Cheap Tuya Smart Switch EM

Hello everybody,
With my last aliexpress order I have ordered a couple of Aubess Wifi Mini Smart Switch: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004025767107.html

All my previous Tuya devices were promptly converted to ESPHome. However this device is failing to convert (apparently it is not running on the right chip or firmware too new).
So I have setup all the required Tuya accounts, installed Tuya smart life app and Tuya and LocalTuya integrations.
The device is seen by LocalTuya but it is failing to add - looking at localTuya github I am not the only one with that problem.
In the Tuya integration app the device added OK, switch works fine however the energy metering part is missing.
I am now reading that to use Tuya API you have to pay (after the initial trial period expires)?!?

I am ready to put that little device in the bin (it was only £3) or strip it for parts. Unless I have got it all wrong ?
What do you think?
Is there anyone out there that uses Tuya devices with HA? What are your experiences?

I generally have bad experience with tuya wifi switches. Then again I’m using tuya zigbee switches that’s works fine.
Some guys on the forum said its because I must messed something up with my wifi… but I think that they have bad production control and have switches on the sale that have some issues from the factory.
That’s the most logical explanation for me because some of them are just working fine from day one even over the cloud and others just don’t.
I still have 12 tuya wifi switches.

Worth a try for the esphome “port” of libretuya (still very much in development).

They use BL2028N chip that is not on the list of LibreTuya supported…

They successfully converted/freed this type of device on the libretuya discord in the past already.

According to this information here: Mini Smart Switch 16A Relay (ZN269098) Configuration for Tasmota

The wifi module is/was/can-be a WB2S which is supported by libretuya: WB2S - LibreTuya

Well, after playing around with Tuya and the Tuya integrations and seeing how bad it is I have purchased ESP-02S replaced the incompatible chip (the original chip is pin compatible with esp02s).
Then I have installed tasmota on it (the main reason for that is that they have a really good discovery process for unknown devices) and here is the result:

That sounds indeed that the original tuya chip then was a WB2S (BK7231T) and probably not a BLN2028N like @monaco claimed.

These chips/devices can be even converted to esphome (libretuya fork) without opening it using cloudcutter (or any other modifications) :rocket:

Good to know!

I need to try. But if I understand your link, you have to install linux, docker and some similar shit… it sounds easier to replace the chip :smiley:

Reading the first line of the getting started page says:

Using LibreTuya is simple, just like every other PlatformIO development platform.

followed by a link how to install for your platform (it’s not only exclusively available for linux…) and one more command to just copy&paste to have libretuya installed. :tada:

The tuya-cloudclutter stuff itself is indeed based around linux & docker (as the good old tuya-convert) but as the docs mention you can all do this also in a virtual machine (for example on win or mac machine). The steps should be easy enough to follow for most and not much more as some copy&paste knowledge is actually needed. :bulb:

Not sure about that, beside you need the hardware (including soldering stuff) one also need the skills to actually do it and can’t just follow some simple copy&paste tutorial or a random youtube video which explains how-to free your device without (any special) skills :man_factory_worker:

Beside that the hardware hack also does include more expenses and probably is also more time consuming for the majority of people. :man_shrugging:

I would always go the way with the least effort but it’s always nice if there is more than one way to reach the goal :checkered_flag:

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do you have any links with more information? I tried unsuccessfully to use tuya-cloudcutter on those devices… seems like there is no profile that works. So any information would help (I also don’t want to go replacing the wifi chip ;))

The LibreTuya discord has a lots of information and probably is also the best spot to ask question about it :speech_balloon:

I just discovered the combination of ESPhome/Libretuya with tuya-cloudcutter and to my eyes this seems at least AWESOME! Theoretically it’s a new Tuya-convert for BK7231 chips (since only these are currently supported by tuya-cloudcutter). But as the work progresses I guess a lot more chips will be supported. As long as there is a way to avoid opening the devices, this will always be my preferred way.
For example I have a couple of 16A power metering Girier plugs, which according to this https://www.elektroda.com/rtvforum/topic3937910.html should have the CB2S/ BK7231N chip, which is supported by Tuya cloudcutter. Now I’m thinking to (try to) flash a libretuya-esphome firmware on them and see how this goes.
From the list of cloudcutter’s supported devices (tuya-cloudcutter.github.io/devices at master · tuya-cloudcutter/tuya-cloudcutter.github.io · GitHub), would it be ok to select the " tuya-generic-lspa9-smart-plug" profile for these plugs? I think it’s as close as it gets.
Finally, if I manage to compile and upload a tuyalibre-esphome to the plugs, will they immediately be integrated with ESPhome in HA without any problems? Or is there something else I should do too?

If the firmware version matches with your device, then cloudcutting should work.
Yep, it gets picked up instantly

Hi @alfwro13
Hardware wise, how reliable is it since you last installed it?
Any notable issues like relays randomly turning on/buzzing sound?
Planning to get a few of this

No issues so far.

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did you manage to get it working?

I have a pile of identical looking devices that contain a BL2028N, but it’s not on a module, ity’s on the board directly. Has anyone else had experience with these?

It’s another name for bk7231n

Mis nuevos modelos son Aubess Mini Interruptor también, los abrí y vi que eran bk7231n también, los asocié mediante la app Smartlife, y Google Home independientemente, y después agregue la integracion de ambas dos a home assistant. Todo perfecto, es reconocido todo tanto en App Smartlife, App GoogleHome y Home Assistant mediante Raspberry. Esos fueron los pasos. Y todo funciona perfecto. Por sirve de algo a alguien :slight_smile:

Hola tuletula, ¿cómo los controlas a través de Home Assistant?
Tengo la integración de tuya donde me aparece el switch pero no me deja controlarlo.

Edit: lo que eliminado y vuelto a añadir y ya me deja controlarlo.