Share your automations

Hmm looking at access point, ubiquity stuff is way out of budget.Tplink has cheap ones for around 2.5k but only 300mbps?
I'd rather buy another dual band router in same price range. But most router only supports 3 ssid's. 5ghz one, 2ghz one and a guest one. And consumer router don't support separate vlan which i can block from internet.
Was also thinking of adding cctvs. eg Tapo c310. It supports standard ONVIF protocol (Profile S) as well as RTSP protocol. Would a raspberry pi be able to handle 3-4 such cameras?
 
Mumbgamer said:
Hmm looking at access point, ubiquity stuff is way out of budget.Tplink has cheap ones for around 2.5k but only 300mbps?
I'd rather buy another dual band router in same price range. But most router only supports 3 ssid's. 5ghz one, 2ghz one and a guest one. And consumer router don't support separate vlan which i can block from internet.
Was also thinking of adding cctvs. eg Tapo c310. It supports standard ONVIF protocol (Profile S) as well as RTSP protocol. Would a raspberry pi be able to handle 3-4 such cameras?
Click to expand...
There is a whole family of EAP series from tp-link including better models like thisone https://www.amazon.in/dp/B01LLAK1UG...&colid=LPPGWSX644RR&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1 . With the additional Omada hardware or software controller you get Ubiquity like features including vlans and hotspot.. Also consumer routers flashed with openwrt support VLANs (on the cheap).
 
I am not a tech guy but like automation and since 2017 have accumulated the following:

(a) Two Tinxy 6 channel relay to control 12 points - lights and fan
(b) Three Sonoff 4 channel relays to control 12 points like above, 4-5 Sonoff single relays - the first automation I bought way back in 2016/17
(c) 5 Echo dots and 3 Google smart speaker and two 5 inch echo show
(d) An Amazon fire HD 10 in show mode which acts like a 10 inch amazon show on the cheap
(e) 2 smart plus
(f) Plenty of smart bulbs - Yee bulb, wipro bulbs during amazon sale, chinese bulbs
(g) Smart LED strips from US - you get 100 feet for 25 usd
(h) Halonix radar motion sensor bulb


Here is the smartness I have in my house which is my parents independent house with a garden in Bangalore
(a) I have garden streetlight types - 10 of them - they turn on at 6.30 PM and turn off at 9.00 PM thanks to Alexa and also sonoff ewelink schedules
(b) I have four outside light points with halonix radar bulb which are on during night times - turn on and off on schedule like above - so that during night time whenever we walk around they light up for few seconds
(c) Turn on and off lights and fan using Alexa. since it has been 3-4 years now, even my nearly 80 year old mom relies mostly on voice commands to turn on and off
(d) Using a free functionality found on youtube to turn on my desktop with alexa command. Turning off using alexa is a paid thing though which I didnt take
(e) Smart LED strip controlled by Alexa - turn off/on, schedulers, dimming, changing colors....etc

I have watched several videos on home assistant...but wonder whether I need one since I trust Alexa for most of my needs and they work well all the time.

If any of you are interested - you can drop in for a cup of tea. I live in Vijaynagar area in Bangalore. Also any of you experts in Bangalore - please do drop in and give me suggestions on how to take it to next level with minimal extra investment
 
I find this topic very intreasting and it is not my intention to criticise but understand what real benifit an user can possibly get with modern (cloud-enabled) devices compared to traditional radio-frequency, timer or programmable-logic-controller (PLC) based devices. Somehow I dont feel very comfortable having a device in my house which records everything I say, that too on the cloud. I would love to hear from fellow members their reasons to prefer a cloud-enabled device, besides the obvious voice commands/biometric auth which do justify the **smartness** of a cloud or network enabled device. What makes a 1000 rupee smart-cloud light on-off switch better than a 400 rupee full automatic radar cum day/night LED bulb? I feel I am missing someting here...
 
