Hi All,

 

So i am just starting on my 'Smart' adventure and need some help. I've tried searching good old google but cant seem to find my answers. 

 

I want to add 3 smart GU10 bulb to my lounge light fittings. The current light fixture is connected to a dimmer 2 gang switch which is based in the dining room. I see Sonoff has a zigbee wireless push button (Zigbee bridge required) which I want to stick onto the wall in the lounge to control the smart bulbs(current switch can just be left on 24/7). I cant seem to find Sonoff GU10 bulbs anywhere so was looking at either the Bneta or the Yeelight bulbs. 

What i am unsure of is, can the Sonoff button/Zigbee bridge (eWelink) control the Bneta(Smartlife/Tuya) or Yeelight bulbs? 

I cant go the Home Assistant route yet due to 1. lack of sufficient knowledge and 2. lack of budget or availability of RPi so was hoping that I could still have the bulbs and the button talk to each other and automate scenes somehow? any other suggestions? I find it very frustrating that the various products all require their own different apps and will hopefully look into the HA route in the future (once I learn more about how it all works and how to set it up). 

 

If any experts out there could assist to get me started on my automation journey that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

tuya power devices like found in bneta brands and similar are closed source and you will be stuck on their cloud portals.

Stick with devices that you can truly own/control the data

16 minutes ago, WannabeSolarSparky said:

tuya power devices like found in bneta brands and similar are closed source and you will be stuck on their cloud portals.

Stick with devices that you can truly own/control the data

Hi @WannabeSolarSparky.  any suggestions? 

 

On a separate note, thanks for the Off grid trials post. Was a very interesting read and I already learned a lot from it. 

1 minute ago, ZCS said:

Hi @WannabeSolarSparky.  any suggestions? 

 

On a separate note, thanks for the Off grid trials post. Was a very interesting read and I already learned a lot from it. 

Any device that can be tasmotised is usually the way to go as you then get full control over the device and then no longer need to rely on some chinese portal or cloud app.
If there is any mention of tuya on any devices you are interested in then think very carefully before purchasing them.

List Of Devices can be tasmotised

Just be careful on the above list, some devices have switched to tuya chips and no longer can be tasmotised. On that list they usually do warn if a device is no longer supported.

Sonoff devices is the way to go, I have also found the vizia smart metering plugs on takealot can be also be tasmotised.

Once tasmotised you can use your devices freely and without restriction on just about any opensource home automation platform of your liking

 

any link to a guide on how to go about tasmotising?

Just now, ZCS said:

any link to a guide on how to go about tasmotising?

The link I gave above, if you go to each device they usually have links to guides on how to do it for each type of device

thanks man. appreciate the help.

as a side-note - you can also run HomeAssistant on a PC /  laptop that you have that always on - you dont have to run it on a PI

Just now, mzezman said:

as a side-note - you can also run HomeAssistant on a PC /  laptop that you have that always on - you dont have to run it on a PI

good to know. will look into it this weekend as i have a spare laptop which used to be used as a plex server.. maybe i could give it a go. it would be nice to be able to control all devices through a single interface/app.

Just now, ZCS said:

good to know. will look into it this weekend as i have a spare laptop which used to be used as a plex server.. maybe i could give it a go. it would be nice to be able to control all devices through a single interface/app.

yeah - i have a machine as well that runs my plex, blueiris nvr and home assistant - used to run HA on a Pi but got rid of it. Shout if you need help

2 minutes ago, mzezman said:

yeah - i have a machine as well that runs my plex, blueiris nvr and home assistant - used to run HA on a Pi but got rid of it. Shout if you need help

cool thanks for the offer. been reading through the HA site on installation etc so will attempt it soon. fingers crossed.

On 2022/09/23 at 8:30 AM, ZCS said:

Hi All,

 

So i am just starting on my 'Smart' adventure and need some help. I've tried searching good old google but cant seem to find my answers. 

 

I want to add 3 smart GU10 bulb to my lounge light fittings. The current light fixture is connected to a dimmer 2 gang switch which is based in the dining room. I see Sonoff has a zigbee wireless push button (Zigbee bridge required) which I want to stick onto the wall in the lounge to control the smart bulbs(current switch can just be left on 24/7). I cant seem to find Sonoff GU10 bulbs anywhere so was looking at either the Bneta or the Yeelight bulbs. 

What i am unsure of is, can the Sonoff button/Zigbee bridge (eWelink) control the Bneta(Smartlife/Tuya) or Yeelight bulbs? 

