In this article, you're going to learn how to configure Categories in your locations: how to set the Total, assign Partial devices and choose the calculation method.
Contents of this article:
- Introduction
- Requirements
- How does it work?
- Calculation methods
- How Auto mode chooses the method
- Energy balance (Electricity Consumption)
- Bulk configuration
- Common problems
Introduction
For each Category or Subcategory of a location you configure two independent things:
- The Total: where the Total reading comes from.
- The Partial device(s): the devices that measure parts of that Category.
If you are new to Categories, read first Categories - What are Categories?
Requirements
In order to configure Categories you will need first:
- To send data to the platform.
- To accept the devices and datapoints generated when the data gets into the platform.
- To assign those devices to their corresponding location.
- To have Categories enabled in your account. [VERIFY: whether Categories are enabled for all accounts or must be requested to Support / your Customer Success Engineer]
How does it work?
Open the Categories configuration
Go to the configuration of the location or sublocation and open Categories. [VERIFY: exact menu path, e.g. Settings > Locations > [location] > Categories]
Configure a Category
- Find the Source, Category or Subcategory that you want to configure.
- Configure the Total:
- Leave it in Auto so that the platform calculates it automatically (see below), or
- Click Switch to Manual to choose the calculation method. If you choose From a device, select the device that measures the Total.
- In Partial device(s), assign the devices that measure parts of this Category or Subcategory. You can assign several devices.
Tip: devices that are suitable for the selected Source appear first under Suggested devices. You can still select any other device, but make sure that it provides the parameter that you want to analyse.
User guide
Click User guide inside the configuration to see an explanation of the model and an illustrated seven-step example installation. In the illustration, M marks readings that come from a device and ƒ marks calculated readings.
Calculation methods
The calculation method defines where the Total comes from:
| Method | What it does |
|---|---|
| Auto | The platform chooses the method automatically (see the order below). |
| From a device | Takes the Total from one device. |
| From child locations | Adds up the same Category from the child locations. |
| From energy balance | Calculates Electricity Consumption from the other electricity flows (see below). |
| From subcategories | Adds up the Totals of its Subcategories. Only available in Manual mode. |
| From partial devices | Adds up its Partials. |
| Ignore | The Total is not calculated. |
Important: if you choose a method in Manual mode and it can't return data, the platform does not try another method.
Note: when a Total is calculated from child locations or from Subcategories, the platform adds up the ones that have data. For example, if only 2 of your 3 child locations have data, the Total will only include those 2.
How Auto mode chooses the method
In Auto, the platform uses the first option that applies:
- From energy balance: only for Electricity > Consumption, and only if the necessary electricity flows are configured.
- From partial devices: if the Category or Subcategory has Partials.
- From child locations: if the location has child locations.
- If none of these applies, no Total is calculated and the configuration shows Switch to Manual to configure.
Note: Auto mode never uses From subcategories and never assigns a Total device by itself. For these options, switch to Manual.
Example: HVAC is in Auto mode and has several Partial devices. Energy balance only applies to Consumption, so HVAC is calculated From partial devices.
Energy balance (Electricity Consumption)
Energy balance is useful when you don't measure Consumption directly, but you do measure the other electricity flows, for example in a site with solar panels or batteries:
Consumption = Generation + Battery discharge + Import − Export − Battery charge
- It is only available for Electricity > Consumption.
- It works with Active Energy and Active Power.
- Export can only be used when Generation is configured.
- Battery charge and Battery discharge are always used together.
The platform uses the most complete supported formula among the flows that you have configured. For example, if you only have Import, Consumption = Import.
| Flow | Active Energy | Active Power |
|---|---|---|
| Consumption, Import, Battery charge | Active Energy (402) | Active Power (401) |
| Generation, Export, Battery discharge | Produced active energy (452) | Produced active power (451) |
Bulk configuration
You can also configure Categories for many locations at once with the in-bulk configuration Excel file:
- The Categories tab replaces the old Ref. devices tab.
- The Designations tab lists the available Categories, Subcategories and calculation methods.
- A Category or Subcategory without a Total configuration stays in Auto.
Common problems
The Total doesn't appear (Auto mode)
None of the automatic methods applies. Configure Partials, check the child locations or click Switch to Manual and choose a method.
The Total doesn't appear (Manual mode)
The selected method can't return data, and the platform doesn't try another one. Check that the device has data for the selected parameter, or choose another method.
Energy balance doesn't calculate Consumption
Check that you are requesting Active Energy or Active Power, and that Import and/or Generation are configured in the location.
Related articles
- Categories - What are Categories?
- Categories - Analyse your data with Categories
- In-bulk account setup