Viron Astral Pool ChlorinatorGo integration

Working well, currently showing NoError and I’ve set up an automation to alert me when this changes.

Interestingly it just triggered. Shows most values as UNKNOWN, however some values like set points show correctly.

Strange?

Fixed itself…

Our of interest, what are the possible values for ORP status, PH status and Error message?

The possible values can be found in the halo_parsers.py file, denoted by the lines below. You’ll have to open the links, as the forum preview doesnt show all values.

Info Message

Chlorine status

pH status

Error Message. (which i will be renaming to status given the inconsistency with above.)

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DO NOT UPGRADE YOUR HALO TO FIRMWARE V2.4. It is no longer compatible.

Upon further investigation, it appears that the security measures in Halo firmware v2.4 have changed, effectively locking out the integration in its current state.

The mobile app now performs a challenge/response with their cloud server to authorize local Bluetooth connectivity. While implementing this is relatively simple, it would require contacting their cloud server for a challenge/response for every new session key acquired locally via Bluetooth.

Their stance on this HA integration is clear. Given the new requirement for an internet connection to establish local Bluetooth connectivity, I empathize with end users and pool technicians who have poor or no internet coverage and are now unable to connect locally via Bluetooth to the Halo device in front of them as a result of this change.

Until then, we can only hope for the promised public API like they have with the connect 10.

But for now, I’ve got no interest in playing cat and mouse.

It’s also ironic that this post number 404

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This is really dissapointing by Astral, considering how they market the Halo Chlor as the ‘gold standard’ coupled with the effort you put into this awesome integration @nagyOUT

Let us know if there’s anything we can do, there’s many here that would happily write to them to convey our dissatisfaction.

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Thanks - agreed, very disappointing.
Is it worth a few of us reaching out to Astral? Do you have a tech contact there?

This challenge/response - if it’s relatively straightforward to implement, then is it not worth implementing?

Any idea what else is new in 2.4? I hadn’t even noticed it. Lucky!

To implement it is easy.
I’ve already validated it by manually hitting the cloud end points.

But it’s just going to start a cat and mouse game I’ve got no interest in doing. If it’s Bluetooth, it should stay local, not poll cloud server every 60 seconds.

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nagyOUT, whilst I agree with your thinking, it is possible Astral added this for other reasons - rather than blocking this integration. I also suspect many people will be forced to update to 2.4 and newer versions for other reasons (bugs, new features). The idea of losing your integration depresses me!

Yep, that’s right. As there’s been no official word. It’s just speculation right now as to why they’ve done this.

Theyve just released 2.5 Daniel, ill upgrade and see what (if any) difference it makes.

*update- I seem to have basic chlorinator control back (auto/low/med/high) but no sensors or light control.

Its a step in the right direction!

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@nagyOUT
Hi Daniel,
I know you said you’re not doing any more dev work on this project, but hopefully this is a quick question.

Is there a sensor that we can see for the Low Salt Time statistic?

This is the only place I can see any information about low salt warnings.

Hrm. I don’t recall to be honest. You can check by enabling debug mode for the integration and see what data is returned. Given it’s in the mobile app, it should be there.

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I find that strange that you can control it. Can anyone else confirm that? Was your halo still paired from old firmware? Or were you able to pair it again ?

So, looks like their cloud server is currently offline…

And guess what, we’re unable to connect via local Bluetooth to our halo…

From the limited contacts we have with Fluidra and associates, does anyone know if there will ever be a solution? Be it API or otherwise? It’d be nice to know that they’re generally heading in any given direction.

Im at 2.5 and find it strange that my previously working and paired configuration has now regained some temporary and limited control of the pump speed only, which suggests they may have dialled it back to some extent?

Cheers
Mark

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Looks like my chlorinator is running firmware 1.3…is there a way to get this to the supported 2.2 version and not jump to the latest?

Great integration!

@pbutterworth I see it is possible to set ORP and pH levels from within the ChlorinatorGo app.

I can’t see how to do this in HA. Is it possible?

Thanks!

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It’s not implemented in the integration, however it is technically possible.
Involves writing to the UUID_CHLORINATOR_SETUP characteristic.
It’s a bit fiddly setting up the HA entity because it needs to read the chlorinator capabilities to set the min/max/stepsize of the number entity.

I change these settings so infrequently that it didn’t motivate me to implement it in the integration… One day…

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Ok, makes sense! Thanks for replying

Hi @pbutterworth I have been looking to solve my Astral EQ25 bluetooth shortcoming for a few years now and came across your thread using Home Assistant. Sorry newbie here, I went to Github hoping for me information on the setup but couldn’t find what I was looking for. I am hoping to use a Shelly Bluetooth Wifi gateway to control chlorinator via Wifi. Shelly BLU Gateway | Shelly Store UK | Smart Home Automation. Can you advise if your code works with the Shelly device. I am hoping not go down ESP32 path and keep it simple