MGM plugin for PellMon

[motoz]

Thanks to user Woot here we now have more or less a fully working PellMon plugin for MGM (TCNET II). I don't know much about these so I can't say how compatible it is with the whole range of MGM burners (tested with MGM Junior). This plugin is made by looking at the javascript code in the build in web interface, so the 'interface' can presumably change between versions. To make that somewhat less of a problem we have made as much as possible configurable in the configuration file, so if there are differences between versions it might be possible to handle them simply by changing the configuration file.

The MGM plugin is not released yet, and stuff will probably still change, but since PellMon is fully free and open source anyone interested can of course have a look and try it out.


The source code can be found in this branch. There is no release package yet, but it can be manually installed by following the readme.
https://github.com/motoz/PellMon/tree/f ... mgm_plugin

Yes, and what does this do then... PellMon is free software for monitoring and controlling pellet burners. You get logging with graphs, email notifications, custom alarms, automation with custom scripts and remote burner on/off plus a lot more. There is no 'cloud' connection, you run it on your own server. Preferably on something dirt cheap like a raspberry pi. But then you can arrange an internet connection with port forwarding and a dynamic dns provider and then you have a safe internet connection to your burner. And the web interface works great on a mobile screen too.

Let me know if anyone is interesting in trying it out, or even helping out with testing. I might also add that I'm doing this only for fun (and since Woot asked very nicely...). And MGM looks like a great burner, it just needs a better internet connection...

[motoz]

Since there is no interest in this development has stopped completely. I'm not deleting the mgm branch just yet though in case someone like to pick it up. It seemed to work well enough but I obviously won't release a pellmon version with mgm support it if no mgm owner need it.

[Bagger]

Well... I would like to give it a try. Just need to do some research and testing. Please don't delete it.

[motoz]

Great!

Do you have any previous experience with raspberry pi or linux in general? Installing Pellmon is not that hard: https://github.com/motoz/PellMon/wiki/H ... %20PellMon
, but since this code is not packaged as a release yet that method can't be used. Instead you need to follow this significantly harder guide: https://github.com/motoz/PellMon/wiki/C ... to-PellMon (which I don't really recommend if you don't have both linux and programming experience).

But I can try to find some time to package it up as a pre-release, then it would be much easier to get started.

User Woop that got this started suddenly disappeared from the forum, hope he is okay...

[Bagger]

I have some experience with Raspberry Pi...

I will try the hard way, but if you find the time to package it up, that would be appreciated.

I don't know what happened to Woop, but some times users get banned from the site, due to violation of the rules?

[jimler75]

@motoz - please try and get the time to make it "usable" (as a pre-release) I have a Pi zero ... and would LOVE to try it on that board! I got an MGM-Comfort Lux ... with TCNET II control. Just got the boiler ... so know NOTHING - like zero on the boiler! I do have some linux knowledge

[motoz]

Ok, here it is: https://github.com/motoz/PellMon/releas ... 7.1-alpha3

Install per https://github.com/motoz/PellMon/wiki/H ... ll-PellMon

use:

Kode: Vælg alt

wget https://github.com/motoz/PellMon/releases/download/v0.7.1-alpha3/pellmon_0.7.1.alpha3-1_all.deb

to get the file.

Then edit the file /etc/pellmon/conf.d/enabled_plugins.conf do disable the ScotteCOM plugin (add an '#')

Kode: Vælg alt

# Enable the ScotteCom plugin to communicate with a NBE V4/V5/V6 scotty/woody/biocomfort pellet burner
#p01 = ScotteCom

, and enable the MGM plugin (remove the '#'):

Kode: Vælg alt

# The MGM plugin contains integration code for an MGM pellet burner
p15 = MGM

The MGM plugin configuration is /etc/pellmon/conf.d/plugins/MGM.conf , but it should not need any changes. I tried to build the config file format such that if there are differences between controllers they can be handled by editing the configuration file. No idea if that succeeded or not...

The default username and password is found in /etc/pellmon/conf.d/webinterface.conf , you should change that.

Restart pellmonsrv.service (or reboot the computer) to take the changes in use.

The IP address of the controller is set using the webinterface:


Hopefully you can get something to work...

[jimler75]

Ok, here it is: https://github.com/motoz/PellMon/releas ... 7.1-alpha3

Install per https://github.com/motoz/PellMon/wiki/H ... ll-PellMon

use:

Kode: Vælg alt

wget https://github.com/motoz/PellMon/releases/download/v0.7.1-alpha3/pellmon_0.7.1.alpha3-1_all.deb

to get the file.

Then edit the file /etc/pellmon/conf.d/enabled_plugins.conf do disable the ScotteCOM plugin (add an '#')

Kode: Vælg alt

# Enable the ScotteCom plugin to communicate with a NBE V4/V5/V6 scotty/woody/biocomfort pellet burner
#p01 = ScotteCom

, and enable the MGM plugin (remove the '#'):

Kode: Vælg alt

# The MGM plugin contains integration code for an MGM pellet burner
p15 = MGM

The MGM plugin configuration is /etc/pellmon/conf.d/plugins/MGM.conf , but it should not need any changes. I tried to build the config file format such that if there are differences between controllers they can be handled by editing the configuration file. No idea if that succeeded or not...

The default username and password is found in /etc/pellmon/conf.d/webinterface.conf , you should change that.

Restart pellmonsrv.service (or reboot the computer) to take the changes in use.

The IP address of the controller is set using the webinterface:


Hopefully you can get something to work...

GREAT ... will give it a try this weekend! Will go "live" next week ... (need to get my boiler online first) THANKS!

[jimler75]

@motoz - it’s up and Running on my Pi zero W now ... no problems what so ever :-) Just need my burner online now ... Have to make a bridge with WiFi Out to my boiler and connect the RJ45

Installed like 123 ...

[motoz]

Nice!

Then you need to adjust the file /etc/pellmon/database.conf to choose what to log into the rrd database and show on the graph view. The default makes sense when using the scotte plugin.

This is what I had when I was testing the MGM plugin:

d01 = power_kW
d02 = boiler_temp
d03 = fan_rpm
d04 = vvb_temp
d05 = oxygen
d06 = smoke_temp
d07 = outside_temp

The item ID to enter here can be found from the web interface parameters view, when clicking on an item it expands and shows the ID. Anything that has an id can be graphed here (for instance you can expand what you measure with the onewire plugin and the openweathermap plugin)

An easy way to edit the config files is to use the build in 'pellmonconf' browser based editor. Start it with:

Kode: Vælg alt

sudo pellmonconf

And go to http://<IP>:8083

, or just use any editor. For instance nano, vi...