Home Assistant : Q&A, Tips & Tricks, Your Configs

[Speedster]

So, I've blown another Sonoff POW2 with my well point pump and load shedding, I can now 100% confirm its related to load shedding.

Is there anyway to prevent this? Pump is 1.1kw.

Thinking of running it via a relay, but what's to stop the relay from going?

The Sonoff is always set to Off after Power reset, but - they still blow.

Where is the point of failure on the POW2?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Where is the point of failure on the POW2?

In my case it was the input terminals oddly enough.

 

[xrapidx]

Where is the point of failure on the POW2?

That's the thing. Nothing is burnt out, it's just dead.

I see the one I just removed was the first POW, wonder if it's just the fuse.

 

[am-user]

So, I've blown another Sonoff POW2 with my well point pump and load shedding, I can now 100% confirm its related to load shedding.

Is there anyway to prevent this? Pump is 1.1kw.

Thinking of running it via a relay, but what's to stop the relay from going?

The Sonoff is always set to Off after Power reset, but - they still blow.

I also have a dead Sonoff, a TH16, due a well point, but lightning induced. The current came in through the pump, through an unscathed Connex smart plug and blew the Sonoff on same circuit, but connected to the security lights.

This was the second Sonoff I’ve lost due to high currents. They do not seem very ‘sturdy’?

 

[Speedster]

I also have a dead Sonoff, a TH16, due a well point, but lightning induced. The current came in through the pump, through an unscathed Connex smart plug and blew the Sonoff on same circuit, but connected to the security lights.

This was the second Sonoff I’ve lost due to high currents. They do not seem very ‘sturdy’?

I can think of a number of other devices that wouldn't survive a lightning strike

 

[tRoN]

I just created an Alexa routine that does it. Example, it’s called, ‘open xxxx’. In my case, I don’t want anyone to be able to just say open gate, so I have a unique keyword to do that.

You need to understand, if someone knows you can do open gate or other via voice, in this crappy country , someone could break your window, and tell it to open gate.

I know ,cos I sometimes just talk through an open window to ask Alexa to that.

Our domestic, definitely doesn’t know what those commands are, but has her own ‘routine’ which if she says it, then opens gate and garage door for her to leave house and then closes them. I then get a notice that she activated that routine.

You worried about someone breaking the window and gaining access with Alexa when all they need is the maid to open for them

 

[xrapidx]

Is the relay contact burning, or have the electronics failed?

Sorry, missed your post on my phone.

So here's the weird thing, nothing is burnt - it just doesn't power up.

Now, here's the weird thing - last time I thought it was a fluke.

I took out the old "blown" POW2 - and plugged it in at my work bench, and its working again.

Twice now, they've lost power completely for about three days, I've taken them out, and tested them at my work bench, also no power - I then toss them in a "bin" of electronics for recycling - months later I take them out and they work again.

When I say they go dead - there's literally no life, the LEDs don't light up, the hardwired button doesn't work.

 

[Supercarfan]

Sorry, missed your post on my phone.

So here's the weird thing, nothing is burnt - it just doesn't power up.

Now, here's the weird thing - last time I thought it was a fluke.

I took out the old "blown" POW2 - and plugged it in at my work bench, and its working again.

Twice now, they've lost power completely for about three days, I've taken them out, and tested them at my work bench, also no power - I then toss them in a "bin" of electronics for recycling - months later I take them out and they work again.

When I say they go dead - there's literally no life, the LEDs don't light up, the hardwired button doesn't work.

There isn’t perhaps a polyfuse protecting the controller that blew and just healed over time?

 

[MidnightZA]

So, I've blown another Sonoff POW2 with my well point pump and load shedding, I can now 100% confirm its related to load shedding.

Is there anyway to prevent this? Pump is 1.1kw.

Thinking of running it via a relay, but what's to stop the relay from going?

The Sonoff is always set to Off after Power reset, but - they still blow.

Maybe replace with a CBI astute? That can monitor power as well.

The downside is that its Tuya based, unless you tasmotize it like others have done

 

[Stuey74]

Sorry, missed your post on my phone.

So here's the weird thing, nothing is burnt - it just doesn't power up.

Now, here's the weird thing - last time I thought it was a fluke.

I took out the old "blown" POW2 - and plugged it in at my work bench, and its working again.

Twice now, they've lost power completely for about three days, I've taken them out, and tested them at my work bench, also no power - I then toss them in a "bin" of electronics for recycling - months later I take them out and they work again.

When I say they go dead - there's literally no life, the LEDs don't light up, the hardwired button doesn't work.

I have had the exact same thing with 2 of mine, wrote them off as dead, before I take them away plug then in and they fire up first time

 

[gbyleveldt]

Sorry, missed your post on my phone.

So here's the weird thing, nothing is burnt - it just doesn't power up.

