Sort of. Inductive loads tend to have a much more distinct "signature" in terms of how they draw current— both the obvious business of causing idealized current lag [1] but also the choppiness of how the magnets energize and de-energize as it spins.
My understanding of Sense is that it measures the top-level current consumption somewhat blindly and then uses the inductive monitoring and other inference to attribute that consumption to different known devices— like oh here's 4kW of resistive heating going on, I can tell whether that's your dryer or your hot tub based on whether I see the drum or circulation pump running. Whereas if it can't find an inductor then it will basically just assume it's your kettle, toaster, or a fanless space heater, with more emphasis on the device doing unique things as it starts up, see [2].
Thanks. I did read through your provided links, and I don't disagree with them.
The current transformers used by Sense are inductive by their very nature, but that property does not suggest preferential detection of specifically inductive loads.
It can detect inductive loads as being unique, but it can also detect largely-resistive loads as being unique -- as well as many other things that present a particular signature.
The toaster presented in the blog is an excellent example of a largely-resistive thing that still behaves in unique ways.
My understanding of Sense is that it measures the top-level current consumption somewhat blindly and then uses the inductive monitoring and other inference to attribute that consumption to different known devices— like oh here's 4kW of resistive heating going on, I can tell whether that's your dryer or your hot tub based on whether I see the drum or circulation pump running. Whereas if it can't find an inductor then it will basically just assume it's your kettle, toaster, or a fanless space heater, with more emphasis on the device doing unique things as it starts up, see [2].
[1]: https://eng.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Electrical_Engineerin...
[2]: https://blog.sense.com/articles/how-does-sense-detect-my-dev...