Wireless button

ESPHome
1

Hi, I want to control with ESP multiple devices, but I’m looking for wireless switch/button. Because I don’t want to have cables all over the garage or house. What is the best option ? Multiple ESP devices and Wifi communication ? For example every switch will be next ESP device ? Or is there better solution ?

Thanks for ideas.

2

There is no “best” option in my opinion, it’s all up to preferences, availability, protocol etc. If these buttons are supposed to interact with your ESPs through HA you have tons of options - Zigbee, Z-wave, WiFi etc… If you explain a bit more about the usecase and where you are located that helps.

3

Battery runtime is the biggest problem with WiFi based devices.

What I do with my sonoff m5 wall switches which are esp32 is to use BLE based devices to interact. BLE button/trackers are very cheap and can control ESP/HA devices

4

One device for multiple purposes

input:

  • button to open/close garage door
  • read position of garage door
  • button to open/close car gate
  • read position of car gate
  • temperature + humidity monitoring in garage
  • temperature + humidity monitoring outside

output:

  • open/close garage door
  • open/close car gate
  • ready for something new in future

so far I’m using Z2M with zigbee buttons (IKEA), but they are unreliable. They disconnect often, and battery is dead after 3 months. So I’m lookign for something which can be powered by battery but at least for 1 year. I was thinking home made button with 3x1.5AA batteries with ESP. Does anyone know, how long it will last ?

5

Way less than the Zigbee buttons, unless you have something like a power latch circuit to wake them up before use and even then I wouldn’t guarantee a year.

I use Ikea remotes for lots of things, and with a sensible number of repeaters and the latest firmware they last close to a year.

6

@zoogara I have this button, which buttons and firmware do you use ?
And maybe relevant question, which battery manufacturer ?

Firmware build date
20230308
Firmware version
24.4.6
Manufacturer
[IKEA](https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=IKEA)
Model
[E1812](https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/devices/E1812.html#ikea-e1812)

{
    "battery": 1,
    "last_seen": "2023-11-11T10:52:23+01:00",
    "linkquality": 255,
    "update": {
        "installed_version": 604241926,
        "latest_version": 604241926,
        "state": "idle"
    },
    "update_available": false
}
7

I have a E1810 on firmware 24.4.5 that’s been going for a year, another E1810 on old firmware
2.3.014 (which has been going for at least 8 months even though the other went through a couple of batteries before update) and 2 x E1744 that have never had new batteries in over 10 months on 24.4.5.

All get daily uses several times a day.

There was a lot of discussions in the forum for Ikea battery life (search and you will probably find it) and the consensus I believe was plenty of repeaters and update firmware. The Ikea release notes often mention improved battery performance.

8

In my opinion, this isn’t signal issue, button is 10 cm away from IKEA smart outlet with LQ255. It is placed in garage where the yearly temperature is from +7C to +25C ( no freezing ), so battery is in stable environment.

Firmware build date
20211118
Firmware version
2.3.089
Manufacturer
[IKEA](https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=IKEA)
Model
[E1603/E1702/E1708](https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/devices/E1603_E1702_E1708.html#ikea-e1603%252Fe1702%252Fe1708)

{
    "last_seen": "2023-11-14T08:07:28+01:00",
    "linkquality": 255,
    "power_on_behavior": "previous",
    "state": "ON",
    "update": {
        "installed_version": 587765297,
        "latest_version": 587765297,
        "state": "idle"
    },
    "update_available": false
}

Usually I have to touch button several times till it react, and sometimes is completely disconnected from network. I have two of this buttons, but in my setup, they are unreliable. Therefore I’m looking for different approach.

1 Like
9

I have one of these: Xiaomi WXKG11LM control via MQTT | Zigbee2MQTT that controls our shoe drying thingy in our washing room, it rarely gets used, especially in the summer time it can go untouched for 5-6 months. At the moment it reports 98 LQI.
I’ve never had any issues with having to press it more than once or that it drops out of the network. They are quite cheap on aliexpress. Maybe worth a try?

1 Like