Posts

Showing posts from 2020

Treatlife Dual Indoor Dimmable Smart Plug (DP-20) ESP Transplant

Image
Treatlife Dual Indoor Dimmable Smart Plug (DP-20) ESP Transplant Submitted by M.J. Wydra https://github.com/Tediore Treatlife released an indoor dual outlet dimmable smart plug in Q4 2020. It ships with a WB3S module which is not compatible with Tasmota but is pin-compatible with the ESP-12 (see the end of this document for a pinout comparison). This means the WB3S can be removed and replaced with an ESP-12 flashed with Tasmota. The plug is held together with four screws and some internal clips. Remove the informational sticker on the back to access the four screws. Remove the screws and pry in the gap on the longer sides of the plug to open the plug up. Unfortunately the plug is equipped with a secondary TuyaMCU (Nuvoton M031EC1AE, pictured to the left of the WB3S). This means the plug will use the Tasmota TuyaMCU module (Module 54) once the WB3S is replaced with an ESP. Take care not to remove any of the pads when desoldering the WB3S. I accidentally removed the RX pad on the board w

Comparing the Best Security Cameras 2020 on a budget! 4K 8MP and 5MP

Image
  I started with 7 cameras in the comparison but the wheels quickly fell off of 3, leaving 4 great cameras and even a couple of them bring Starlight lenses and 4K to the table.   Amcrest 5MP - https://amzn.to/2TjVUVq Reolink RLC-520 5MP - https://amzn.to/35oD5Gv Amcrest 4K 8MP Bullet - https://amzn.to/3mhtPL9 Amcrest 4K 8MP Turret (not shown in video) - https://amzn.to/3mkoAKA Annke C800 4K 8MP - https://amzn.to/3ohq5Lb How to put Ethernet Cable Ends on for POE Cameras - https://youtu.be/p1vwjhvHKLI GoPro Hero 9 - https://amzn.to/2TkuxuE -=-=-=-Products We Use/Recommend-=-=-=- Amazon US - https://amzn.to/2YZNDeO Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/2TnG2R4 Amazon CA - https://amzn.to/2HchPZe DISCLAIMER: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for this channel to earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  Most or all product links are affiliate links and digiblurDIY could receive compensa

How to Add Custom Panels in Home Assistant

Image
  Are you just as tired as I was digging for stuff you go to all the time in Home Assistant?  I know I was!  The developers always seemed to move stuff on me too.  I wanted my Server Control, Integrations, and MQTT devices right at my finger tips instead of buried in menus and large integration panels lists.  I seem to get asked this question on every live stream which is a good thing!  So here's how to do it, it's simple.   Open your configuration.yaml file in whatever method you like to edit files, VSC, Notepad++, vi, etc. Make sure you do not have a "panel_custom:" section already.  If not, just copy and paste this one in.   panel_custom :   -  name :  ha_server_con      sidebar_title :  ServerControl      sidebar_icon :  mdi:cog-transfer      js_url :  /api/hassio/app/entrypoint.js      url_path :  'config/server_control'      embed_iframe :  true      require_admin :  true      config :        ingress :  core_configurator      -  name :  ha_mqtt_dev     

H.View 5MP PTZ Camera - Deja Vu?

Image
  I had the pleasure (or not) of testing out another PTZ camera.  I'm always down on checking out a new one after the last three I checked out, such as the Amcrest , Reolink and I'll not mention the last one that didn't fair to well in a video .  PTZ cameras are addicting and useful to complement your fixed position cameras, once you go PTZ you can't go back!   The H.View PTZ 502 is a 5MP camera with 5x optical zoom and is POE capable, even at non POE+ specs it works!  Other PTZs we've had to use POE+ for additional power.  Speaking of that at first glance I noticed something.... I had seen this camera before!  Well at least the shell of the camera.  The lens part was a little different but it was almost the same housing.  The Reolink is only 4x though instead of the H.View being 5x.  The one drawback I had with the Reolink was the speed of moving and focus took too long, especially after we got spoiled with the Amcrest PTZ camera.  After opening the box I decided

