Australia - Electrically Certified Hardware

Hardware
6014

I like it, I did not think to utilise the rain chance sensor in my Node Red Flow. I like the logic you have applied here including the temperature.

6015

If you want to vary your irrigation duration based on the forecast temperature, you might want to try something like the below too.
I can’t rely on soil moisture measurements, so aside from some conditions (don’t irrigate if there’s been sufficient rain in the past few days (or it’s forecast), don’t irrigate in cold weather etc) I instead vary on a logarithmic scale based on termpature.

The HA sensor itself (configuration.yaml) looks like this:

  - sensor:
      - name: "Irrigation multiplier"
        state: '{{ float(log(states.sensor.bomforecast_temp_max_0.state, 28) ** 6) |round(2) }}'

Where:

  • ‘28’ results in a runtime multiplier of ‘1’ if there’s a forecast max of 28 degrees.
  • ‘6’ is the exponent - how aggressively the multiplier curve moves up or down either side of 28 degrees.
    Pop this into your template editor under developer tools if you want to get a sense of how the numbers work
{{ float(log(28, 28) ** 6) |round(2) }}

Then my irrigation action calls the duration with the multiplier applied:

action:
  - service: esphome.irrigation_ab75a5_irrigation_ab75a5_run_back
    data:
      zone1: "{{ (120 * float(states.sensor.irrigation_multiplier.state)) |round }}"
      zone2: "{{ (900 * float(states.sensor.irrigation_multiplier.state)) |round }}"
      zone3: "{{ (900 * float(states.sensor.irrigation_multiplier.state)) |round }}"
      zone4: "{{ (600 * float(states.sensor.irrigation_multiplier.state)) |round }}"
      etc etc etc...
1 Like
6016

Thanks for sharing the code on the multiplier, I might be able to use that logic with something else. Have you tried any soil moisture meters?

6017

I’ve messed around with the resistive ones (they corrode really easily) and the capacitive ones (which seem better, albeit more expensive).

The issue for me is the sheer size of area I’m irrigating and the number of sensors I’d need to get a representative sample/average. My irrigation controllers are also quite a distance from the solenoids and the irrigated areas, so getting sensor readings over such distances is problematic.

1 Like
6018

These are fairly cheap and have been working for me but you are right the costs do go up quickly if you need a heap. I am just planning on 3 for each garden bed in 3 different areas of the yard, 1500m2. Between 9 sensors in 3 different areas I think I should be able to get a good representative sample.

So far they seem to be working well.
* Zigbee Model TS0601.

  • Manufacturer TuYa.
  • Model TS0601_soil

image
image577×713 74.3 KB

1 Like
6019

A bit similar in the RF category…

I’ve was meaning to try them for some time but wound up with another solution.

RF is good for distance and I suspect you could build a ESPHome reciever that could control stuff too.

AU$22.59 | 1 pcs of misol spare part (wireless soil moisture sensor), WH0291S-TR
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mMHn6JE

1 Like
6020

Would a Bond Bridge connect to these devices?

6021

I don’t know. I don’t think so.

I suspect they only “listen” for RF when put in learning mode. And then I don’t know how you’d parse out the data from the signal anyway with that.

I use one of these for listening and sending RF (DIY ESPHome build)

6022

I used to use the GiEX branded zigbee water devices (TS0601) but they just burnt through batteries in a couple of days. I’m using the ones similar to what you posted - or at least ones that are physically identical - EcoWitt branded https://www.amazon.com.au/Ecowitt-Moisture-Sensor-Humidity-Tester

I use a cheap RTL dongle from aliexpress to monitor the readings https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32900553328.html

Using the RTL_433 add-on from homeassistant.

They work really well. The dongle is located right in the centre of the house, but is able to read the sensors in the back yard as well as the front garden.

image

1 Like
6023

Sounds like a decent option!!

6024

My batteries have been holding pretty well. Mine were not GiEX Branded when I bought them. I also have zigbee repeaters one wall away from my soil moisture meters.

I do like the idea of 433mhz devices.

6025

I bought the first batch, they apparently fixed it in a later batch, but you can’t upgrade the firmward so they’re bricks. So rather than buy them again (and they’re pretty bloody big tbh) I went with the 433Mhz ones.

6026

I don’t mind the size, save the Mrs slaughtering them when she is in the garden. I did look at those 433 ones but could not find an easy way to integrate.

6027

Can you upgrade the firmware if you connect it to a Tuya Hub and upgrade the firmware through the Smart Life or Tuya App?

6028

for the ecowitt 433mhz soil sensors you can use the ecowitt bridge/wifi gateway gw1100 theres an add on in HA, you just punch in the IP data via the web interface on the wifi gateway and its good to go.

1 Like
6029

Anyone here using the Aqara T2 Dual Relay? Any feedback? Doesn’t appear to have neutral and not sure if it would work with dimmable LED’s? According to this review the product could receive native thread support in the future

6030

Yes it has a N, I have one at the moment and it was easy to pair directly via zigbee to my HA instance. I am still trying to get an electrician to reply back to me and install the one I have for me where I need it.

1 Like
6031

It’s just an ON/OFF relay so it has no ability to perform dimming. If you connect dimmable LED’s to it they will only ever turn on at full brightness, which is fine if that’s all you want them to do.

1 Like
6032

No, I bought a tuya zigbee gateway for that specific reason. But you can’t.

1 Like
6033

Anyone know of an Australian standard certified ZHA zigbee 4 socket powerboard with inbuilt power monitoring ?

Thanks