This is my first winter in my new house. One project for next year is
going to be heating and insulation, but I want to get a baseline this
winter before making any changes.

I want something that can measure temperature in multiple rooms and
log readings to a central point. I've seen these wireless sensor tags
that look just the thing:

https://wirelesstag.net/

But there are a few downsides with these:

a) They're from a US company, which might be a problem if they don't
work as I might not be able to return them.

b) They seems to use some sort of proprietary RF protocol to
communicate between the tags and the "Ethernet Tag Manager" hub. At
least I can't find any details of the protocols used.

c) The reviews on their forum are very mixed, with some people saying
they work great but other people can't get them to work.

Has anyone got any recommendations for multiple room temperature
measurement with central logging?

Caecilius wrote:

Has anyone got any recommendations for multiple room temperature
measurement with central logging?

A string of DS18B20 sensors hooked from a USB to 1-Wire dongle?

On Fri, 20 Dec 2019 11:26:40 +0000, Andy Burns
wrote:

Caecilius wrote:

Has anyone got any recommendations for multiple room temperature
measurement with central logging?

A string of DS18B20 sensors hooked from a USB to 1-Wire dongle?


I'm looking for a wireless solution ideally, as running wires to each
sensor would be a pain.

I don't have any problem with DIY solutions using arduino / raspberry
pi as I'm comfortable with electronics and programming. But I suspect
commercial solutions should be able to do things cheaper and with a
smaller size than a DIY solution.

Caecilius wrote:
I don't have any problem with DIY solutions using arduino / raspberry
pi as I'm comfortable with electronics and programming. But I suspect
commercial solutions should be able to do things cheaper and with a
smaller size than a DIY solution.

I've ordered one of these Xiaomi Aqara temperature/humidity sensors:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000273440789.html
(from ebay uk - more expensive, faster delivery)

and these:
https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/getting_s...do_i_need.html

and I'm going to play with driving it over Zigbee from a Raspberry Pi rather
than the Xiaomi hub thingy. If you don't mind using their hub thing via
their app and cloud those are also available - search for 'aqara hub'.

As far as I can tell 'Aqara' is Xiaomi's line of Zigbee sensors and 'Mijia'
is their line of Bluetooth sensors. I haven't explored the Bluetooth side
of things, but there are sensors like this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32843489009.html

that might be worth a try, without needing the Zigbee bridge.
Various platforms support it:
https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/mitemp_bt/

Theo

On 20 Dec 2019 11:49:22 +0000 (GMT), Theo
wrote:

Caecilius wrote:
I don't have any problem with DIY solutions using arduino / raspberry
pi as I'm comfortable with electronics and programming. But I suspect
commercial solutions should be able to do things cheaper and with a
smaller size than a DIY solution.

I've ordered one of these Xiaomi Aqara temperature/humidity sensors:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000273440789.html
(from ebay uk - more expensive, faster delivery)

and these:
https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/getting_s...do_i_need.html

and I'm going to play with driving it over Zigbee from a Raspberry Pi rather
than the Xiaomi hub thingy. If you don't mind using their hub thing via
their app and cloud those are also available - search for 'aqara hub'.

As far as I can tell 'Aqara' is Xiaomi's line of Zigbee sensors and 'Mijia'
is their line of Bluetooth sensors. I haven't explored the Bluetooth side
of things, but there are sensors like this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32843489009.html

that might be worth a try, without needing the Zigbee bridge.
Various platforms support it:
https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/mitemp_bt/

Theo

Thanks for that link - I much prefer something like this that uses a
standard protocol like ZigBee then a proprietary RF protocol as one
day I might want to add additional sensors or integrate the
temperature readings into a central heating control system.

On 20/12/2019 11:49, Theo wrote:
Caecilius wrote:
I don't have any problem with DIY solutions using arduino / raspberry
pi as I'm comfortable with electronics and programming. But I suspect
commercial solutions should be able to do things cheaper and with a
smaller size than a DIY solution.

