Sonoff electrical switches or equivalent in NZ

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DudeInNZ

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#237539 6-Jun-2018 16:11

Hi Everyone,

Has anyone had any experience with the Sonoff gear, sourcing or using in NZ?

I hear alot about them on the web, but I dont see NZ retailers and I am a bit nervous about buying them and bringing them in and finding they dont work or built illegally for NZ regulations.

If someone has some experience or can even recommend another product that would be great.

Regards,

Andy

davidcole

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#2031002 6-Jun-2018 18:28

What about these: https://www.jaycar.co.nz/240v-mains-wi-fi-wireless-switch-module-with-app/p/MS6126

Brother in law has just looked into them instead of zwave

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gbwelly

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#2040711 19-Jun-2018 19:26

I'm interested in these too, but would like ideas on how to pass through the earth wire safely, I've seen some guides using 'wire nuts' which can fit inside the case.

kryptonjohn

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#2040769 19-Jun-2018 21:31

davidcole: What about these: https://www.jaycar.co.nz/240v-mains-wi-fi-wireless-switch-module-with-app/p/MS6126

Brother in law has just looked into them instead of zwave

OMG ... Finally! Been waiting for somebody to start producing a sonoff that would sense the wall switch as is done by all the z-wave in-wall lighting controllers. Finally!

Now... is it able to be controlled by Alexa/Google Home etc?

update: yes there is a Alexa Skill for Ankuoo!

DudeInNZ

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2040834 20-Jun-2018 07:15

davidcole: What about these: https://www.jaycar.co.nz/240v-mains-wi-fi-wireless-switch-module-with-app/p/MS6126

Brother in law has just looked into them instead of zwave

HI David,

Thanks for that, I did some research and found that its a cheap Chinese part with no support for IFTTT and no open source support.

Which is why I was looking at Sonoff, as it has IFTTT support, open source projects along with Google Assistant.

Also, from what I read on Z-Wave, it has no wifi support and external access requires a Z-Wave gateway to bridge onto a LAN segment? Is this incorrect?

davidcole

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#2040836 20-Jun-2018 07:21

DudeInNZ:

davidcole: What about these: https://www.jaycar.co.nz/240v-mains-wi-fi-wireless-switch-module-with-app/p/MS6126

Brother in law has just looked into them instead of zwave

HI David,

Thanks for that, I did some research and found that its a cheap Chinese part with no support for IFTTT and no open source support.

Which is why I was looking at Sonoff, as it has IFTTT support, open source projects along with Google Assistant.

Also, from what I read on Z-Wave, it has no wifi support and external access requires a Z-Wave gateway to bridge onto a LAN segment? Is this incorrect?

Cheap chinese part that theoretically has been certified for NZ? Something sonoff doesn't have. Also do you want any part of your automation dependant on the internet? ie IFTTT? There's probably local ways of talking to these things, mqtt, some sort of python bridge. Once you start looking at that it's a much better situation to be in.

Zwave yes, needs a controller, and they're generally a lot dearer....ie starting at about $90NZD Plus the controller is about $100 as well. They they make their own mesh network which is useful if your wifi network is not extensive, and all of the products are part of the zwave standard which means there's a bit of cross brand compatibility. I've got the zwave method for a lot of my lights (up to 11 nodes now) And it it a lot dearer way of doing it.

hairy1

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#2040842 20-Jun-2018 07:49

Ankuoo also works with Home Assistant. Link here:

https://community.home-assistant.io/t/ankuoo-light-switch/22535

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

davidcole

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#2040844 20-Jun-2018 08:01

hairy1:

Ankuoo also works with Home Assistant. Link here:

https://community.home-assistant.io/t/ankuoo-light-switch/22535

Ahh interesting looks like it could just be impersonating a broadlink device....which may mean that https://github.com/eschava/broadlink-mqtt might be adaptable if you wanted pure mqtt for any homeautomation platform

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DudeInNZ

3 posts

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#2040845 20-Jun-2018 08:01

Hi David, Sorry, I shouldnt have put "Cheap Chinese" part, but when I looked on the data sheet and then queried some of the part numbers and brand names. They lead me to a chinese manufacturer with a chinese website.

And yes, depending on the internet can be problematic, however, do you have recommendations? I prefer to be purely IP based and the gateway can be run from a VM. But I have yet to find anything, so if you have any suggestions that would be great.

Also if a part has AU certification can it be used in NZ?

Thanks, Andy

davidcole

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#2040849 20-Jun-2018 08:07

DudeInNZ:

Hi David, Sorry, I shouldnt have put "Cheap Chinese" part, but when I looked on the data sheet and then queried some of the part numbers and brand names. They lead me to a chinese manufacturer with a chinese website.

And yes, depending on the internet can be problematic, however, do you have recommendations? I prefer to be purely IP based and the gateway can be run from a VM. But I have yet to find anything, so if you have any suggestions that would be great.

Also if a part has AU certification can it be used in NZ?

Thanks, Andy

See above. The chap linked to a broadlink component for home assistant....and based on that there's a python gateway that might be used.

Of course if you're wanting just a single device and not intending to install any of the bigger opensource home automation products then that may not help you.