Aqaba devices

[Mzezman]

Anyone using them? Where can I get decently priced devices in SA? Most require use of the 'hub' which one is this exactly and how do the devices work? Is local control available or is cloud a must?

 

[Mzezman]

@mod / @bwana please change title to 'Aqara'

 

[JTUBB]

Hi Mzezman, Been adding Aqara door sensors to my setup over the last couple of months,
Best SA place to buy the Hub appears to be Takealot or iStore.
For the door contacts I have been using Aliexpress.
Can find the links if your are still interested.

 

[tRoN]

I use the door sensors and water leak sensors.
Best thing is that I can link them to apple HomeKit

 

[Mzezman]

Hi Mzezman, Been adding Aqara door sensors to my setup over the last couple of months,
Best SA place to buy the Hub appears to be Takealot or iStore.
For the door contacts I have been using Aliexpress.
Can find the links if your are still interested.

Please send links - I need to get back into this as my Sonoffs all died

 

[koogs]

Geewiz also sells Aqara products.

 

[DuncThePunk]

I use many Aqara devices (Door sensors, Leak sensors, buttons, motion sensors) with my Zigbee2MQTT setup running with a Sonoff USB Zigbee dongle on Home Assistant. They work beautifully. Highly recommended. No Aqara hub required.

 

[Mzezman]

I use many Aqara devices (Door sensors, Leak sensors, buttons, motion sensors) with my Zigbee2MQTT setup running with a Sonoff USB Zigbee dongle on Home Assistant. They work beautifully. Highly recommended. No Aqara hub required.

This is perfect as i have a Sonoff USB Zigbee dongle as well - the Sonoff Zigbee device i bought to use with the dongle died so keen to explore other Zigbee products and aqara rates highly

 

[JTUBB]

Depending on value of Product I buy local or from China.
I also like to earn / spend eBucks on Takealot / iStore, so that guides some of the logic.

Takealot - Aqara Motion Sensor P1 and Aqara M2 Hub
iStore - G3 Camera Hub

For the sensor, I've pretty much gone with AliExpress as the unit cost drops nicely if you have the patience to wait for the stuff. Below is an example, I need to find the actual link / suppliers I used.

Aqara Door Sensors

Actual link I used below:

Global version Aqara Door Window Sensor Zigbee Wireless Connection Need Smart Home gateway

For all the Aliexpress stuff watch the shipping costs, some store are insanely expensive. In the end around R170 each is 50% of the SA price. So far I've had no duds with each external door having one of these feeding Homekit and HA.

 

[Mzezman]

Depending on value of Product I buy local or from China.
I also like to earn / spend eBucks on Takealot / iStore, so that guides some of the logic.

Takealot - Aqara Motion Sensor P1 and Aqara M2 Hub
iStore - G3 Camera Hub

For the sensor, I've pretty much gone with AliExpress as the unit cost drops nicely if you have the patience to wait for the stuff. Below is an example, I need to find the actual link / suppliers I used.

Aqara Door Sensors

Actual link I used below:

Global version Aqara Door Window Sensor Zigbee Wireless Connection Need Smart Home gateway

For all the Aliexpress stuff watch the shipping costs, some store are insanely expensive. In the end around R170 each is 50% of the SA price. So far I've had no duds with each external door having one of these feeding Homekit and HA.

How are you guys finding the battery life on your aqara sensors?

 

[JTUBB]

Door Contacts don't seem to have moved much off 100% yet and its been a good many months to a year.
Aqara Motion sensor has dropped down to 56% from purchase in mid December, but it is being triggered a lot.
Still building a dashboard to track all batteries......

 

[Mzezman]

Hey guys, has anyone linked an Aqara device to a Sonoff Zigbee bridge?

 

[Nimz]

If the Aqara Hub is bought, can the Aqara sensors be used in conjunction with Sonoff light switches?

I basically want to buy the Aqara door and motion sensors to trigger my lights (Stock Standard eWeLink)

 

[Mzezman]

If the Aqara Hub is bought, can the Aqara sensors be used in conjunction with Sonoff light switches?

I basically want to buy the Aqara door and motion sensors to trigger my lights (Stock Standard eWeLink)

You would need an intermediary like HomeAssistant to do that, unless the light switches were zigbee enabled then possibly it could work

 

[Ma’bad]

I wanted to share my experience with Aqara products and provide feedback on some of the devices I’ve used.

Most of the Aqara devices have been great - they respond quickly and work perfectly. eg. their cameras, door sensors, water leak sensors


However, I have run into a few that have given me problems.

The light switch does not fit ZA light sockets without an adapter plate, which is not sold with the Aqara product. I purchased an adapter plate from Isphome, but unfortunately, the electrician did not install it correctly and it got loose and lost connection. He then came again to fix it and cracked the adapter plate - it is working fine now albeit with a crack. For some reason, my cupboard door touches the light switch in one of the bedrooms and if they make contact for long enough the switch gets reset.

I also have not had any luck with the E1 Rollershade. I initially stuck it to the wall and kept it very adjacent to the window, which caused the chain connector box to get stuck between window and E1. I then removed it and tried to mount it using provided screws. Unfortunately, I misjudged the height of the screw and so it wouldn’t work.

 

[Ma’bad]

Anyone using them? Where can I get decently priced devices in SA? Most require use of the 'hub' which one is this exactly and how do the devices work? Is local control available or is cloud a must?

Geewiz seem to be the cheapest

 

[SauRoNZA]

Miro.co.za is seemingly the local distributor and sells directly to the public but it’s the typical dealer experience where you need to go collect etc.

I think they offered delivery it was just very expensive.