I've ordered one of these Xiaomi Aqara temperature/humidity sensors:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000273440789.html
(from ebay uk - more expensive, faster delivery)


I've got a few of those around the house. Seem to work very well with
good battery life (well over a year), and comprehensive logs can be
downloaded. Motion sensors too.


and these:
https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/getting_s...do_i_need.html


I use mine with a Samsung Smartthing hub. The Xiaomi sensors need some
fettling - details are on the community forum. But, it's not at all
intuitive, and I have have to relearn when they occasionally don't
reconnect after a power cut etc.


and I'm going to play with driving it over Zigbee from a Raspberry Pi rather
than the Xiaomi hub thingy. If you don't mind using their hub thing via
their app and cloud those are also available - search for 'aqara hub'.


Yes, I'd have tried the Pi route if I didn't already have the Samsung
hub. The advantage of that is once things have paired, it has a lot of
good notification and monitoring options via the app.


--
Cheers, Rob

Caecilius wrote:
Thanks for that link - I much prefer something like this that uses a
standard protocol like ZigBee then a proprietary RF protocol as one
day I might want to add additional sensors or integrate the
temperature readings into a central heating control system.

Agreed. If you look at the list of devices supported by zigbee2mqtt:
https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/informati...d_devices.html

it's actually quite comprehensive - lots of sensor/actuator options.
Includes the usual suspects like Hue, Hive, Ikea, etc.
And some of the Chinese stuff is quite cheap.

(Now, if somebody did some affordable UK wall sockets with measurement,
that would be very handy...)

Theo

"Caecilius" wrote in message
...
This is my first winter in my new house. One project for next year is
going to be heating and insulation, but I want to get a baseline this
winter before making any changes.

I want something that can measure temperature in multiple rooms and
log readings to a central point. I've seen these wireless sensor tags
that look just the thing:

https://wirelesstag.net/

But there are a few downsides with these:

a) They're from a US company, which might be a problem if they don't
work as I might not be able to return them.

b) They seems to use some sort of proprietary RF protocol to
communicate between the tags and the "Ethernet Tag Manager" hub. At
least I can't find any details of the protocols used.

c) The reviews on their forum are very mixed, with some people saying
they work great but other people can't get them to work.

Has anyone got any recommendations for multiple room temperature
measurement with central logging?

The Philips Hue motion sensors have internal temperature sensors
and are very reliable indeed and standard zigbee protocol.

Not cheap but Amazon do regular big discounts and
most of the major retailers will match amazon prices.

"Theo" wrote in message
...
Caecilius wrote:
Thanks for that link - I much prefer something like this that uses a
standard protocol like ZigBee then a proprietary RF protocol as one
day I might want to add additional sensors or integrate the
temperature readings into a central heating control system.

Agreed. If you look at the list of devices supported by zigbee2mqtt:
https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/informati...d_devices.html

it's actually quite comprehensive - lots of sensor/actuator options.
Includes the usual suspects like Hue, Hive, Ikea, etc.
And some of the Chinese stuff is quite cheap.

(Now, if somebody did some affordable UK wall sockets with measurement,
that would be very handy...)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eve-Energy-.../dp/B01KHLWAHM

% wrote:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eve-Energy-.../dp/B01KHLWAHM

'kin how much?

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
...
% wrote:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eve-Energy-.../dp/B01KHLWAHM

'kin how much?

They regularly get discounted by amazon
and may well be in the boxing day sales.

Hue has one now too. And there are others.

On Sat, 21 Dec 2019 15:04:06 +1100, "%" wrote:



"Andy Burns" wrote in message
...
% wrote:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eve-Energy-.../dp/B01KHLWAHM

'kin how much?

They regularly get discounted by amazon
and may well be in the boxing day sales.

Here's the Amazon proce history:

https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/Eve-E...uct/B01KHLWAHM

They go down to 34.99 from time to time

Caecilius wrote:
Here's the Amazon proce history:

https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/Eve-E...uct/B01KHLWAHM

They go down to 34.99 from time to time

Meanwhile, in rest-of-world land, $13:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32816900251.html
It seems the Chinese don't see the UK market as big enough to produce
UK-style sockets (the above provide a dodgy adaptor, but not something I'd
trust to run 13A through).

Although really what would be nice is 13A wall plates with built in
measurement...