gwrench2000 said:
I find this topic very intreasting and it is not my intention to criticise but understand what real benifit an user can possibly get with modern (cloud-enabled) devices compared to traditional radio-frequency, timer or programmable-logic-controller (PLC) based devices. Somehow I dont feel very comfortable having a device in my house which records everything I say, that too on the cloud. I would love to hear from fellow members their reasons to prefer a cloud-enabled device, besides the obvious voice commands/biometric auth which do justify the **smartness** of a cloud or network enabled device. What makes a 1000 rupee smart-cloud light on-off switch better than a 400 rupee full automatic radar cum day/night LED bulb? I feel I am missing someting here...
Click to expand...
The answer to this lies in the traditional specialised ASIC (e.g. MP3 player) vs programable microcontroller debate (e.g. using a tablet/smartphone for the same scenario)
If your use case is fixed - and you do not see it changing/ evolving (e.g. a proximity sensor light for your garage) then the former makes more sense.

But that does not the other one pointless
 
vishalrao said:
@arnprasad good stuff!

What internet connection do you have and what routers etc?

Do you face any reliability issues in terms of commands sometimes not working?
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I have Excitel 300mbps unlimited for 7K a year. Works pretty well- this one is highly dependent on local cable guy who manages it. I does have its downtimes, but given all of us have mobile phones with 2GB per day data plans, we use hotspots in emergencies. Sonoff offers LAn mode as well in case internet is not working. Tinxy is two way - so we can switch off using Alexa and switch off by hand which Sonoff doesnt offer.

Overall I am pretty happy. Alexa or Google is first preference, if it doesnt work and mobile is close at hand then we use that to control and if nothing works, we just go and switch things on and off by hand.
 
People who are using automations for bulbs, lights, plugs etc. Is there any one app that can control all these?
I have couple of wipro lights, philips lights, and will be adding smart plugs soon. Philips app feels so good.
 
Would love to know how reliable these retrofit modules (Tinxy etc.) are in the long run? I have to figure out automation for my new house and I am considering retrofit vs touch switches. Any thoughts from a long term reliability perspective? @superczar
 
Pat said:
Would love to know how reliable these retrofit modules (Tinxy etc.) are in the long run? I have to figure out automation for my new house and I am considering retrofit vs touch switches. Any thoughts from a long term reliability perspective? @superczar
Click to expand...
I am not using any touch switches so hard for me to say ..
I use regular switches wired in parallel with sonoff modules which for me at least have been very reliable for many years now ..
 
We do complete Home Automation for you newly purchased home or even your existing home from Premium to Budget Brand.. So in case any1 wants to get it done, can PM me. Currently service is in Kolkata and Howrah.

Doing in 1 go and 1 type makes it seamless and user friendly.
 
1)(google home) Sonoff Basic R1 controlling gate lights that turn on evening and off by midnight
2)(google home) Sonoff Basic R2 controlling a digital single phase submersible pump controller from Skylet-Jaydeep Controls by simply controlling the low wattage power to the digital board of that main panel, which does the handling of turning on the pump with required starting torque(the start cap is held for 1 second and then cuts off) with various other features like dry run protection, low/high voltage, cyclic timer/auto on on power restore, and water level controller
3) Cheap PIR sensors that are present for porch/backyard and hallway
4) Automated Gates with LivFuture Basic model that works by RF remote
5) Sonoff Basic R2, espurna firmware running schedule, controlling a BlueStar 11ton 3 phase Central AC by using additional Relay(L&T single phase relay to the indoor main control unit that operates on low power)
6) Wemos d1 mini(s) connected to 2x automatic water level controller for normal monoblock motor which enhances it to
- turn on the pump whenever the sump is full, so that the bigger overhead tank will get refilled fully as the water is filling in the sump
- turn on the pump every 24 hours to top up even if water is in above min level in overhead tank
- inbuilt web server and inbuilt logging
7) Wemos d1 mini+ relay+temperature sensor+buzzer to remotely unlock main gate using cp-plus metal door lock, and also report accurate room temperature to mitsubishi heavy AC
- inbuilt web server
- mqtt support
8) Wemos d1 mini(s) connected to 4 units of Mitsubishi heavy AC's CNS port using MHI-CNS project in github to control the ac by wifi with all technical data visible from the ac
- influxdb logging and chronograf visualization
- inbuilt web server
- mqtt support
9) Wemis d1 mini(s) connectedto 2 units of Flin Energy infinilite 5kw solar hybrid inverter to monitor complete data by rs232
- influxdb logging and chronograf visualization
- inbuilt web server
- kapacitor enabled to send notifications by email relagring battery status/overload/solar mcb trip