How to make CAT-5 Cable / Network Wire - EASY with Pass Through Ethernet

Image
  At first I didn't want to believe it but there's no going back to using the old school RJ-45 connectors for Cat5e or Cat6 cables.  Pass through has definitely spoiled me after doing a few of them especially up on the ladder at 8pm on the eave of the house.   Cable Crimper - https://amzn.to/2TGbytY Cable Stripper - https://amzn.to/2ws16ys or https://amzn.to/3i3iVpx Cable Ends - https://amzn.to/2TzyH1k Cable Tester - https://amzn.to/3n4J3nY Cat5e Cable - https://amzn.to/2ZakBp0 or https://amzn.to/2WmLPtn Fiberglass Wire Fishing Sticks - https://amzn.to/2UhCLS0 MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  Most or all product links are affiliate links and digiblurDIY will receive compensation if used. -=-=-=-Connect!-=-=-=- Discord Chat - https://discord.gg/bNtTF2v Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/dig

Tasmota Ready Smart Home Devices - No flashing and without the Cloud!

Image
(Don't forget the 30% coupon code towards the end of this post!) UPDATE 2020/11/01 - Notice posted on their website: Notice: The product purchased ealier than 20th Oct are 2m bin which is not compaitble wih official Tasmota OTA server. After 20th Oct 2020, the product changed to standard 1m bin and fully compatible with official Tasmota OTA server You heard correctly.  No flashing, no jumper wires, no soldering, no Tuya Convert, etc., take the smart bulb, switch, plug, etc., out of the box, plug it in and it is ready to go!  The device will be in access point mode ready to add to your Wi-Fi network.  ESPHome users can easily apply their own configuration to use them as well!   But why do we need this?  Can't we just flash our own devices?  Absolutely! If you have the skills and know how to flash the all of your devices then this might not be for you.   Do you just want something ready to go?  Keep reading, more and more smart home devices such as Smart Bulbs and Smart Plugs are

Shelly Plug US with Power Monitoring - First Look

Image
  UPDATE: Full video review/setup an issue or two I found -  https://youtu.be/_TSJB_IzxG0 If you are familiar with the Shelly devices from the Shelly1 to Shelly 2.5, etc this might be old hat for you.  They are 120VAC power, 15A smart plugs with power monitoring!  Local control options right out of the box.  No flashing, no Tuya Convert, etc. required.  If you are thinking at first glance you might have seen this plug before, you might not be wrong.  Subscribe and enable notifications for the digiblurDIY YouTube  channel to catch an upcoming video on it. Purchase from the ShellyUS Store - 2 Pack US Plugs (use the 10% off coupon of travis10) There are a few things they got right and few things they didn't get right unfortunately.  For starters the design is a plus, it doesn't block the second plug.  You can put two of these on the same outlet with ease.  Power monitoring is another huge plus!  Great for those washer and gas dryer notifications on the laundry which is still one

How to use the Sonoff Zigbee Bridge with Home Assistant - Tasmota

Image
Check out these two videos we did on Zigbee fundamentals - Video #1 - Video #2   I reviewed the Sonoff Zigbee Bridge a few months ago in a video and was excited to see it had an ESP82xx chipset onboard.  This meant there was a glimmer of hope it could be flashed with open source local control firmware such as Tasmota !  That time has come!  The genius developers with Tasmota have done their magic again.  An inexpensive device you can add to Home Assistant as a Zigbee controller.  No YAML, no custom plugins, no MQTT.  One of the major advantages is being able to place it closer to your Zigbee devices which is especially helpful if you have your Home Assistant box in the basement or buried back in some closet.  Behold the ZHA Integration below. UPDATE March 2021:  iTead also is now selling their  USB 3.0 dongle  that uses the same chip as the Zigbee Bridge.  It is preflashed with correct firmware out of the box that can also be used with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT using the same procedure as