Home Automation - Smartkit

phaktza said:
Box as a Google Assistant? I have a Pro with an Ematic I can try.
Click to expand...
Telkom lit box - android TV to be controlled with a broadlink RM pro.

Just managed to get the scene set up now want to add further instructions to it.
 
So while I’m at home at had a spare moment I figured let’s just take a peek at this ceiling fan to see what I need to sort out to make the iFan happen.

First surprise is that there is no actual pole or other strut on the thing so when I looses the four screws that was it and there I stood holding the thing in my hand unexpectedly.

So I find this...

0a3f252f46b9a0c0f8825797b45cbeaf.jpg


0e738e12ccbce7b73849ad4ab6432186.jpg


So immediately I am confused about why are there two neutrals (because black) coming down from the roof and being spliced together at this chocolate block.

Do I assume that it’s maybe bridged here to go to the lights? Easy enough to answer if I just disconnect one I guess but not really a possibility while un prepared and standing on a ladder with a fan in hand.

So I decide to just take a look at the switch because maybe it explains a bit more.

122e74ff0af03d95087b1636f598e1ae.jpg


Nope, even more confusion.

First though it WOAH THERE IS A NEUTRAL!!! Install all the Smart Things.

Then I’m like again, why are there two of them if they are neutrals? This makes no sense. One appears to be "incoming" and the other outgoing but I'm kind of like why are they there at all then?

The top switch is just for the downlights and it's bridged with a short red wire to the bottom switch, which I also don't quite understand. Is it just splitting the incoming live into two?

****

Now outside of the wire confusion, presumably the iFan could simply replace that chocolate block to manage the rest of the wiring? Took the photo at a stupid angle so have to go by memory but I'm almost sure there are two wires coming out of the "red into black" side which should then be one for the light and one for the fan?

The wall switch obviously just turns the whole lot on, it has no intelligence over light vs fan because the pull chains do that.
 
Last edited:
SauRoNZA said:
So while I’m at home at had a spare moment I figured let’s just take a peek at this ceiling fan to see what I need to sort out to make the iFan happen.

First surprise is that there is no actual pole or other strut on the thing so when I looses the four screws that was it and there I stood holding the thing in my hand unexpectedly.

So I find this...

0a3f252f46b9a0c0f8825797b45cbeaf.jpg


0e738e12ccbce7b73849ad4ab6432186.jpg


So immediately I am confused about why are there two neutrals (because black) coming down from the roof and being spliced together at this chocolate block.

Do I assume that it’s maybe bridged here to go to the lights? Easy enough to answer if I just disconnect one I guess but not really a possibility while un prepared and standing on a ladder with a fan in hand.

So I decide to just take a look at the switch because maybe it explains a bit more.

122e74ff0af03d95087b1636f598e1ae.jpg


Nope, even more confusion.

First though it WOAH THERE IS A NEUTRAL!!! Install all the Smart Things.

Then I’m like again, why are there two of them if they are neutrals? This makes no sense. One appears to be "incoming" and the other outgoing but I'm kind of like why are they there at all then?

The top switch is just for the downlights and it's bridged with a short red wire to the bottom switch, which I also don't quite understand. Is it just splitting the incoming live into two?

****

Now outside of the wire confusion, presumably the iFan could simply replace that chocolate block to manage the rest of the wiring? Took the photo at a stupid angle so have to go by memory but I'm almost sure there are two wires coming out of the "red into black" side which should then be one for the light and one for the fan?

The wall switch obviously just turns the whole lot on, it has no intelligence over light vs fan because the pull chains do that.
Click to expand...
I don't think you need the iFan for what you want to do with regard to wiring.
2 Sonoff Basics, or that double Sonoff will do the job of switching.
If you want to control fan speed, you'll need to actually replace the driver inside the fan unit.
 
SauRoNZA said:
So while I’m at home at had a spare moment I figured let’s just take a peek at this ceiling fan to see what I need to sort out to make the iFan happen.

First surprise is that there is no actual pole or other strut on the thing so when I looses the four screws that was it and there I stood holding the thing in my hand unexpectedly.

So I find this...

0a3f252f46b9a0c0f8825797b45cbeaf.jpg


0e738e12ccbce7b73849ad4ab6432186.jpg


So immediately I am confused about why are there two neutrals (because black) coming down from the roof and being spliced together at this chocolate block.