Theo

"Theo" wrote in message
...
Caecilius wrote:
Here's the Amazon proce history:

https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/Eve-E...uct/B01KHLWAHM

They go down to 34.99 from time to time

Meanwhile, in rest-of-world land, $13:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32816900251.html

Just because it claims to be original Xiaomi doesn’t mean
that it actually is. It would be interesting to see a Big Clive
tear down of that and a real original Xiaomi MI.

It seems the Chinese don't see the UK market
as big enough to produce UK-style sockets

And yet it has an AU plug and that is a much smaller
market and it isnt as if the standard is much easier to
comply with.

(the above provide a dodgy adaptor, but
not something I'd trust to run 13A through).

And is physically very unsatisfactory compared
with one that has an UK socket and plug.

Although really what would be nice is 13A
wall plates with built in measurement...

Not so convenient to use tho given that you
are unlikely to be able to afford to have them
all like that.

On Friday, 20 December 2019 11:49:27 UTC, Theo wrote:

As far as I can tell 'Aqara' is Xiaomi's line of Zigbee sensors and 'Mijia'
is their line of Bluetooth sensors. I haven't explored the Bluetooth side

Xiaomi use the 'mijia' name on quite a range of different products.

On Saturday, 21 December 2019 14:42:22 UTC, Theo wrote:

Although really what would be nice is 13A wall plates with built in
measurement...

You could always retrofit something like the Shelly 1PM 'smart' relay behind your existing sockets. Only ‚¬14.99 so not too expensive if you weren't looking to do your whole house.

https://shop.shelly.cloud/shelly-1pm...utomation-1#51
https://shelly.cloud/shelly-1pm-wifi...me-automation/

On 20/12/2019 11:05, Caecilius wrote:
This is my first winter in my new house. One project for next year is
going to be heating and insulation, but I want to get a baseline this
winter before making any changes.

I want something that can measure temperature in multiple rooms and
log readings to a central point. I've seen these wireless sensor tags
that look just the thing:

https://wirelesstag.net/

But there are a few downsides with these:

a) They're from a US company, which might be a problem if they don't
work as I might not be able to return them.

b) They seems to use some sort of proprietary RF protocol to
communicate between the tags and the "Ethernet Tag Manager" hub. At
least I can't find any details of the protocols used.

c) The reviews on their forum are very mixed, with some people saying
they work great but other people can't get them to work.

Has anyone got any recommendations for multiple room temperature
measurement with central logging?


I have a Dallas 1 wire sensor connected to a Raspberry pi. I does write
a file of the temperature readings. I only managed to get one sensor to
work.



--
Michael Chare

Mathew Newton wrote:
You could always retrofit something like the Shelly 1PM 'smart' relay behind your existing sockets. Only ‚¬14.99 so not too expensive if you weren't looking to do your whole house.

https://shop.shelly.cloud/shelly-1pm...utomation-1#51
https://shelly.cloud/shelly-1pm-wifi...me-automation/

Thanks, that's interesting.

It turns out, if you're prepared to go wifi rather than Zigbee, There are in
fact a whole range of ~$10 sockets with an ESP8266 inside them, from a
Chinese ODM 'Tuya' and sold under many brands.
https://templates.blakadder.com/uk.html

Many can be reprogrammed to use a generic open source firmwa
https://github.com/ct-Open-Source/tuya-convert/wiki

However the Shelly looks like it takes a lot of the risk in terms of being
able to reflash the device - the Chinese firmware was trying to
prevent that in newer versions. Shelly provides a simple header, whereas
the Tuya ones often require breaking the plastic to get at the programming
pins if the OTA method doesn't work.

I might have a play with a Shelly...

Theo

On 21 Dec 2019 14:42:18 +0000 (GMT), Theo
wrote:

Caecilius wrote:
Here's the Amazon proce history:

https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/Eve-E...uct/B01KHLWAHM

They go down to 34.99 from time to time

Meanwhile, in rest-of-world land, $13:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32816900251.html
It seems the Chinese don't see the UK market as big enough to produce
UK-style sockets (the above provide a dodgy adaptor, but not something I'd
trust to run 13A through).

Although really what would be nice is 13A wall plates with built in
measurement...

I would prefer MCBs / RCBOs with built-in power measurement if such
things exist. Knowing which each ring or radial is drawing would be
very useful - much better than a smart meter which can only tell you
the total house consumption.