Has anyone built a Magic Mirror here?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Has anyone built a Magic Mirror here?

SumnerBoy

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Topic # 230503 26-Feb-2018 22:19

Pretty popular DIY project which I have been interested in for a while.

https://magicmirror.builders/

Just wondering if anyone has built one locally, and what materials they used and where they sourced them. In particular the reflective panel/sheet.

I have a black glass splashback behind the cook top which would be perfect for one of these, showing time, weather, family calendar entries would be very useful I reckon, but that would involve a major project to remove the existing splashback and fit the monitor in the wall etc. Probably not going to get sign off for that, so will start with a standalone version and see how that goes...

@xbmcnut - I think I saw you popping up in the MM forums...got any helpful tips?!

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 1964831 26-Feb-2018 22:34

I was really wanting to build one but the glass was prohibitively expensive last time I checked.

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freitasm

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Reply # 1964832 26-Feb-2018 22:39

I saw a MirrorMe booth in a trade show - really cool and interactive.

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UHD

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Reply # 1964925 27-Feb-2018 10:23

These guys seem to do relatively cheap fixed size panels but I'm not sure about the shipping costs (USA based).

https://www.twowaymirrors.com/smart-mirror/

If you want something custom it will likely always be costly.

xbmcnut

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Reply # 1965115 27-Feb-2018 14:21

@SumnerBoy

Yes, I built one and plan to deploy in new house behind mirror to display the pool temp via MQTT along with tide and weather info. Works great. I have a picture on the Home Assistant forum somewhere. I'll see if I can link to it. I have an image I could maybe share with you as it was quite a challenge to get it all working (and starting automatically) when I did it but that was over a year ago.

xbmcnut

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Reply # 1965117 27-Feb-2018 14:22

Here you go https://community.home-assistant.io/t/magic-mirror/8443/3?u=xbmcnut

SumnerBoy

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Reply # 1965120 27-Feb-2018 14:26

Yeah that is very nice - I am more interested in the hardware side of things - I am pretty happy I can get the RPi + MM software running - just trying to figure out where to source the reflective screen, suitable monitor etc.

Thanks for sharing tho!

xbmcnut

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Reply # 1965412 27-Feb-2018 22:54

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I tried the roll up film from Ali but it was rubbish. Found some decent sized 3mm solid film on Amazon but ended up choosing glass. Got a 300mm x 300mm partly coated glass sheet to test and it works well (local glass Co.). That's what I'll up end using. For a monitor, I've got an old Philips 22" computer monitor with HDMI and an old 32" Sony TV with 1 x HDMI that is only 1366 x 768 and no Freeview but that is all you need for MM. Once you strip of the bulky casing, there is not much to them. Helps I'm a TV Technician by trade though!! Another life :)

da5id

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Reply # 1967960 4-Mar-2018 17:03

I've seen one being taken around wedding venues here -

https://www.facebook.com/magicalmirror.co.nz/

SumnerBoy

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Reply # 1968026 4-Mar-2018 21:25

xbmcnut:

I tried the roll up film from Ali but it was rubbish. Found some decent sized 3mm solid film on Amazon but ended up choosing glass. Got a 300mm x 300mm partly coated glass sheet to test and it works well (local glass Co.). That's what I'll up end using. For a monitor, I've got an old Philips 22" computer monitor with HDMI and an old 32" Sony TV with 1 x HDMI that is only 1366 x 768 and no Freeview but that is all you need for MM. Once you strip of the bulky casing, there is not much to them. Helps I'm a TV Technician by trade though!! Another life :)

So what exactly did you specify when speaking to the glass co? Is it some sort of transparent (xx%?) mirror?

Is there much to stripping off the bulky casing? I have a 32" TV sitting unused which could be perfect.

xbmcnut

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Reply # 1968038 4-Mar-2018 21:56

Try this https://www.magicmirrorcentral.com/best-glass-smart-mirror-project/

Real easy to remove the casing. I'm going to use a Z-wave sensor in the room to turn the screen on (native MM feature) when someone walks in.

SumnerBoy

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Reply # 1968040 4-Mar-2018 22:01

That looks perfect for the glass - but shipping is almost as much as the glass - i.e. $150.

I guess it gives good specs for me to take to someone locally.

Appreciate the link.

hio77

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Reply # 1968041 4-Mar-2018 22:03

I've toyed with the idea.

Is low on oh too long priority list.

@michaelmurfy yes modems are higher up the list than this lol.

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