First post in Home Automation.

I'm underinformed and currently overwhelmed by the number of pages. Frankly, on rock bottom itself, clueless.

I simplistically understand there are 2 "leaders" in this; Tuya and eWeLink(?). Is that even correct...?

The installation site is a weekend home.
My immediate aim is

• sensor to detect door open
• alarm/one-way speaker to warn
• wall switch for lights and fans (few 4-gang embedded the wall)

In future, maybe to also

• on-off switches for 3-pin device plug
• control wall switches that powers DC-pump water heater
• if not able to enter pin into keypad in time after door opens
• gas leak sensor
• temperature, barometer(?)

(1) Which wireless technology should I focus on? wifi? zigbee3? 433MHz(!)? BLE? Combination?

(2) Which is more useful and future-proof? Wired hub? Wireless hub? If not enough, can attach hub for wider area and additional devices?

(3) So in your opinion(s), which technology leader should I "marry" now and forever hold my peace? Tuya? eWeLink? Expansion-ability?

(4) How do I control? Must pair to Google Home or Alexa?

(5) If using its app, which intuitively provides better command and control without glaringly showing elements of Chinese-ness?
(I don't mind English apps, but I am not keen of apps that unprofessionally proud of displaying China-ness, even if developed in China. I am sick of being treated as China's Chinese more and more days passing by Huawei, so no more of that sickening treatment anywhere and any device. TLDR; ✔️ app for neutral global audience, ✔️ app made in China, ❌ app treating me as Chinese)

sorry if the above questions are convoluted and messy. clueless.

saw like there are 2 apps for "tuya"; tuya and smart life.

any difference between the two?
i.e. stability? ease of use? intuitiveness? can install and execute on different household members' devices at same time? or google home/alexa of many users?


(yeah, saw the screenshot of splash screen of eWeLink app, big big Chinese characters already potong markah on "for global audience")

oh, i just realise the horror that neutral wire is needed OR having to install capacitor right at the appliances itself.

it's not just Chinese. If you give me apps that blatantly proud Spanish or Tamil or Arabic or those French ticks and dots, I also flip table.

Do I need to install just 1 capacitor per switch gang, or need to install for each appliance?

(If only 1 is neccessary, will there be ill-effect if I install for each appliance instead?)

ordered wireless multi-mode gateway first
+ 7 zigbee door sensor
+ 1 zigbee alarm speaker

urgency to get security fencing up first; just the other day, a neighbour immediately in front had his house under renovation broken into; real contractor found doors were pried, possibly by impersonators. so i want to prevent.

now thinking of whether to use pass-thru powerbank or UPS to keep the hub powered during blackout, in case TNB fuse right outside gets tampered first. i'm under impression that unlike wifi which needs router to also be up, zigbee network can survive during a blackout provided the hub remains powered.

but, the logic behind triggering alarm when door sensor tripped; is it stored locally inside the hub? or is it in the cloud (which renders the whole set up pointless if internet is out.)

This post has been edited by Oltromen Ripot: Sep 2 2022, 03:35 PM

i suspect as much of the UPS. Then the hub and the router etc need to sit together so I can maximise a single UPS.

got tuya device that can reset the lightning strike fuse from remote?

I already expected it is to power it up.
The miniscule amperage flowing through won't damage the huge appliance, right?

Unfortunately, I'm way past renovating electrical path. So no neutral wire for me to leverage. I enjoy electrical tasks, but, I shudder at the thought of having to redo a bit at the appliance side. almost 25 switches for ceiling appliances alone....

That reads like a non-smart device.
itself will reset in 15minutes, right?

Suruhanjaya Tenaga need to approve the device?
Or, if I ask local electrician, will he understand WTF am I asking for?

I guess this will need electrician to execute.

how many VA?
what load do you put on it?
how long does it last before empty?

thinking of loading BTU, main router, and the HA gateway.
just basic to retain internet and working VoIP line.
so need a baseline estimate of how long yours last with your VA.

yeah. never know there are ones that can recover by itself, that's why i thought it requires another tuya intervention.
agree that this does not need electronic intervention. a manual one is sufficient. the endgame after all is just to recover from interruption without me having to drive 40km away.

that interval makes sense when you have auto-reset fuse and UPS combined.

i'll borrow the idea 😅

i'm 2 months too late before learning oh HA's existence, so no neutral wire. i probably need to check if renovation had used casing inside wall or not to pull on my own, but i won't hold bet.

and, i did not know that L1 cannot be fluorescent.
Is LED okay? The site is LED thru and thru.

Got option for the gateway hub to be local-based and not cloud? Or is this a custom self-implement with wires and probes criss-crossing like a lab? 🫡

If there is such option, then maybe I'll set up 2 gateway (can tuya app support multiple when both gateways are online?); security one for local, switches on cloud.

This post has been edited by Oltromen Ripot: Sep 3 2022, 09:22 AM

bought same model due to pricing and the 3-pin layout at the back is just sensible , unlike haphazard layour and bumps of competitors.

(can they even fit huge adapters... no, don't answer this.)

but i also buy same-brand AVR 1000VA w/ 4 UK plug to front it, just to be safe for both UPS behind it and for other appliances (tv, ...) not hooked through UPS.

(yeah, i know UPS have built-in AVR, but i need lightning protection as well. rather than buy lightning strips; 4xx joules of this same brand is more than other competitors' AVRs.)

cannot put ceiling fan and exhaust fan on L1?

Anyone ever tried integrating a Zigbee/Wifi keypad (itself, alone) or a manual key+keyhole (not knpb-like or similar).

i'm waiting delivery for hub, door open sensors, and siren. i'm thinking of a way to disable the trigger by an on-off switch. example: enter a code on pin keypad, or just insert key and turn 90° to signal "off" don't trigger alarm.

This can join any HA and be use outright to send number combination, right?

(i'm IT, but, too busy to set aside time for intensive tinkering.)

Any opinion on this and it's similar-looking siblings?

Supposedly wifi-capable to register with Tuya, but not sure if require hub or is it stand-alone.

Think of vehicle's timing belt. It's a closed loop.

Guys, this sort of plug:

If I use it to control power to Wifi+tuya hub,
will I be able to turn it back on after I turn it off?

(yes, chicken-and-egg situation since switching off wifi will disconnect it.)

or does it have a function to sort of restart on its own, like, after 10secs or a minute.

what i mean is, for it to control power to the wifi router itself.
since switching off the wifi router will practically disconnect from the internet.

it would be dumb set up if i ended up with a switched-off router for good 😅