Smart Ape Devices (Mighty Ape own brand)

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gcorgnet

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#286046 2-Jun-2021 06:15

Hi,

I just discovered the Smart Ape line of Smart Home devices and I was wondering if we knew anything about them?
Are they any good?
Could they be flashed with something like Tasmota to make them compatible with other things?

I am looking for a cheap-ish smart plug with power meter but it needs to integrate with Home Assistant.

Cheers

hairy1

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#2716972 2-Jun-2021 06:45

The plug looks exactly like the kogan smart plug which can be flashed...

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everettpsycho

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#2716976 2-Jun-2021 07:07

hairy1: The plug looks exactly like the kogan smart plug which can be flashed...

Seeing as Kogan own mighty ape I'd say you're probably spot on. I've noticed mighty ape slowly offering kogan stuff and more imports and white labelled goods under their own branding recently. They aren't full on Kogan yet like dick Smith is but there's definitely some changes happening behind the scenes. Hopefully they retain the local infrastructure instead of sending it all of shore.

gcorgnet

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#2920259 30-May-2022 07:02

Hi Team,

I am coming back to this thread to ask another question about a Smart Ape product: A heater.

Anyone reckons it could be hooked up to Home Assistant?

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/smart-ape-2400w-smart-glass-panel-heater-white/35746243

It is controlled by the Smart Life app so I'd be tempted to think it would but wondering if anyone had any experience?

Thanks

CokemonZ

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#2920298 30-May-2022 09:50

No idea - but I've pretty good experiences with Tuya gear and thats Tuya. So yeah, should be able to. How much functionality you'll be able to easily get though - thats another kettle of fish.

If you buy the heater, post a review - I've been thinking about it but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

everettpsycho

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#2920300 30-May-2022 09:53

If it's any help I have a few smart ape, kogan and arlec bulbs. They are totally interchangeable and I havent used the right app for the jogan or smart ape ones. I had an arlec bulb so used their grid connect app and the rest have synced perfectly with that app. Based on that I'm guessing they are all tuya based smarts so should function the same as any other ghya based product.

gcorgnet

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#2920309 30-May-2022 10:28

Thanks. I had a feeling they might be tuya and therefore should be able to be integrated with HA.

As for what functionality I'm expecting, well being able to set the temperature and turn on/off on an automation would be great.

I might get one and report here.

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eluSiveNZ

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#2920323 30-May-2022 11:30

There is a list of confirmed flashable Tasmota devices here - AU Devices (blakadder.com)

This assumes the device has an ESP8266 chip, alot of the newer devices are using a newer chipset which is not flashable.

openmedia

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#2920342 30-May-2022 12:30

Has anyone picked up this 4 socket power board recenty

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/smart-ape-smart-wifi-powerboard-with-usb-chargers/35303184

I'm really after one I can re-flash with tasmota.

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gehenna

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#2920345 30-May-2022 12:37

Looks the same as the Brilliant one, which ended up also being Tuya when I set it up

gcorgnet

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#3242365 29-May-2024 17:22

Hey team, coming back (with a 2 year delay) to answer my own question.

It was indeed possible to flash these heaters from Might Ape and I am the proud owner of 2x of them.

It did require opening them up and setting up some wire for a serial flash.

I followed this from Tasmota for the config part, which references this page for the flashing process.
Note: This calls for soldering but I didn't want to mess with that and I temporarily taped up some dupont cables which held long enough for me to perform the flash.

Once flashed, they can be imported into Home Assistant and can be controlled (on/Off as well as setting the temperature.)