Sense has introduced a new method of device detection that helps your Sense Energy Monitor identify more types of energy patterns in your home. This firmware update rolls out to homes through early November.
The new method runs alongside our existing detection models and is currently available for Sense Home Energy Monitors (it will come to smart meters in a future firmware update).
At launch, Sense can now detect:
- Solar generation
- Variable speed heat pumps
- Electric vehicles (Levels 1 and 2)
How It Works
The updated method uses data-driven models to find energy patterns unique to certain devices. It needs about 24 hours of data to start identifying new device types.
Once detection begins, these devices appear in your Sense app just like any other real-time device—with bubbles, on/off events, and detailed usage data.
Device Detection By Type - EVs and Heat Pumps
In addition to solar, this update improves Sense’s detection of some types of devices. For example:
- Variable speed heat pumps
- Electric vehicles
If you have more than one of these devices, they’ll appear as a single device in your Sense app.
What you’ll notice:
- At the Now screen: One device bubble that grows or shrinks as device(s) of that type turn on or off
- A single device entry on your Devices list and in Detailed Usage
- A combined view of total energy used by all devices of that type
✅ Note: For homes with both variable-speed and single-speed heat pumps, you’ll see one device for any variable-speed unit(s) and an additional device for any single-speed system(s) detected. You may want to rename to differentiate.
Settings and Management
Currently no settings options are available for devices detected via this method. If detection is incorrect and you need to remove a device, contact Sense Support. In a future app update, settings options will be added to allow users to manage these devices in the app.
If Detection Is Incorrect
If this new method identifies a device that isn’t actually in your home, contact Sense Support and we can disable that detection for you. In the future, you’ll be able to manage this directly within the app.
Solar Detection
Previously, solar detection required a Solar add-on. With this update, Sense can now identify solar automatically—even without additional hardware.
When solar is detected, Sense separates solar production from energy usage, helping your real-time watt readings stay accurate. This allows device detection to work reliably, even in homes with solar.
Here’s what you’ll see once solar is detected:
- A Solar bubble and adjusted watt reporting on the Now screen
- A Solar card on your Dashboard showing historical production and usage
- Both production and usage displayed together in the Power Meter
⚡ Note: It can take up to 24 hours for solar detection to start. During that time, data may appear off or even show negative wattage. Once detection completes, Sense will report accurate usage.
Historical data from before solar detection will not be changed.
If your home does not have solar and Sense mistakenly identifies it, contact Sense Support and we’ll disable solar detection for you. If you install solar later, just reach out again to have it re-enabled.
In Short
This firmware update offers the next step in making Sense smarter and more adaptable—helping you see solar, EVs, and heat pumps more accurately than ever before. We’ll be continuing to improve detection and add more device types over time.