I am looking to add something to my new 500w grundfos pressure pump to:
-turn off between 12am to 7am
-turn off if water level in tank falls below min - so need local API
- (nice to have) google home
-(nice to have) montior power draw and if continuously running more than 30 seconds, turn off as it is a running like that due to air-lock/low water pressure, due to low water level in tank

and looking what to do for geyser as the plug space is cramped, i dont know if a smart plug can fit there.
 
Its been 18 months since my post and I have added more Smarteefi relays and smart plugs.

Only issue is that if internet is off..they dont work...some say they have LAN mode but I cant figure it out. So if something is turned on using a smart switch and internet is off..we have to figure out which phyiscal switch it is and use that to turn off..very frustrating.

I have seen several videos of Home Assistant but not sure if Tinxy and Smarteefi work on those. Smarteefi guy doesnt give API for free..Tinxy does..

So if any of you have experience in the field of HA with Tinxy and Smarteefi..pls help. Am sick of the helplessness during internet downtimes
karthikx10 said:
1)(google home) Sonoff Basic R1 controlling gate lights that turn on evening and off by midnight
2)(google home) Sonoff Basic R2 controlling a digital single phase submersible pump controller from Skylet-Jaydeep Controls by simply controlling the low wattage power
Click to expand...
Hi Karthik..how has been ur experience with Sonoff? I started with Sonoff some 7-8 years back. Single ones are ok. But the four channel ones have always given a problem...randomly turns on and off..not sure if its a wiring issue by my electrician...So have replaced all of them with Tinxy and Smarteefi

I live in a ground plus one floor and my first floor doesnt have enough pressure for us to use a shower..also its a 40 year old house. Regarding the water pressure booster...My electrician was telling me that Indian brands like Kirloskar and Crompton dont last more than a year which seems true as ratings on Amazon are pretty poor. So he suggested grundfos but said it costs 35K types compared to 5-6K for Indian brands..pls throw some light on this.

Rest of what you wrote..I didnt understand :) need to google
 
hi @arnprasad
sonoff i too used single channel ones only such as the mini and basic. fairly okay but miniR1 died in few days of use

can u open up smarteefi device and post pics pls? a single channel 16a one is better..

I went for a grundfos pump after a heavy thoughts that it is costly...but the pipes and things to fit them itself will be like 4-5k depending on the distance.
i got the higher pressure 2nd model, which is cmb-1-45. costed approx 35k something and it is quiet, just gives some little noise through the ceiling just like an ac compressor low frequency.
vguard is only 10k starting model...but again imagine calling the plumber for repairs etc and refitting/removal, peace of mind seemed important as now a days labour is expensive and hard to get

if your pipes are too old you might need to change them as well..else get a lower pressure model. minimum 2bar will be there in grundfos..

if i had made youtube videos of all my stuff and journey with all the electrical and automation, i would have been famous by now :cry:
 
Thanks Karthik..Now a days biggest issue is finding plumbers/electricians..particularly in Bangalore. Seems there is a building boom going on and hence all technicians in the building industry are fully occupied.

Instead of spending 50K for getting a hot shower..let me just buy a bucket for 200 and a mug for 25 and take bath the traditional style :) My ground floor has enough pressure and shower works great.

