Yes, with a condition. The PZEM Monitor project page describes installing the app from the Orbit OS Store in a browser, with no SSH session, no Docker, and no file transfer. That step only starts once Orbit OS is already running on the Raspberry Pi and the device is linked to an account. Getting the operating system onto the board, and onto your network, is a separate job that the project page does not walk through.
Hardware the project documents
The project page lists the following parts:
- Host: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, running Orbit OS version 26.20260710.1118.
- Meter: one or more PZEM-004T v3.0 energy meters. Each meter gets its own wiring run.
- Serial link: a USB-to-UART adapter. The project page does not name a specific adapter model, so any adapter you buy has to be checked against the wiring described below.
- Parts: jumper or wiring cables and a power supply.
The project page says the finished build provides a live dashboard, local history, and Home Assistant integration. Those features are the project’s own claims; they have not been independently tested here.
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Preparing the Raspberry Pi
The project page does not explain how to flash Orbit OS, configure its network, or enable remote access. Those steps come before the Store install and are not covered by the project. Raspberry Pi’s official getting-started documentation covers preparing boot media and configuring networking and remote access for headless Raspberry Pi OS. Read it as background on the general Raspberry Pi setup process. It does not describe Orbit OS, so follow the Orbit OS setup instructions for the operating system itself.
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The PZEM-004T communicates over a four-pin TTL serial interface. The project wires it to the USB-to-UART adapter as follows:
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- 7 inches, 800x480 pixels, IPS type, wide viewing angle, capacitive touchscreen, enjoy smooth touch response and excellent clarity for all your Raspberry Pi projects.
- Specially designed, simply connect to your raspberry pi's MIPI DSI interface. (No additional connections required.)
- Fully Compatible with Raspberry Pi 5/ 4B / 3B+ / 3B / 3A+ / 2B. (No HDMI port, not compatible with any other device.)
- Supports for Raspbian OS 2 points to zoom the page(old version), for Ubuntu/Kali/Win10 IoT (single-touch only). Support backlight brightness adjustment.
- Easy to use, no configuration required, plug and play (for new and configuration unchanged raspberry pi systems). Instructions was provided.
- Meter TX to adapter RX
- Meter RX to adapter TX
- GND to GND
- 5V to 5V
Transmit and receive lines must cross. If TX connects to TX, the meter will not respond, and the fault looks the same as a dead meter.
The adapter plugs into the Pi over USB. The project’s setup wizard then sees a serial port. If the wizard does not list one, recheck the crossed TX/RX pair and the adapter connection before going further.
A separate Raspberry Pi wiring and code guide describes a second route: direct connection to the Pi’s UART pins, or a USB-to-TTL adapter. Its example uses Modbus-RTU with pyserial. The two routes compare as follows:
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- GREAT PICTURE QUALITY:This 8” touchscreen monitor has a beautiful HD screen of 1280X800 resolution,the picture quality is clear and crisp,advanced IPS glossy screen support 178° full viewing angle,brings a impressive visual experience
- FIVE-POINT TOUCH:Responds quickly in two seconds without the need for additional keyboard and mouse controls,and there's no lag whether you're swiping/scrolling/selecting/zooming in/zooming out or moving the cursor(Note: you need to connect to the USB port to use the touch screen function)
- DETACHABLE BACKBOARD&HOLES FOR WALL MOUNTS:The portable touchscreen monitor backboard is designed with a detachable stand and offers multi-angle support in both horizontal and vertical orientations.The detachable back cover provides sufficient protection for the touch screen display,and the back cover can be flexibly removed which compatible with standard 100/75/50 wall mounts.This ensures maximum versatility and compatibility with various mounting options available in the market
- PLUG-N-PLAY&FAST INSTALLATION:Simply connect the screen to device via HDMI interface and power the USB port to achieve function and no need to install any driver. The Switch button can turn on/off the monitor at any time, making it convenient for you to save power and reduce losses. It is a very energy-saving portable HDMI monitor
- WIDELY COMPATIBLE WITH VARIOUS DEVICE AND IOS:Designed for Raspberry Pi enthusiasts,our 8 inch monitor suits all Raspberry Pi versions,including Raspberry Pi(PI5/PI4/PI3B+/PI3/PI2/ZERO).Compatible with Octo Pi,BB Black,Banana Pi,Retro Pi,game consoles (XBOX/PS4/PS5),computers,TV boxes,and more.While this small monitor works seamlessly with Windows,Raspbian,Noobs,Kali-linux,Debian,Ubuntu,and Kodi,please note that touch functionality is disabled on IOS systems
| Route | Where it is documented | Hardware | Documented for this app? |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-to-UART adapter into a Pi USB port | PZEM Monitor project page | USB-to-UART adapter (model not named) | Yes. This is the route the project describes for its setup wizard. |
| Direct Raspberry Pi UART wiring | Separate Raspberry Pi wiring and code guide (Modbus-RTU with pyserial) | Pi UART pins, or a USB-to-TTL adapter | Not stated. The project page does not document this route for the app. |
Before connecting the meter straight to the Pi’s GPIO UART, confirm the meter’s logic level in its documentation. Raspberry Pi GPIO signals are 3.3 V logic, and a level mismatch can damage the board. The project’s documented route avoids that question by using an adapter.
