Aliexpress finds for home and DIY

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42 posts

Geek
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#1617984 26-Aug-2016 17:19

Anyone tried one of these wifi switches they use a cloud service which isn't ideal but could be useful. Really just want to know if the electronics in them are any good...

nickb800

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#1618003 26-Aug-2016 17:51

mpc:

Anyone tried one of these wifi switches they use a cloud service which isn't ideal but could be useful. Really just want to know if the electronics in them are any good...

I have one, it's based on esp8266. You just need to solder on headers to flash whatever software you want. I haven't got around to it myself, but have read online of others doing it

MadEngineer

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#1618032 26-Aug-2016 18:58

MadEngineer: I wouldn't buy led lamps or other mains powered gear from these places

Invercargill city council christmas lights from China non-compliant

BAHAHAHAHAH

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

richms

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#1618092 26-Aug-2016 20:19

mpc:

Anyone tried one of these wifi switches they use a cloud service which isn't ideal but could be useful. Really just want to know if the electronics in them are any good...

No earth pass thru, crap terminals and hopeless cable grip so I would not use one standalone on an appliance cable.

Single insulation showing seems allowable for downlight installs so probably ok if permanantly installed but no approvals for that.

I am only using mine standalone in another enclosure with actual strain relief on the cables.

Their app is slow laggy crap, but that seems the norm for "IOT" devices.

Richard rich.ms

SumnerBoy

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#1618100 26-Aug-2016 20:52

richms:

mpc:

Anyone tried one of these wifi switches they use a cloud service which isn't ideal but could be useful. Really just want to know if the electronics in them are any good...

No earth pass thru, crap terminals and hopeless cable grip so I would not use one standalone on an appliance cable.

Single insulation showing seems allowable for downlight installs so probably ok if permanantly installed but no approvals for that.

I am only using mine standalone in another enclosure with actual strain relief on the cables.

Their app is slow laggy crap, but that seems the norm for "IOT" devices.

Yep they are cheap and cheerful but at $US6 you can't expect too much!

I have flashed mine with Homie (https://github.com/marvinroger/homie-esp8266) so they are controlled/monitored via openHAB using MQTT. Very responsive and quick to switch.

I have a couple switching low-watt lights around the place. There is a button on them too which you can program up to manually switch the relay.

Pretty awesome value for money IMO.

Just don't put any larger load thru them!

mpc

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Geek
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#1618120 26-Aug-2016 22:17

richms:

mpc:

Anyone tried one of these wifi switches they use a cloud service which isn't ideal but could be useful. Really just want to know if the electronics in them are any good...

No earth pass thru, crap terminals and hopeless cable grip so I would not use one standalone on an appliance cable.

Single insulation showing seems allowable for downlight installs so probably ok if permanantly installed but no approvals for that.

I am only using mine standalone in another enclosure with actual strain relief on the cables.

Their app is slow laggy crap, but that seems the norm for "IOT" devices.

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know. No way I'd be wiring them into a permanent socket/appliance.

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davidcole

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#1618640 28-Aug-2016 11:06

So teh 12v DC - DC convertor works ok. I tried this portable hotspot as it was the only thing I had with microusb that I didn't really care if I borked it. I'd already tested the output voltage first.

This steps 12v via 5.2/2.1 plugs to microusb.

Previously known as psycik

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PhantomNVD

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#1619321 29-Aug-2016 20:31

richms:

PhantomNVD: I have one each of these on the way to try out on my Skinny BB modem as I'm only marginal signal here.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/free-shi ... fca507533f - $10
or really splash out on:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/produc ... 84681.html

@PhantomNVD your links are stuffed

Oops. Was trying to shorten them so they don't stuff the forum view but here goes:

Waterproof antenna

4G antenna

MadEngineer

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#1619378 29-Aug-2016 23:32

whats with those viglink links? monetisation?

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

gehgood

29 posts

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#1619417 30-Aug-2016 08:37

I just ordered a ROIDMI 2S.

Any recommendations for travel adaptor that does all to all conversions?

PhantomNVD

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#1619708 30-Aug-2016 15:25

MadEngineer:
whats with those viglink links? monetisation?

Dunno, my original ones were really long pasted straight from the Iphone AliExpress app, [mod tweaked] to fit the forum page?

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

freitasm

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#1619755 30-Aug-2016 16:13

All those very looooooong links were shortened because they broke the page (everyone pasting the links with search queries were really breaking everything) and yes Viglink will use it as an affiliate.

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rmt38

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#1620423 31-Aug-2016 20:53

Insect mosquito hats. I got two of these for $1.50 USD each shipped. For what they are, they are great for the price. On a day when the insects are invading my eyes, ears and nostrils, these will be getting some use.

richms

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#1621385 2-Sep-2016 13:22

SumnerBoy:

Yep they are cheap and cheerful but at $US6 you can't expect too much!

I have flashed mine with Homie (https://github.com/marvinroger/homie-esp8266) so they are controlled/monitored via openHAB using MQTT. Very responsive and quick to switch.

I have a couple switching low-watt lights around the place. There is a button on them too which you can program up to manually switch the relay.

Pretty awesome value for money IMO.

Just don't put any larger load thru them!

Just got an email about a new version of them,

https://www.itead.cc/sonoff-th.html?acc=8f14e45fceea167a5a36dedd4bea2543

Like the external sensor that you can add, and the better looking terminal block arrangement. Not sure on those terminals tho. Might be ok tho.

Also, if flashing things that are esp8266 based is your thing, then the H801 LED controller might be of interest, its $10ish and has 5 mosfet outputs that are made for RGB + CW/WW LED use, and an app to control it.

I got one but the outputs are at a very very low PWM frequnacy so not really usable for dimming, but if you only want off/on or a crude fade up/down then they would be fine for LED use.

Richard rich.ms

rmt38

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#1638107 21-Sep-2016 11:30

I ordered a vacuum sealer. The decent ones I wanted on Amazon were not NZ-power compatible. But this one seems to do the trick. Now I just need a larger freezer to put vacuum sealed goods in. I'm finding that Aliexpress orders take at least a week to ship.

I also ordered another hard drive enclosure from gearbest.

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