🌡️ Case Study: Smart Geyser Control with Victron + Node-RED

Why is this a Case Study, not just a Showcase?
This setup goes beyond simply monitoring or scheduling a geyser. It showcases how Node-RED running on Victron GX can fully replicate — and improve upon — the smart features of Geyserwise TUYA, while keeping all logic local, reliable, and deeply integrated with your Victron system.

The Challenge: Cloud Reliance in a Loadshedding Environment

The Geyserwise TUYA controller offers app-based smart scheduling and control. However, all timers and logic are cloud-hosted — and during loadshedding or internet dropouts, scheduled heating simply doesn’t happen.

While you can press the red override button manually, imagine the frustration: you’re heading out, need a hot shower, and discover the geyser never heated. Your options? Go to work cold, or go to work dirty.

The Solution: Full Geyser Automation via Node-RED

Using Node-RED on a Victron Cerbo GX, we rebuilt the TUYA logic locally — and then extended it. No internet needed. The system now provides:

• Local timers with full flexibility
• Force Heat button accessible via dashboard or VRM
• Adjustable temperature targets
• Mode switching: Off / Heat / Auto
• A Minimum Temperature safeguard — ensuring warm water always, even if it means using a bit of grid energy

This ensures day-to-day comfort without compromising system logic or solar strategy. As the client put it:
"I'd rather pay for a little power than take a cold shower."

Bonus: Smart Solar Dumping (Coming in V3)

In the next iteration, we’ll enable smart thermal storage:

• Once the battery is full and excess PV is available, Node-RED will raise the geyser’s target temperature — soaking up surplus solar and reducing waste.

Full Integration with Victron + VRM

The system is tightly integrated into the Victron stack:

• View geyser temperature directly in the VRM portal
• Toggle Force Heat remotely via phone or PC
• See energy usage and system status live across all platforms

All logic lives on the GX, so everything continues working even during extended internet loss.

Hardware Used in This Project

Victron Energy System:

• Inverter: Victron MultiPlus II 5kVA
• Battery: 2× Hubble AM5 lithium batteries
• Solar: 3kWp array with 1× 150/35 SmartSolar MPPT
• Controller: Cerbo GX with Touch 50 display

Home Automation Layer:

• Geyser Control: Geyserwise TSE retrofitted with an ESPHome chip for MQTT
• Optional Monitoring: Smart Switch with Tasmota firmware to display real-time geyser power draw

This setup gives the client full control, full visibility, and full peace of mind — no matter what Eskom or the cloud service is doing.

👉 Contact us if you want your geyser to think for itself — and still obey your rules.