Home Automation - Smartkit

Hi folks, I haven't seem much discussion on LED strips in this thread. I am looking at installing an LED strip right around the inside of my thatch braai area - this is around 18m. I've picked the SK6812 RGBW (warm white) as the strip of choice. The plan is to connect a few 5m rolls together with power injection every 5m to an ESP8233 node MCU, a 200w 5v power supply and watch the magic come to life with some coding and Home Assistant integration to control this lot. Those who follow Rob Tait on "The Hook Up" on YouTube will know where I am going with this.

The problem is that there are no local suppliers for any of the popular individually addressable LED strips, or none that I could find. I would prefer to order locally if I can as this would give me instant gratification and no risk delivery with the only downside being that it could be a lot more expensive than ordering from eBay, Amazon, etc.

Does anybody know of any local suppliers of individually addressable LED strips in 5m rolls?
 
ipodmusicman said:
Hi folks, I haven't seem much discussion on LED strips in this thread. I am looking at installing an LED strip right around the inside of my thatch braai area - this is around 18m. I've picked the SK6812 RGBW (warm white) as the strip of choice. The plan is to connect a few 5m rolls together with power injection every 5m to an ESP8233 node MCU, a 200w 5v power supply and watch the magic come to life with some coding and Home Assistant integration to control this lot. Those who follow Rob Tait on "The Hook Up" on YouTube will know where I am going with this.

The problem is that there are no local suppliers for any of the popular individually addressable LED strips, or none that I could find. I would prefer to order locally if I can as this would give me instant gratification and no risk delivery with the only downside being that it could be a lot more expensive than ordering from eBay, Amazon, etc.

Does anybody know of any local suppliers of individually addressable LED strips in 5m rolls?
Click to expand...

You can have no risk delivery using an inter sienna courier...still get away cheaper and have it in 5-10 days.
 
Well bugger me....this actually works very nicely and simply.

github.com

Issues · peterbuga/HASS-sonoff-ewelink

Home Assistant component to control Sonoff/eWeLink devices with original firmware - Issues · peterbuga/HASS-sonoff-ewelink
github.com github.com

Getting all the details out of the Sonoff Pow without any firmware flash hackery required.

No historical usage data of course, but one could probably get something for HA to work that out using the history or build it in Grafana.
 
Hi Guys

Complete noob here. I've watched a few vids on youtube and checked out the smartkit website.

I'm looking to start replacing some light switches at home with smart light switches.

Just a question on "neutral"... is that the earth wire in our case? I only have black and red...

Also i have the rectangular switch boxes, not the square ones. I take it that they arent interchangable?

Also I'm seeing different models of the Sonoff switches (T1, T2, TX etc.). is there a clear difference?

Thanks
 
Volksieboi said:
Hi Guys

Complete noob here. I've watched a few vids on youtube and checked out the smartkit website.

I'm looking to start replacing some light switches at home with smart light switches.

Just a question on "neutral"... is that the earth wire in our case? I only have black and red...

Also i have the rectangular switch boxes, not the square ones. I take it that they arent interchangable?

Also I'm seeing different models of the Sonoff switches (T1, T2, TX etc.). is there a clear difference?

Thanks
Click to expand...

No, the neutral is not the earth wire... the neutral is the neutral. You can't rely on the colours of the wires in your switch boxes unfortunately, you will need to test them to see. Chances are you don't have a neutral and will need to pull one down to the switch.
 
ToxicBunny said:
No, the neutral is not the earth wire... the neutral is the neutral. You can't rely on the colours of the wires in your switch boxes unfortunately, you will need to test them to see. Chances are you don't have a neutral and will need to pull one down to the switch.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that...

I also noticed on some ads that certain switches are sold that dont "need" neutral. I'm guessing those are the ones i'd need to go for then?

Or do i just get an electrician in to test?
 
Volksieboi said:
Thanks for that...

I also noticed on some ads that certain switches are sold that dont "need" neutral. I'm guessing those are the ones i'd need to go for then?

