1 | ... | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27

28204 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2890672 23-Mar-2022 13:42

mattenz:

Is there any precedent for devices with LAN cables going into a distribution board? They look great, I just wonder if Shelly is really familiar with the AU/NZ regulatory environment?

Clipsal CBUS uses cat5 into enclosures and has a specific pink cable made for it that has rated insulation for the purpose. I would use that for it since its an established product used for that.

Richard rich.ms

catdog

107 posts

Master Geek

#2892109 25-Mar-2022 14:00

mattenz:

Is there any precedent for devices with LAN cables going into a distribution board? They look great, I just wonder if Shelly is really familiar with the AU/NZ regulatory environment?

I have a Fronius smart meter in the distribution box which is connected back to the solar inverter with cat-6 cable.

CB_24

366 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2893160 28-Mar-2022 14:14

Finally got Shelly module installed, had a sparkie over for something else so got him to do it at the same time, he wasn't too sure how they worked and initially wired it so the light switch was turning the module on and off, but explained I want them both working. Anyway, all done.

Super easy to configure and also to bring into HA.

Time to play some more and then look at getting more for around the house.

cods4

45 posts

Geek

Trusted

#2893169 28-Mar-2022 14:27

catdog:

mattenz:

Is there any precedent for devices with LAN cables going into a distribution board? They look great, I just wonder if Shelly is really familiar with the AU/NZ regulatory environment?

I have a Fronius smart meter in the distribution box which is connected back to the solar inverter with cat-6 cable.

I could be wrong, but that is likely to be an RS485, or some other special communications protocol. I think it's a different story if it was a normal ethernet connection back to your router.

catdog

107 posts

Master Geek

#2893173 28-Mar-2022 15:02

cods4:

I could be wrong, but that is likely to be an RS485, or some other special communications protocol. I think it's a different story if it was a normal ethernet connection back to your router.

Yes, it is using RS485 between the two devices (smart meter and inverter). My comment was more directed towards the physical use of cat-6 cable within the distribution box.

Out of interest, I just looked at the smart meter installation guide which does mention this:

/ Wiring between Fronius Smart meter and inverter should use a CAT5 or CAT6 cable.

Important: To be compliant with the AS3000 standards, it is recommended to have the CAT5/CAT6 cable
in a heat shrink tubing (probably 10mm) when it enters the switchboard part or alternatively use a 240V
rated CAT5/CAT6 cable (e.g. Clipsal CBUS cable)

This aligns with richms comment above.

cods4

45 posts

Geek

Trusted

#2893175 28-Mar-2022 15:14

Agreed, however I understand that the Shelly 4PM has a lan port which is obviously designed to be connected to your home network.

What I'm saying is that I think there are different rules around having a network cable entering your switchboard, vs having an RS485 connection in your switchboard, even though they use the same type of cable.

One is connecting directly to an inverter which is well earthed, and designed for it. Whereas the other is connecting to a home wide network, that could have no earthing at all, and potentially is connected to the wider chorus telephone network.

I remember seeing some discussion on a solar forum about a standard which prohibits any telecommunications connection from entering a switchboard or being close to 230/400V

eonsim

398 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#2893219 28-Mar-2022 18:36

With regards to Shelly Pros using ethernet in the switchboard, surely the idea would be to connect them up to a decent earthed switch inside the switchboard and then put a Ethernet surge protector between the switch and the main house network? That would take care of most things wouldn't it?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Ge0rge

2057 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2893221 28-Mar-2022 18:47

eonsim:
With regards to Shelly Pros using ethernet in the switchboard, surely the idea would be to connect them up to a decent earthed switch inside the switchboard and then put a Ethernet surge protector between the switch and the main house network? That would take care of most things wouldn't it?

Would all depend on what the regs say - @gregmcc might be willing to comment perhaps?

evilengineer

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2893350 29-Mar-2022 08:31

It does have wi-fi if you won't/can't put an ethernet cable in your switchboard enclosure.

Out of interest, how many power sockets can you run/monitor from each 16A channel?

Seems quite low.

mjb

996 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#2893383 29-Mar-2022 10:13

evilengineer:

It does have wi-fi if you won't/can't put an ethernet cable in your switchboard enclosure.

Out of interest, how many power sockets can you run/monitor from each 16A channel?

Seems quite low.

As many as you like, up to 16A of draw... 😉 Most switchboards would have more than one socket outlet on a given circuit - I'd hazard to say you could put a circuit on each output of the relay. It has overcurrent detection/protection, so I expect it would cut supply if it's being overloaded.

contentsofsignaturemaysettleduringshipping

evilengineer

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2894105 30-Mar-2022 10:03

I'm more familiar with how things work in the UK where all the power sockets would normally be wired up in a ring main configuration.

Typically with all the ground floor sockets on one ring and the first floor sockets on another ring for a standard two storey house.

You end up with much larger breakers (30A ?) on each ring than the 16A rating of each channel on the Shelly, hence the question.

Are ring mains not a thing in New Zealand?

I can see the advantage for more granular power monitoring of having individual rooms/areas on a separate circuit but potentially seems like a lot more wiring.

mjb

996 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#2894124 30-Mar-2022 10:56

evilengineer:

I'm more familiar with how things work in the UK where all the power sockets would normally be wired up in a ring main configuration.

Typically with all the ground floor sockets on one ring and the first floor sockets on another ring for a standard two storey house.

You end up with much larger breakers (30A ?) on each ring than the 16A rating of each channel on the Shelly, hence the question.

Are ring mains not a thing in New Zealand?

I can see the advantage for more granular power monitoring of having individual rooms/areas on a separate circuit but potentially seems like a lot more wiring.

No, they're not a thing here. I believe the reason they still exist in the UK is because individual plugs have internal fuses to protect the appliance lead. the larger 30A fuse on the ring main is only to protect the wiring to the outlets. Without fuses in the appliance plug, the appliance lead would significantly overheat in a fault condition.

(anyone should feel free to correct me on any of the above, that's just my understanding)

contentsofsignaturemaysettleduringshipping