Not sure how to open smarteffi as I may screw it up..but based on my conversations with Tinxy owner..seems they all manufacture in a similar way...buy the same components off the shelf and assemble....but still happy Indians are doing it instead of fully importing it..which is what Tata and Wipro are doing for their smart plugs.

I do use couple of 16A plugs for heavy duty stuff. there are two kinds of smart switches..even for 16a...smartplugs which will be the female for ur pump plug........and retrofit smart relay that goes into the board..I use one of each

Here are their links.

tinxy.in

6 Node Smart Switch with Remote (Works with Alexa & Google) - Tinxy - Home of Smart Devices

[Origin] Made in India [Warranty] 1.5 year offsite [Dimensions in cms L X W x H] 9.5 X 6.5 x 2 [Load] Up to 500 watts per Node, Control any one appliance of your choice, TV, fan, socket, bulb, tube light, music system, etc. [Remote] Each button on the remote can be configured as per your need...
tinxy.in

Smarteefi | Control your Appliances, Anytime from Anywhere

Made in India smart devices for a reliable, secure and cost effective home automation solution.
web.smarteefi.com web.smarteefi.com
 
i have bought smarteefi 16a NS11 STD node retrofit series and was able to install tasmota and get the power monitoring working accurately easily.
all the circuit is having AC power so dont touch any wires incuding the switch s1/com wires when its on
use ftdi with 3.3v to power and flash by keeping it in flash mode by powering on with gpio 0 grounded..the com wire is useful and can use chrome webserial to get this up and running in no time. also u can use esptool.py to backup the stock smarteefi firmware, though i think its useless compared to what tasmota does

-http api support
-mqtt support
-timer
-if pressure pump runs more than 15 seconds constantly, cut power, wait 1 minute and retry, for max 5 times.
Code: 
MaxPower     0 = disable use maximum power monitoring
<value> = set maximum allowed power in watts
MaxPowerHold     1 = set default time to 10 seconds to stay over MaxPower before power off
<value> = set time in seconds to stay over MaxPower before power off
MaxPowerWindow     1 = set default time to 30 seconds to stay power off before re-applying power up to 5 times
<value> = set time in seconds to stay power off before re-applying power up to 5 times

->set timezone
->calibrate the device by using voltageset and currentset commands

template for the device:

1704889502558.png

1704889758330.png

EsM6iGw.jpg
 
Last edited:
karthikx10 said:
i have bought smarteefi 16a NS11 STD node retrofit series and was able to install tasmota and get the power monitoring working accurately easily.
all the circuit is having AC power so dont touch any wires incuding the switch s1/com wires when its on
use ftdi with 3.3v to power and flash by keeping it in flash mode by powering on with gpio 0 grounded..the com wire is useful and can use chrome webserial to get this up and running in no time. also u can use esptool.py to backup the stock smarteefi firmware, though i think its useless compared to what tasmota does

-http api support
-mqtt support
-timer
-if pressure pump runs more than 15 seconds constantly, cut power, wait 1 minute and retry, for max 5 times.
Code: 
MaxPower     0 = disable use maximum power monitoring
<value> = set maximum allowed power in watts
MaxPowerHold     1 = set default time to 10 seconds to stay over MaxPower before power off
<value> = set time in seconds to stay over MaxPower before power off
MaxPowerWindow     1 = set default time to 30 seconds to stay power off before re-applying power up to 5 times
<value> = set time in seconds to stay power off before re-applying power up to 5 times

->set timezone
->calibrate the device by using voltageset and currentset commands

template for the device:

View attachment 187800
View attachment 187801
EsM6iGw.jpg
Click to expand...
Hi Karthik,
I'm using a Texmo 0.5HP pressure pump in my house. I'm facing the same trouble of dry running issue. I'm not a software or mechanical engineer. Can you please help me to get the smarteefi device meant for pressure pump.
 
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