Or do i just get an electrician in to test?
Click to expand...

Get an electrician in to test if you aren't sure of doing it yourself....

Could you post links to the ones that don't "need" a neutral, I'd be interested to give them a gander.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Get an electrician in to test if you aren't sure of doing it yourself....

Could you post links to the ones that don't "need" a neutral, I'd be interested to give them a gander.
Click to expand...

Thanks, will do.

I just read that switches that dont need a neutral do exist. They are rather pricey and somewhat limited in terms of integration

12 No Neutral Smart Switches (options for every setup) – The Smart Cave

thesmartcave.com thesmartcave.com

The broadlink TC2 seems like the prettiest one
 
Both of those options require a hub though, so quite expensive...

Also the Broadlink also looks as if its only rated to 110v which would be an issue in SA.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Both of those options require a hub though, so quite expensive...

Also the Broadlink also looks as if its only rated to 110v which would be an issue in SA.
Click to expand...

Broadlink works in SA, but I had a lot of issues with integration.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Both of those options require a hub though, so quite expensive...

Also the Broadlink also looks as if its only rated to 110v which would be an issue in SA.
Click to expand...

There's always a catch i guess...
Found a local site that sells them and the spec says 110 - 240V. I dont know this seller tho. so cant speak to that

technify.co.za

Broadlink TC2 1/2/3 Gang Wireless Remote Control Wifi Wall Light Touch Switch 433MHZ 110V-240V Smart Home EU /US Standard

Shop Broadlink TC2 1/2/3 Gang Wireless Remote Control Wifi Wall Light Touch Switch 433MHZ 110V-240V Smart Home EU /US Standard online at Technify.co.za. Visit and Order Now!
technify.co.za technify.co.za

I also spoke to an electrician acquaintance who suggested that changing the switches could be expensive because of the "neutral wire" thing.

He suggested that I "add control modules to your devices and use an app to control them". asking him for more info.
 
Volksieboi said:
please... tell us more... it seems that theres an app... but im guessing it probably doesnt work with google or alexa?
Click to expand...

There are multiple apps, and I'm still not sure which one I should be using. Maybe I needed to give it more time (and try again, since it's been a while), but I simply could not get it to voice activate.
 
Volksieboi said:
Hi Guys

Complete noob here. I've watched a few vids on youtube and checked out the smartkit website.

I'm looking to start replacing some light switches at home with smart light switches.

Just a question on "neutral"... is that the earth wire in our case? I only have black and red...

Also i have the rectangular switch boxes, not the square ones. I take it that they arent interchangable?

Also I'm seeing different models of the Sonoff switches (T1, T2, TX etc.). is there a clear difference?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Please step away from whatever you are about to do and call an electrician....because you are almost certainly going to die.

Have you ever changed a plug on an appliance successfully?
 
SauRoNZA said:
Please step away from whatever you are about to do and call an electrician....because you are almost certainly going to die.

Have you ever changed a plug on an appliance successfully?
Click to expand...
Dont worry. I wont be wiring anything

I've changed plugs and light switches before, but this is something else
 
Volksieboi said:
Dont worry. I wont be wiring anything

I've changed plugs and light switches before, but this is something else
Click to expand...

In that case the blue is the neutral and the green is the earth.

That is the same in household wiring, the colours just change.
 
Volksieboi said:
There's always a catch i guess...
Found a local site that sells them and the spec says 110 - 240V. I dont know this seller tho. so cant speak to that

technify.co.za

Broadlink TC2 1/2/3 Gang Wireless Remote Control Wifi Wall Light Touch Switch 433MHZ 110V-240V Smart Home EU /US Standard

Shop Broadlink TC2 1/2/3 Gang Wireless Remote Control Wifi Wall Light Touch Switch 433MHZ 110V-240V Smart Home EU /US Standard online at Technify.co.za. Visit and Order Now!
technify.co.za technify.co.za
Click to expand...

Any idea if these broadlink switches can be used for dimming as well?
 
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