Home Automation - Smartkit

chickenbeef said:
Yep, can add me to that list too. I had a few issues with the electrical stuff after moving in, got the company that did the CoC to fix some of it but the work was so shoddy I ended up redoing most of it myself.

e.g. In the kitchen, we had exposed wires (not twin/earth or even house wire) running through the cupboards and then connected to the stove by twisting the wires and taping it up.
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Seems to me it would be easier to go and do some training in the electricity department myself than to appoint a reliable sparky. On the IoT side of things, would be interesting to see if there is any value in actually doing some training to do various installs for the average Joe Soap. Things like geofence for gates or push notifications for security systems etc. Are there any companies that focus on this?
 
ebendl said:
A contactor is a heavy-duty relay that you typically switch on/off with AC (as opposed to DC). So in my case, I use a Sonoff basic (10A max) to switch on/off a contactor to switch on/off a 4kW geyser (around 17A).

Just note, if you use a contactor then you can no longer measure current/power consumption of whatever you're switching on/off using something like a Shelly EM or Sonoff POW. You would only measure whatever current the contactor use, not what it is driving.

I didn't realise it, but if you've ever been in an office where you flick one "normal" light-switch, there's a "thunk" noise and then the whole building/floor's light turn on/off? That "thunk" is a contactor. So you use a normal, lightweight switch to switch on/off the contactor, which then turns on/off all of the lights of the floor.
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Thanks for all the info! Had the electrician around today and the Sonoff was fitted. Just as well I brought him around as he's wired up a breaker up stream from the Sonoff so it can't be maxed out.
 
ameetr said:
Hi

I'm also looking for a way to bypass certain zones. Been scouring many of the forums, but haven’t had any joy!
Also been trying the Dev branch, but no luck.
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Hi All. I thought I would share here. We have a fully accredited system that works on RF. Every switch is autonomous from a single gang to a 3 gang all South African standard. Simole to install or we can install for you. We also helo with design. Here is a video of how our system works.
 
lucifir said:
I am trying to dip my toes into this area of home automation, starting with light switches.
Any suggestions on where to start ?
I have been looking at sonoff, but was wondering if maybe there are other options on the market, as I have read/heard that they don't fit easily into the boxes.
I am open to replacing the switches with new switches if costs are not too much higher
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Try Switchsmart. Brilliant system and best of all it's easy to retrofit because you don't need a neutral.
 
Tinuva said:
For geyser switch, I think what you rather want is something like this:

Available in most stores, even Makro:
tddgt1313671726.jpg



Downside to that is, you won't be controlling it remotely. I haven't yet found something that works like the above and is available remotely. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, just haven't found the perfect solution yet.
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I have this timer in my DB. Is there a suitable wifi smart switch replacement available yet?
 
rph72 said:
I have this timer in my DB. Is there a suitable wifi smart switch replacement available yet?
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I have made a note for myself to use a contacter. Someone on here posted this link:
www.em.co.za

ESC225

Modular contactorsFeatures:Four ratings: 16A, 25A, 40A, 63AModular DIN rail mounting (same cut-out as MCBs)One and two module contactors feature economy low consumption, low heat dissipation coilsRATED POWER AC-1 (A)25ACOIL VOLTAGE230 VACDESCRIPTION Modular standard contactorCONTACT...
www.em.co.za www.em.co.za

Then you can use your favorite switch in the DB with that, eg. ShellyEM or Shelly1 or Sonoff Basic(need to isolate the relay) to trigger the contactor for on/off,
 
Tinuva said:
I have made a note for myself to use a contacter. Someone on here posted this link:
www.em.co.za

ESC225

Modular contactorsFeatures:Four ratings: 16A, 25A, 40A, 63AModular DIN rail mounting (same cut-out as MCBs)One and two module contactors feature economy low consumption, low heat dissipation coilsRATED POWER AC-1 (A)25ACOIL VOLTAGE230 VACDESCRIPTION Modular standard contactorCONTACT...
www.em.co.za www.em.co.za

Then you can use your favorite switch in the DB with that, eg. ShellyEM or Shelly1 or Sonoff Basic(need to isolate the relay) to trigger the contactor for on/off,
Click to expand...

Yeah, as discussed it doesn't make sense to use a ShellyEM since you will only measure the power used by the contactor, not the geyser.
 
Tinuva said:
I have made a note for myself to use a contacter. Someone on here posted this link:
www.em.co.za

ESC225

Modular contactorsFeatures:Four ratings: 16A, 25A, 40A, 63AModular DIN rail mounting (same cut-out as MCBs)One and two module contactors feature economy low consumption, low heat dissipation coilsRATED POWER AC-1 (A)25ACOIL VOLTAGE230 VACDESCRIPTION Modular standard contactorCONTACT...
www.em.co.za www.em.co.za

Then you can use your favorite switch in the DB with that, eg. ShellyEM or Shelly1 or Sonoff Basic(need to isolate the relay) to trigger the contactor for on/off,
Click to expand...

Thanks Tinuva, I'm getting a sparkie in to pull neutrals to my wall switches & will get him to install the contactor & sonoff at the same time. I presume the sparkie has access to contactors or must I go buy one?
 
rph72 said:
Thanks Tinuva, I'm getting a sparkie in to pull neutrals to my wall switches & will get him to install the contactor & sonoff at the same time. I presume the sparkie has access to contactors or must I go buy one?
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He might, but safer to have it on hand and probably save time too instead of him having to go buy it on the day
 
rph72 said:
Thanks Tinuva, I'm getting a sparkie in to pull neutrals to my wall switches & will get him to install the contactor & sonoff at the same time. I presume the sparkie has access to contactors or must I go buy one?
Click to expand...
He might, but safer to have it on hand and probably save time too instead of him having to go buy it on the day
 
SAguy said:
After my renovations in the next few months I'll get a CoC then, hopefully it passes.

With my previous house I did some electrical work myself as well, including outside lights/plugs - it all passed CoC.

What failed CoC was stuff that was signed off during the CoC when I actually bought and took ownership of the place 7 years prior. Cost me R10k :mad:
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InternetLuddite said:
I have the same problem. They should change the law for selling houses , that it's the buyer's choice to appoint the electrician to do the COC, at the cost of the seller. That would solve 95% of the problems buyers face with houses that have COCs not worth even wiping your arse with. You can be rest assured, next time I buy a place, that's the condition in my OTP.
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chickenbeef said:
Yep, can add me to that list too. I had a few issues with the electrical stuff after moving in, got the company that did the CoC to fix some of it but the work was so shoddy I ended up redoing most of it myself.

e.g. In the kitchen, we had exposed wires (not twin/earth or even house wire) running through the cupboards and then connected to the stove by twisting the wires and taping it up.
Click to expand...

can add me to that list too....
 
Tinuva said:
He might, but safer to have it on hand and probably save time too instead of him having to go buy it on the day
Click to expand...
I'll give him a heads up when my switches arrive. Still need to source a Sonoff as well.
 
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