Hello HA community!
I have been slowly working to implement automation in my home, and just completed my first “smart plug”. This specific model did not appear to be documented anywhere, so I was happy to be the first to do so (and test my new skills / teachings).
The model I have was labeled “Socket 2 Me by Origaudio” but my researching let me to understand this is actually an Azpen Home smart plug. The Socket 2 Me model appears to be a customized for bulk purchase product. I received mine at a conference I attended, so this makes sense.
Opening the case wasn’t to hard, but requires a gentle touch not to damage it - just pry slowly and carefully until it comes apart. Inside is a compact setup - a main board with all the non-esp8266 electronics, and a header connection to a (I believe) custom ESP8266 board. The shape of this is to go around the USB port - in my limit google searching I could not find any boards like this!
Flashing was not to bad (my second foray into esp8266 flashing) - but I did run into one big hassle. Even the there was a header soldered right on the board, the pins were to close together! I could only get 2 jumpers on before there was not enough room - this led me to bending a pin to get to it. Later I used a male end jumper instead and wedged it between the header pin and the jumper next to it. Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures of this, but is the board itself:
Anyway, the spacing of the pins was the biggest hurdle - so not bad at all!
The esp8266 board comes with a header already soldered on and all pins were labeled as well!
GPIO0 is NOT connected to the button on the board, so you have to jumper this as well, but again, it is exposed and easy to do.
I used tasmota software to identify the relays/switches/etc. This seemed to be the easiest way to complete using trial and error.
So there are a few gpio pins from the board that are broken out but not used. I never connected the device before flashing, so I don’t know if there is some feature I didn’t map - but somehow I doubt it… if anyone sees something on the boards that makes them think there is more, I’d be happy to test!
I uploaded the template to Tasmota - but forgot to attach pictures… I am going to try and add these later.
After completing this, I used the mappings I found and converted it to ESPhome… I like the flexibility of this software, and hope to play with it more. So far I have only gotten it uploaded and done a basic “it works” test. Nothing to complicated yet. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the USB was controllable - I didn’t expect that!
Well - that’s the story for now.
Cheers!
DeadEnd