probably a little bit off topic. I also found that any device using Grid connect is unreliable. Like you I am using Asus router (Zen Wifi XT8 + mesh). I am using smart wifi setting, ie no separate 2.4GHz or 5GGHz SSIDs, may be this is the cause. I found that I had to reset the router almost every 2nd week and then pray for the Grid connect devices to come back online.
I am now gradually moving to using HomeKit smart plugs, seems a lot more reliable. However, if moving to ESPHome can fix the Grid connect issue, I am all for it as those power boards and smart plugs are not being used at the moment
I got about as far as you and gave up, ESPhome flashing is based off Tasmota so I dont think it will work either. I have one too which is pretty flakey but good enough for what I need. I use Cygnett Smart Plugs (which are huge and bulky) on my washing machine, dryer and dishwasher which are much more reliable (integrated via SonoffLan HACS addon). I have also bought a few of the Athom preflashed smart plugs which are decent but the wifi range isnāt as far as the Cygnett and they cost more.
There are heaps of excellent low-cost smart devices out there like the CORUI Tuya WIFI Mini modules, AUBESS Tuya Smart Home Mini WiFi Smart Switches and the Moes Smart Life Tuya modules, I have tested them, and they all work great, and all have international certification for CE, FC, RoHS and comply with AS technical Standards. The major problem here is extensive ETU political lobbying has created different Australian Safety organisations different and ESV who simply turned around and decided to make everything illegal unless they are submitted for Australian Approval - OfCourse they have to pay heaps of money to have the Australian Authorities re-test and re-badge their products with Australian approvals and C-ticks ā¦ all this non-sense increases the price of products 3 - 5 times their original costs. The Australian testing houses carry out exactly the same tests according to international standard and really are just money-making enterprises that pass on these āapproval costsā to you the consumer. If you really want to do something, write a letter to your local government representative and the government. The only local supplier of smart devices I know of is Arlec āGrid-connectā who have submitted most of their devices for Australian approvals, but at higher costs to the consumer?
In the words of Dennis Denuto - āITāS THE VIBE OF IT. ITāS THE CONSTITUTION. ITāS MABO. ITāS JUSTICE. ITāS LAW. ITāS THE VIBE AND AH, NO THATāS IT. ITāS THE VIBE. I REST MY CASE.ā
It was a successful case. Darryl Kerrigan v The Crown.
Patraff, it was a good movie indeed, I enjoyed watching it many years ago, itās a pity moralās have gone with increasing prices?
monkeyismine, the quality hasnāt changed at all ā¦ only the higher price youāre willing to throw-away money for nothing other than keeping up the fake show for a label saying āAustralian Approvedā
If their āapproval mark or numberā makes them legally liable when things go wrong, then maybe I would be a little happy too?
Whatās going to be the go to for power meter plugs these days?
I have a few places that Iām interested in monitoring fridge, freezer, PC but itās been a minute since I picked up anything that had power monitoring in it.
Ideally they would something I could flash with esphome.
Well the go is basically that the cheapies that everyone have been using (Kogan, Brilliant) have been dropping like flies after about 1 year (especially on high power appliances) plus the manufacturers have been changing to chips that arenāt ESPHome compatible.
I donāt think there is a current clear favourite.
Iāve moved to Athom and theyāre fine so far but they arenāt certified and I canāt see that much long term testing info. I think TP-Link are getting a few mentions too.
Hopefully theyāll keep making and selling the Kasa ones. Bunnings used to sell them, but stopped stocking them in favour of the TP-Link TAPO ones. I have no idea what the real difference is between the two, except the need for a totally different app - and thereās no built in integration for them.
There is a custom component available to control in HACs though.
@SgtBatten and @intra it looks like from this thread that the Ikuu is turning off multiple times a day and the Clipsal Wiser is not syncing properly with zigbee2mqtt? So I guess that means the oz smart things stuff is the only other certified stuff? I lived in the US for 12 years and I found that Zigbee/Zwave stuff was easily available off-the-shelf for $45USDā¦ it is so hard to find good zigbee stuff in Australia. My electrician advises strongly against general Zigbee stuff from aliexpress.
Home Batteries
Iām about to launch into the next project at home. Iām seeking opinions on the best battery to install. Of course it needs to be able to be accessible to HA. I currently have 13.5Kw solar split with two SMA inverters. My energy dashboard shows that iām punching out pooploads to the grid most days but getting diddly for it.
I have EMHASS installed and follow that thread but havenāt done any playing with config.
Mark Purcell appears as the guru for this.
Iām essentially just doing a straw poll so you can telll me - mate stay away from this product etc.
Pat