I cant go the Home Assistant route yet due to 1. lack of sufficient knowledge and 2. lack of budget or availability of RPi so was hoping that I could still have the bulbs and the button talk to each other and automate scenes somehow? any other suggestions? I find it very frustrating that the various products all require their own different apps and will hopefully look into the HA route in the future (once I learn more about how it all works and how to set it up). 

 

If any experts out there could assist to get me started on my automation journey that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Hi, Sonoff unfortunately do not produce any GU10. The only solution to go cross platform in the cloud is IFTTT but you need eWelink VIP which is not expansive. Then you get 5 free applets on IFTTT there after IFTTT charge a monthly fee. Home Assistant is a good option for cross platform and local control.

Sorry to hijack the post a bit... stupid question... if I want to use HA because of the single interface and not because I care about the Chinese knowing my stuff - maybe I should care ??? but that's another discussion. My question is this - in order to use HA do I need to tasmotise everything? Or can I just link them up as is? 

At the moment I connect everything up to Google Home - but it would be nice to have more control and interaction between the devices. Especially when get my inverter installed.

@WannabeSolarSparky I have a Vizia smart kettle best thing ever! We used to control the kettle with a sonoff switch but then we had to remember to switch it on and the sonoff off. So when the kettle died, I just bought a smart one. 

Edited September 28, 20223 yr by MKRandburg
More thoughts ...

8 minutes ago, MKRandburg said:

Sorry to hijack the post a bit... stupid question... if I want to use HA because of the single interface and not because I care about the Chinese knowing my stuff - maybe I should care ??? but that's another discussion. My question is this - in order to use HA do I need to tasmotise everything? Or can I just link them up as is? 

At the moment I connect everything up to Google Home - but it would be nice to have more control and interaction between the devices. Especially when get my inverter installed.

Some devices can be used directly on homeassist without tasmotising, but not many of those brands available in SA. Most of the retailers in SA have opted to go the closed source (mostly tuya) route.
Sonoff is one of the few brands that is very happy to keep their products open for the DIY community For now at least
Encourage sonoff to stay that way by buying their products

18 minutes ago, MKRandburg said:

I have a Vizia smart kettle best thing ever! We used to control the kettle with a sonoff switch but then we had to remember to switch it on and the sonoff off. So when the kettle died, I just bought a smart one. 

Where did you buy it?
I would like to get one and see if it can be tasmotised 😂
Then I can automate my coffee making.
Wonder if I can program the tap to fill up the kettle too 😛 I think there are some smart valves doing the rounds too.

Edited September 28, 20223 yr by WannabeSolarSparky

1 minute ago, WannabeSolarSparky said:

Wonder if I can program the tap to fill up the kettle too 😛 I think there are some smart valves doing the rounds too.

Dude! I have thought of this! At least something to determine if it's not empty and doesn't need filling. But I thought of the tap filling too. 
https://www.takealot.com/vizia-smart-kettle-1-7l-cordless-360-degree-smart-home/PLID73774382
 

There is nothing like coming home from a holiday or long day out and having the kettle just finish boiling as you walk in the door. 

23 minutes ago, MKRandburg said:

Sorry to hijack the post a bit... stupid question... if I want to use HA because of the single interface and not because I care about the Chinese knowing my stuff - maybe I should care ??? but that's another discussion. My question is this - in order to use HA do I need to tasmotise everything? Or can I just link them up as is? 

At the moment I connect everything up to Google Home - but it would be nice to have more control and interaction between the devices. Especially when get my inverter installed.

@WannabeSolarSparky I have a Vizia smart kettle best thing ever! We used to control the kettle with a sonoff switch but then we had to remember to switch it on and the sonoff off. So when the kettle died, I just bought a smart one. 

My whole smart setup is on HA without tasmotising any of the kit. I have a mix of Tuya, Sonoff, Google etc devices that all speak to each other through HA. Yes ther IS some reliance on the cloud but I'm ok with that 

19 minutes ago, mzezman said:

My whole smart setup is on HA without tasmotising any of the kit. I have a mix of Tuya, Sonoff, Google etc devices that all speak to each other through HA. Yes ther IS some reliance on the cloud but I'm ok with that 

I'm exactly the same, and add Shelly onto that list. Also just got an echo dot to test with as well.

HA with automations and Node Red took me from 85% to 95% off grid, just by planning usage times and not running things when the solar forecast is poor.

38 minutes ago, MKRandburg said:

Dude! I have thought of this! At least something to determine if it's not empty and doesn't need filling. But I thought of the tap filling too. 
https://www.takealot.com/vizia-smart-kettle-1-7l-cordless-360-degree-smart-home/PLID73774382
 

Nice, thanks, pity vizia decided to go with tuya on the kettle