Home Automation - Smartkit

I've mostly used Fibaro for my home automation needs. I have a friend that wants home automation done for his 75sqm apartment and looking for the most cost effective way.

What would you guys suggest for this apartment - @Dolby @phaktza

Lights to be controlled:
Lounge
Kitchen
Bedroom 1
Bedroom 2
En-suite
General bathroom
Patio
RGBW strip behind TV or TV unit

Are the Mini's able to control 2 physical switches or only 1? i.e. If there is a 3 gang switch what would I use?

Will be installing 1 x UniFi AP AC-LR for the WiFi
Google Home or Alexa for voice
1 x Apple TV 4K

Thanks

Hi @Nimz

For the most part you will use the Sonoff TX or Mini for light switch replacements - ensure the neutral is present.

The Mini controls a single "gang" at a time (though it can be used as a two way switch). You would need three in a three gang switch - it may be a squeeze.

The Sonoff L1 controls RGBW LED strips.

Sonoff will not work with HomeKit out the box.
 
@phaktza
Hi my Sonoff LED light strip was returned as faulty to you guys almost a month ago and I still have not had a replacement sent to me, please could you follow this up asap.
 
Anyone looked at the ads for "my place" that are popping up on mybb?
Its quite funny when you see what it includes and what kind of price point they are looking at.

Makes me wonder, how many people are actually buying overpriced kit like that?
 
Hi @Nimz

For the most part you will use the Sonoff TX or Mini for light switch replacements - ensure the neutral is present.

The Mini controls a single "gang" at a time (though it can be used as a two way switch). You would need three in a three gang switch - it may be a squeeze.

The Sonoff L1 controls RGBW LED strips.

Sonoff will not work with HomeKit out the box.
The newer T3 light switches are a huge step up from the original touch and T1 units, either T2 or T3(depending on colour preference) would be a good place to start for controlling lights.
 
The newer T3 light switches are a huge step up from the original touch and T1 units, either T2 or T3(depending on colour preference) would be a good place to start for controlling lights.
Worth replacing the T1's?
 
Worth replacing the T1's?
Not really, they function in the same way really so no benefit there.
The quality is a lot better on the T3 though and the installation is *way* easier than it was with the T1.
I have 9 of the T1's ranging from 1-3 gangs and 3 of the T3's and at the end of the day they all do the same thing, without issues. I sure would have loved the T3's when I was installing though because there isnt the fiddly retaining ring and mounting is a lot more solid.
 
Anyone looked at the ads for "my place" that are popping up on mybb?
Its quite funny when you see what it includes and what kind of price point they are looking at.

Makes me wonder, how many people are actually buying overpriced kit like that?

Don’t have ads but do throw a link so we can laugh.
 
Nope board is poked, apparently they want like 3.5k for a new one.

For my Bosch fridge these guy's, Lategan and van Biljoens https://www.appliancespares.co.za/ were the cheapest (even less than Bosch directly.) perhaps they have for your's.
But they are not cheap, if memory serves, round about R2.5k, it was a real choice between the board or cutting losses and buying a new fridge.
 
For my Bosch fridge these guy's, Lategan and van Biljoens https://www.appliancespares.co.za/ were the cheapest (even less than Bosch directly.) perhaps they have for your's.
But they are not cheap, if memory serves, round about R2.5k, it was a real choice between the board or cutting losses and buying a new fridge.

Nah it works great, just needs a defrost every now and then.
 
Has anyone ever implemented a Wi-Bell?
It looks like the product is manufactured in locally! Milnerton, Capetown.

I would love to be able to integrate this into my HA system if at all possible.
Google Nest hub would be a nice perk. It does not look like there is any Google home type integration.
 
Has anyone ever implemented a Wi-Bell?
It looks like the product is manufactured in locally! Milnerton, Capetown.

I would love to be able to integrate this into my HA system if at all possible.
Google Nest hub would be a nice perk. It does not look like there is any Google home type integration.

I've had a look at this a couple of times. They sell it on Takealot too: https://www.takealot.com/all?filter=Brand:Wi-Bell

Didn't realize it was a local crowd. The iOS app is developed by a "Geoff Malkin" who is the managing director of Wi-Bell, Cape Town: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-malkin-53290a46/?originalSubdomain=za

The product has existed since 2016. I did a quick search on Alibaba to see if it might be a rebranded Chinese product but didn't find anything yet.

Why don't you contact them and see if there's an opportunity to use some API or something?
 
I've had a look at this a couple of times. They sell it on Takealot too: https://www.takealot.com/all?filter=Brand:Wi-Bell

Didn't realize it was a local crowd. The iOS app is developed by a "Geoff Malkin" who is the managing director of Wi-Bell, Cape Town: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-malkin-53290a46/?originalSubdomain=za

The product has existed since 2016. I did a quick search on Alibaba to see if it might be a rebranded Chinese product but didn't find anything yet.

Why don't you contact them and see if there's an opportunity to use some API or something?
Post you findings here. Maybe it's something we could sell. Though we are looking at Tuya alternatives.
 
I did a bit of digging, and it seems it is a rebranded product.
I'll contact the guys in Cape Town in the new year to get a unit. Hopefully they have an API that they'll be willing to share. Or a bit of wireshark engineering could help.
@phaktza, if you have a similar product, I'll be more than interested! Ideally, I'd like to integrate with Node-Red or Google home.
 
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