Installing the app without SSH or Docker
The project’s installation steps are:
- Confirm the Pi is running Orbit OS 26.20260710.1118, the version the project specifies, and that the device is linked to your Orbit OS account.
- Sign in to the Orbit OS Store from a browser.
- Select PZEM Monitor.
- Choose the install target for your Pi.
- Confirm the remote delivery of the app.
Nothing in these steps requires a terminal session, a Docker command, or copying files to the device. The project’s author calls this one-click remote installation. It covers the app only. Operating system setup, network configuration, and device linking happen before it.
What the meter measures
The PZEM-004T v3.0 manual lists the resolution of each measurement register:
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- 【Dual Built-in Speakers & All-in-One Protective Case】 Rich, clear audio from dual built-in 1W×2 speakers — this monitor with speaker needs no external audio. Unlike bare touchscreen display boards, ROADOM integrates the LCD panel, circuit board, and protective casing into one seamless unit. No exposed PCBs, fragile ribbon cables, or DIY headaches. This touchscreen with case and monitor with dual speakers is ready right out of the box. The spacious 10.1-inch screen gives you extra real estate for portable gaming, video streaming, and diy touchscreen projects — more room to create than cramped 7-inch displays
- 【3 Display Modes, Versatile Stand & What You Get】 This portable touchscreen supports three display modes: Duplicate, Extend, and Second Screen Only. With a generous 10.1-inch screen, it excels as a laptop second screen for coding, a desktop second monitor for multitasking, a cctv monitor for security, or a 3d printer monitor for your workshop. The adjustable stand customizes height and tilt angle. Package includes: 10.1" monitor, HDMI & Micro-HDMI cables, USB-A to Type-C & Type-C to USB-A cables, GPIO power cable, 5V 3A power adapter, Pi mounting kit, and user manual — a complete portable hdmi monitor package
| Quantity | Register resolution (PZEM-004T v3.0 manual) |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 0.1 V |
| Current | 0.001 A |
| Power | 0.1 W |
| Energy | 1 Wh |
| Frequency | 0.1 Hz |
| Power factor | 0.01 |
| Alarm status | Represented in a register; resolution not stated |
These figures describe how finely the meter reports each value. They are not accuracy specifications. The manual does not establish how closely the readings match a reference instrument, and the project page does not publish accuracy testing.
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What the project says the app does
The project page describes these features:
- A live dashboard
- Local history of readings
- Home Assistant integration. An MQTT broker and Home Assistant are listed as optional components for this integration.
The project’s author, Ivan K., describes the build on the project details page, dated 2026-09-17, as “a guided-setup, Home Assistant-ready energy monitor for PZEM-004T meters — running on real embedded hardware with no Dockerfile, no SSH, no Docker, and one-click remote installation.” That is the author’s own description of the project, not an independent review.
What is and is not established
Established by the project page and the meter manual:
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- 3.5 inch, 320×480 resolution, TFT LCD resistive touch screen, clear display effect and using easily with a touch pen.
- No external power supply required.Just plug it into the Raspberry Pi board correctly and install the driver to use it. (Driver installation tutorial is provided)
- This 3.5 inch touch screen is specially designed for Raspberry Pi, perfectly suitable for Pi5, Pi4B, Pi3B+, Pi3B, Pi2B, Pi1B (directly-pluggable).
- Compatible with a variety of systems, such as for Raspbian system, ubuntu system, kali Linux system and so on.
- You can get one 3.5 inch raspberry pi touch screen and one touch pen, what the important things is that the project introduction, code and tutorial is provided.We provide technical support, If you encounter any difficulties during use, please contact us first to help you solve it.
- The documented host is a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B on Orbit OS 26.20260710.1118, with PZEM-004T v3.0 meters.
- The documented meter connection is a USB-to-UART adapter with the TX/RX crossing described above.
- The Store installation steps and the claim that they need no SSH or Docker.
- The register resolutions in the PZEM-004T v3.0 manual.
Not established by the available sources:
- Compatibility with any Raspberry Pi model other than the 4 Model B, or with any PZEM version other than v3.0.
- Installation reliability, security posture, or the behaviour of the dashboard and history features in use.
- The accuracy of the readings in a real installation.
- Whether the direct Raspberry Pi UART route works with this app.
- Any comparison of adapters, connection routes, price, or performance.
The sources also do not supply a full energy-consumption or market statistic for this project, so this article does not add one.
The Bottom Line
The one-click part is the simplest step in this build. The meter wiring and the initial Orbit OS setup are where most of the work sits, and the wiring needs the TX/RX crossing and a check of logic levels before you power anything on.
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