Xiaomi Aqara - thoughts / experience on the system for temperature monitoring?

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Handle9

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#2346104 29-Oct-2019 21:42

mdf:

Handle9:

I'm very happy with the Aquara sensors. I'm using them with Hassio and a raspbee hat. It works very nicely and I've just had another 8 sensors arrive. I'm also using their motion sensors to control ikea Tradfri bulbs.

The Home assistant app works fine for normal visualisation.

I've also got them logging to InfluxDB on my Unraid server with some pretty Grafana visualisations. It all works very well, is cheap and doesn't rely on an offsite service.

Off topic, but I've been meaning to try Influx + Grafana again (couldn't get it working the first or second times I tried). But I haven't tried on the Unraid server, I was trying to get it all running on the Hass Pi. Will try that next.

It was pretty easy. I also have a wee bit more storage on the server :)

davidcole

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#2346105 29-Oct-2019 21:50

Run them both in docker. Influx is pretty easy to get going. Grafana has lots of fiddling-ability once it’s going.

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timmmay

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#2346139 30-Oct-2019 07:25

mdf:

Not that "just works" at a reasonable price point unfortunately. I know the sonoff stuff comes pretty highly recommended, and you can do temperature and humidity monitoring with that, but is definitely not plug and play. I've seen some plug and play options advertised, but for they money they are asking, you will save at least 50% buying a zigbee hub and aqara sensors.

How do you feel about bluetooth? Another Xiaomi range, Mijia, has a bluetooth temperature sensor that looks good. I've not used it so not 100% sure how it works, but if you're just interested in some more historical data (e.g. last 24 hours) it could work well. Won't do push monitoring or control other stuff without a hub though (I think).

I just want to be able to look at the home temperatures when I'm at work to decide whether to run the ventilation system, heating, or cooling. Bluetooth probably doesn't have the range I need ;)

I'll look at the Aqura range, or maybe I just adjust the temperature when I'm at home.

Handle9

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#2346141 30-Oct-2019 07:32

You can integrate broadlink mini into home assistant. With a smartplug you could fully automate your ventilation and heat pumps.

timmmay

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#2346143 30-Oct-2019 07:37

Handle9: You can integrate broadlink mini into home assistant. With a smartplug you could fully automate your ventilation and heat pumps.

The Broadlink stuff is fairly terrible. It works well enough most of the time, but the app is just awful. When daylight savings starts and finishes there's 2-4 days where the time doesn't work, you can't set timers for some times, and it really doesn't make me want to use it.

Home automation is still too immature IMHO. I don't have time to mess about with it and get it working.

mdf

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#2346173 30-Oct-2019 09:49

timmmay:

Handle9: You can integrate broadlink mini into home assistant. With a smartplug you could fully automate your ventilation and heat pumps.

The Broadlink stuff is fairly terrible. It works well enough most of the time, but the app is just awful. When daylight savings starts and finishes there's 2-4 days where the time doesn't work, you can't set timers for some times, and it really doesn't make me want to use it.

Home automation is still too immature IMHO. I don't have time to mess about with it and get it working.

The advantage of things like Home Assistant is that you can use the Broadlink (and other) hardware from a single central point of control that does actually work well. You remove the need for proprietary apps that may or may not work properly, and even if they do work, are reliant on a manufacturer continuing to provide servers and support.

I agree with you that home automation is immature. That said, it sounds like you want remote monitoring and control of AC and ventilation - which I think amounts to "home automation". Regardless of whether you roll-your-own or use something pre-baked, you are going to have to spend some time with it to get it set up and functioning correctly. IMHO you will get better results if you can invest a day or so into it to do it once, properly, and set it up in a way that works for you.

If you want all-Aqara, you could have a look at the following for remote temperature monitoring and AC control:

- Aqara Hub with integrated "air conditioning controller". I haven't used this one, but if marketing is to be believed, includes a wifi gateway, zigbee hub, a temperature and humidity sensor, and an IR blaster to send controls to your AC. Depending on where your heat pump units are located, you might need more than one. NZD 55-ish from ebay.

- Aqara zigbee temperature and humidity sensor. Battery powered, scatter around rooms you want to monitor temperature. Workable range with the Aqara hub would be a bit of trial and error. NZD 20-ish from ebay.

- Aqara smart plug. Should act as a zigbee router (i.e. repeater/range extender), though my experience of that has been a little mixed. Can be used to control mains powered appliances like ventilation fans (IIRC correctly, you already have this on a timer?). You can also do that with the Hub plug, but if you only need mains appliance control this is a cheaper option. With HASS, Node-Red or similar, you can get really smart logic (e.g. turn on if temp in roof > temp in house and time between 900 and 1600 weekdays during winter). Not sure what logic the Aqara app offers, but advertises at least timer control and manual control from smart phone app. NZD 22-ish from ebay.

Both the plugs also offer killawat style power consumption monitoring if that holds any appeal.

I've just checked, and the sensor and smart plug are also compatible with HASS, but the AC controller hub isn't yet. But even within the Aqara app, there will still be some fiddling to get the hub talking to your AC/heatpumps, pairing the sensors and plug with the hub, figuring out what the range is, best position in the room to monitor temperature accurately etc. I am pretty sure there is a reason why the likes of PBTech are not already flogging this exact product.

timmmay

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#2346181 30-Oct-2019 09:59

I currently use the fairly awful but usually functional Broadlink app / devices for controlling the heat pumps, and the excellent TP-Link Kasa app for controlling the ventilation system. I'm fine with them being on timers that I change from time to time. I just wanted temperature monitoring to give me an idea when to change the timers. I don't really need the integration, it'll probably just mess something up or use more power than necessary. Basic timers are fine. It would be nice to have temperature monitoring that I could use remotely, but installing a Zigbee network that can interfere with WiFi, dealing with propriety systems, etc, it's probably not worth the bother or the cost. I have a webcam that has a temperature sensor in it, I might just plug that in.

A day to myself is basically unheard off with a toddler. I have to take annual leave for any time to myself, and in that time I tend to do required home maintenance, repairs, and try to get an hour or two to myself to relax. Before kids, sure, I could spend 4 hours an evening and two days a weekend messing around with stuff, but these days time is extremely limited.

I appreciate all the help mdf and others. I understand this stuff better now, and if I decide it's worthwhile I'll buy the Aqara hub / sensors. If I really want to get into it I could get the heat pump automation bits, but probably not worth the bother for me.

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E3xtc

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#2346282 30-Oct-2019 12:59

fwiw - I have a few of these (https://wirelesstag.net/) scattered around the house. Mainly for monitoring outside temp, pool temp, inside temp and my little boys room. Been really good. Have had some issues with the external sensor dying, but support shipped a new one to me no issues. They just seem to work. I don't have any integration with home automation, but they do in various guises 🤷

timmmay

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#2346289 30-Oct-2019 13:14

E3xtc:

fwiw - I have a few of these (https://wirelesstag.net/) scattered around the house. Mainly for monitoring outside temp, pool temp, inside temp and my little boys room. Been really good. Have had some issues with the external sensor dying, but support shipped a new one to me no issues. They just seem to work. I don't have any integration with home automation, but they do in various guises 🤷

That looks interesting - but is possibly an even more propriety system than the other one we've been talking about. Seems fairly cheap, less flexible. Thanks for pointing it out :)