Do I assume that it’s maybe bridged here to go to the lights? Easy enough to answer if I just disconnect one I guess but not really a possibility while un prepared and standing on a ladder with a fan in hand.

So I decide to just take a look at the switch because maybe it explains a bit more.

122e74ff0af03d95087b1636f598e1ae.jpg


Nope, even more confusion.

First though it WOAH THERE IS A NEUTRAL!!! Install all the Smart Things.

Then I’m like again, why are there two of them if they are neutrals? This makes no sense. One appears to be "incoming" and the other outgoing but I'm kind of like why are they there at all then?

The top switch is just for the downlights and it's bridged with a short red wire to the bottom switch, which I also don't quite understand. Is it just splitting the incoming live into two?

****

Now outside of the wire confusion, presumably the iFan could simply replace that chocolate block to manage the rest of the wiring? Took the photo at a stupid angle so have to go by memory but I'm almost sure there are two wires coming out of the "red into black" side which should then be one for the light and one for the fan?

The wall switch obviously just turns the whole lot on, it has no intelligence over light vs fan because the pull chains do that.
Click to expand...

that hook btw is so you don't have to hold it.

the neutrals are probably just chained, and the lack of neutrals in the wall socket is normal, the live is switched generally.

also... dont assume that neutral in the switch is a neutral... my guess is it is a live incoming and a hot outgoing.
 
Steamy Tom said:
that hook btw is so you don't have to hold it.

the neutrals are probably just chained, and the lack of neutrals in the wall socket is normal, the live is switched generally.

also... dont assume that neutral in the switch is a neutral... my guess is it is a live incoming and a hot outgoing.
Click to expand...

I know the lack of neutrals in the wall is normal, hence the surprise that they would be there if they are neutral.

Accidentally pulled them out of the switch when putting it back and they are joined together....and yet the light and fan stilll turned on.

Grabbed the voltmeter and got nothing out of them....but at the same time got nothing out of anything else (didn't pull others out so could just be a bad contact.
 
JeffMan said:
I don't think you need the iFan for what you want to do with regard to wiring.
2 Sonoff Basics, or that double Sonoff will do the job of switching.
If you want to control fan speed, you'll need to actually replace the driver inside the fan unit.
Click to expand...

I bought the iFan on a whim to trial it out because it was stupidly cheap, so i have it already.

My understanding was as long as you put the pull chain on it's highest setting the controls will work to change speeds, but at the same time I rarely ever case to change the speed so just having it go on/off would also be fine enough.

Two basics or the iFan will take about the same amount of space inside, the benefit is the iFan has the remote so can still switch it by the wall socket side.

The main trick however is that I want to avoid getting into the roof at all costs, because getting to this particular section is not my idea of fun.
 
SauRoNZA said:
I bought the iFan on a whim to trial it out because it was stupidly cheap, so i have it already.

My understanding was as long as you put the pull chain on it's highest setting the controls will work to change speeds, but at the same time I rarely ever case to change the speed so just having it go on/off would also be fine enough.

Two basics or the iFan will take about the same amount of space inside, the benefit is the iFan has the remote so can still switch it by the wall socket side.

The main trick however is that I want to avoid getting into the roof at all costs, because getting to this particular section is not my idea of fun.
Click to expand...
The driver should be in the fan itself - so you don't need to go in the roof.
Completely understand your aversion - HATE going in the roof
 
JeffMan said:
The driver should be in the fan itself - so you don't need to go in the roof.
Completely understand your aversion - HATE going in the roof
Click to expand...

Oh no wasn't referring to that, rather just making it all fit.

Don't mind the roof so much in the other sections.
 
Steamy Tom said:
what element does your geyser have? I have heard stories of those sonoffs not being ideal for a geyser

on a related note: https://powerforum.co.za/topic/3985-2kw-geyser-on-16a-sonoff/

but yes that does puzzle me too what you are saying...dodgy wiring or isolater or something?
Click to expand...

Okay so here’s a thought.

I never Wired the Earth into the Sonoff as it was already just bridged and hard to get to.

So the question of logic I have now is what is the expected behaviour?

If I run the earth through the Sonoff and there is a problem does it trip the Earth breaker?

If I don’t run the Earth through the Sonoff does it trip the dedicated breaker?

Or do they really have nothing to do with each other?
 
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