Sonoff Alternatives??

[napstersquest]

I am planning to automate and smartify a few things at my home, starting from light switches.

I see the Smarteefi switch modules that go behind the switch panel have good ratings, however, I don't want to use their app. I want them to be controlled via HASS instance locally.

I can't find much info about this while searching, has anyone had any experience with Smarteefi switches/boards with HomeAssistant?

Are there any cheaper/similar alternatives to Sonoff?

I might also consider fully DIY route if I find a noob-friendly guide. Plan to add AC control via IR Blasters, Geysers via 16A smart switches, Fan regulators via Smarteefi boards.

Edit: It seems the Smarteefi boards, even though they use ESP, won't work with HASS unless I configure spoofing packets.
Their support team confirmed the same (that they won't work).

 

[rahuljawale]

Any reason for not wanting to use Sonoffs? Sonoff has a big line up of smart switches and the most if not all can be flashed with Tasmota or EspHome. Tasmota and Esphome have easy integrations with HASS.

 

[aasimenator]

My entire house is filled with over 30 Sonoff Mini's, which have been running for the past 1 year without any issues, please don't use any other knockoff brands, you should use either Sonoff or Shelly but shelly's are a rare find in India unless you have someone coming from the UAE then you can get some in bulk but within India use Sonoff.
I have tasmotized my Sonoff Mini's and use it with Home Assistant.
Let me know what price you are getting the Sonoff for, I can help with that.

 

[napstersquest]

I see sonoff minis at 650/node, not less than that. For some 20-25 devices, that's around 13-15K. Hence the reluctance to buy them and so looking for cheaper alternatives.

I just went ahead and ordered custom PCBs and components for 10 quantities of 4-channel modules which I am planning to retrofit. These will have NodeMCU ESP8266 with multiplexer boards for 4 switches each, temp-humidity sensor, motion sensor and two more sensors should I need them. All of that for around ₹8000 (total 40 switches and up to 40 digital / analog sensors).

Yeah it's a lot of work, would take more than a month to deploy, but I am willing to learn along the way.

 

[aasimenator]

I see sonoff minis at 650/node, not less than that. For some 20-25 devices, that's around 13-15K. Hence the reluctance to buy them and so looking for cheaper alternatives.

I just went ahead and ordered custom PCBs and components for 10 quantities of 4-channel modules which I am planning to retrofit. These will have NodeMCU ESP8266 with multiplexer boards for 4 switches each, temp-humidity sensor, motion sensor and two more sensors should I need them. All of that for around ₹8000 (total 40 switches and up to 40 digital / analog sensors).

Yeah it's a lot of work, would take more than a month to deploy, but I am willing to learn along the way.

I got mine at discount, i think mine were around 550 per unit.
Good luck building your own genuinely, it would be a great feeling if you accomplish it all, its all diy anyways, so does not matter, but i would not trust something i made myself powering up my house as the chances and risk of fire and safety is way too high! Then again I dont trust a Chinese company either.
Do share photos of it for inspiration once done

 

[napstersquest]

I got mine at discount, i think mine were around 550 per unit.
Good luck building your own genuinely, it would be a great feeling if you accomplish it all, its all diy anyways, so does not matter, but i would not trust something i made myself powering up my house as the chances and risk of fire and safety is way too high! Then again I dont trust a Chinese company either.
Do share photos of it for inspiration once done

Almost there! Waiting for the ESP8266 NodeMCU 12e to arrive today.
PS: Hopefully I won't start a fire!

 

[aasimenator]

Almost there! Waiting for the ESP8266 NodeMCU 12e to arrive today.
PS: Hopefully I won't start a fire!

do you think this will fit inside an electrical box? I don't think it will be on any standard-size boxes other than those that are larger in size like an 8 x 8 modular box, a standard 4 modular box is only 6-inch x 3 inch

 

[napstersquest]

do you think this will fit inside an electrical box? I don't think it will be on any standard-size boxes other than those that are larger in size like an 8 x 8 modular box, a standard 4 modular box is only 6-inch x 3 inch

It does.
Barely. (it's my new favorite word in the English vocabulary)