KC868-AI and pulse_counter

[scorx]

I am really new to working with ESP32.
My goal is to use the device to count Pulse from electricity meters.

I understand ESP has a pulse counter sensor 
https://esphome.io/components/sensor/pulse_counter.html

Code:

# Example configuration entry
sensor:
  - platform: pulse_counter
    pin: GPIOXX
    unit_of_measurement: 'kW'
    name: 'Power Meter House'
    filters:
      - multiply: 0.06  # (60s/1000 pulses per kWh)

Also, I read only 8 channels can be used.

On the ESP32, this sensor is even highly accurate because it’s using the hardware pulse counter peripheral on the ESP32. However, due to the use of the pulse counter peripheral, a maximum of 8 channels can be used!

So this limits me a bit in my initial plan, as I try to read out pulse (s0) from 24 different power meters.

Question1: when I try this function block, almost all ports are already "in use" for some other function, or I get the message "WARNING GPIO5 is a strapping PIN and should only be used for I/O with care.". How can I deduct which PINS can actually be used? I assumed all the GPIOs could be used, but I am just starting out so still need to learn some things.

Question2: Considering the maximum number of channels is 8, does KC868-AI has 8 free GPIO available? If not, are there other kincony boards available? I could then use 3 of those to cover all meters.

does this makes sense?

[admin]

KC868-AI not have so much free gpio. if you want many free GPIO, you can chose kincony S3 controller.
https://www.kincony.com/kincony-esp32-s3...board.html
you can chose by this platform: https://mq.kincony.com/qq/product/product-selector this is easy to chose kincony board.

[scorx]

KC868-AI not have so much free gpio. if you want many free GPIO, you can chose kincony S3 controller.
https://www.kincony.com/kincony-esp32-s3...board.html
you can chose by this platform: https://mq.kincony.com/qq/product/product-selector  this is easy to chose kincony board.

Thank you for the feedback, this is what I need!

Code:

# Example configuration entry
sensor:
  - platform: pulse_counter
    pin: GPIOXX
    unit_of_measurement: 'kW'
    name: 'Power Meter House'
    filters:
      - multiply: 0.06  # (60s/1000 pulses per kWh)

    total:
      unit_of_measurement: 'kWh'
      name: 'Energy Meter House'
      filters:
        - multiply: 0.001  # (1/1000 pulses per kWh)

2 more question please: 

1. I see there is also a total variable. How should I interpret this? Is it stored on the device itself or would the variable not survive a reboot
2. Do you have any idea or suggestion how I could sending the live consumption ? For total I could use UDP with a set interval, but for live consumption I need to send all the data, and via UDP this would probably flood the network.