Now, here's the weird thing - last time I thought it was a fluke.

I took out the old "blown" POW2 - and plugged it in at my work bench, and its working again.

Twice now, they've lost power completely for about three days, I've taken them out, and tested them at my work bench, also no power - I then toss them in a "bin" of electronics for recycling - months later I take them out and they work again.

When I say they go dead - there's literally no life, the LEDs don't light up, the hardwired button doesn't work.

You running Tasmota on them? I've had it happen at the pool pump unit once or twice when lightning struck in the area. It turns out they had their settings data wiped; there's a SetOption command to set making it more resilient against brown outs. Since then no issues.

 

[TedLasso]

You worried about someone breaking the window and gaining access with Alexa when all they need is the maid to open for them

My home assistant informs me every time the gate/garage door is opened when owners are not home. She is not supposed to open for anyone. So the various automations I have cover me - I feel.

 

[xrapidx]

You running Tasmota on them? I've had it happen at the pool pump unit once or twice when lightning struck in the area. It turns out they had their settings data wiped; there's a SetOption command to set making it more resilient against brown outs. Since then no issues.

Yes, Tasmota - but they're not resetting, when they do work again - everything is still there - publishing to the same MQTT topic, and with the same IP address.

They're completely dead when this happens, no LEDs, nothing works.

 

[deesef]

Sorry, missed your post on my phone.

So here's the weird thing, nothing is burnt - it just doesn't power up.

Now, here's the weird thing - last time I thought it was a fluke.

I took out the old "blown" POW2 - and plugged it in at my work bench, and its working again.

Twice now, they've lost power completely for about three days, I've taken them out, and tested them at my work bench, also no power - I then toss them in a "bin" of electronics for recycling - months later I take them out and they work again.

When I say they go dead - there's literally no life, the LEDs don't light up, the hardwired button doesn't work.

Does the Pow2 also have the push connectors that the Th has? I don't trust those connectors. It is possible that the connector or the wire is oxidizing. When the power is out for a while then returns, the resistance caused by the oxidation results in a disconnection.

I much prefer the screw connection. It makes a much more solid connection.

Edit: wiggle each of the wires in turn while power is on, while checking if the LEDs come on. Be very careful to not touch any exposed areas.

 

[TedLasso]

Edit: wiggle each of the wires in turn while power is on, while checking if the LEDs come on. Be very careful to not touch any exposed areas.

The amount of times I have been shocked by touching the underside of a SONOFF. One day I will learn - hopefully it won't be too late then!

 

[TedLasso]

Yes, Tasmota - but they're not resetting, when they do work again - everything is still there - publishing to the same MQTT topic, and with the same IP address.

They're completely dead when this happens, no LEDs, nothing works.

What about using a Shelly this time? I have a bunch of 1 and 1PM and some others, and while I still haven't used them - they look very well built? At least with Shelly you can drop internet access, and not run into the Tuya problem where you can't flash Tasmota onto them.

Though saying this, I am thoroughly disappointed in the Shelly DW2s performance. When they work, it's amazing (as they have tilt, lux and temp sensors). But they drop off WiFi like flies if the doors/windows you connect them too are not opened often enough and they are the ones in close proximity to the APs. The one furthest from the AP, eats it battery in 2 weeks as opposed to the 2 year that Shelly promises. I would recommend everyone avoid the DW2s

 

[Speedster]

Is there a way to pull the Xiaomi outdoor video cameras into HA?

 

[tRoN]

She is not supposed to open for anyone..

Just be careful…

Statistically most home burglaries have an inside person involved like a gardener or maid etc.
Sadly in this country a maid working for you for 20yrs has no loyalty.

 

[TedLasso]

Just be careful…

Statistically most home burglaries have an inside person involved like a gardener or maid etc.
Sadly in this country a maid working for you for 20yrs has no loyalty.

I trust our domestic . She is more afraid of the tstosis. She knows what the house tells us and that security will be there in 3 mins if I raise a panic (or if she does) .

I feel we pay and treat our workers with compassion and adults so would be surprised if she would ever do anything bad to us.

But you are right to never let guard down.

I have a routine that arms house when owners leave but not if staff are detected. One Saturday, our gardener hadn't put his phone on, so the interior got armed. We leave the garage and entrance into house open while he is there . 15 mins later alarm goes on and thanks to @Tinuva s multiple entity thing he shared here, I could see he was walking in the front part of house. Siren meant he restreated. Told security company it's a false alarm but took a screenshot of zones that triggered and that was an interesting convo with him when I got back. He denied that he did, and I said why would my alarm do that but left it. Interestingly enough, he has never walked into house again.

 

[ItherNiT]

Is there any way to adjust the multiple entity row spacing so that its a bit more like a table? I want the daily monthly entities underneath each other.