Fingerbot + Zigbee: The game-changing duo for home automation

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

The Adaprox Finger Bot turns your dumb devices into smart devices using Zigbee! Let me know your use-cases for this Finger Bot in the comments below!

[@vgabbott]

I have numerous outside lights connected to two indoor switches. I purchased this bot to be able to turn on these lights on when door switches, motion alarms, or security cameras sense intrusion. Finger bot will then turn on all outside yard and greeting lights. This use could coincide with most home security implementations. It is far easier and far less expensive and changing out the current switches that are in place.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Great idea!

[@thomas25514]

Thanks for the video. Did you by any chance figure out how to adjust the device settings using HA/Zigbee? I need it to press down for a longer period of time. According to the manual it's possible using the app, but I'm not using the app.

[@wwolfram33]

I plan to use this unit to turn on the air fan in my bedroom. This should work perfectly.

[@iotprojecthindi]

I'm planning to set up a home automation system that can control various functions, including relays and appliance control, lighting control, temperature control, security systems (with PIR sensors and camera modules), entertainment systems, voice control, energy monitoring, and irrigation control for plants and flowers. To achieve this, I intend to use many relays to control all the electric appliances, as well as multiple sensors such as PIR sensors, ESPCAM 32 for video recording, and CT clamp sensor to measure electricity usage. I'm also looking to integrate voltage sensors to measure voltage levels. In the event that the voltage is low, I want the main supply to disconnect using the relays. Furthermore, I'd like to add a weather station to keep track of weather conditions, such as emergency protocols in case of unfavorable weather. For example, all unnecessary bulbs, fans, and electric appliances would be turned off in the event of an emergency protocol. To control all of these functions, I'll be using nodemcu devices for connecting relays and some sensors. I plan to implement Mesh networking for controlling all the electric appliances and reading all sensor data. I want to use the MQTT protocol to send data to node-red, which will be used to program all the flow of home automation. For storing all the data, I intend to use InfluxDB, and Garfana will be used for data visualization. The electric appliances can be controlled manually through switches, apps, web dashboard, and voice assistant, which will run locally. Additionally, I'm interested in using machine learning and neural networks to improve the system's appliance control and energy usage prediction. Finally, I want to implement a battery monitoring system that can turn off unnecessary bulbs and fans when the battery is low. I would appreciate any advice on how to implement these features, particularly in terms of integrating different sensors and relays, as well as ensuring security and accuracy in the home automation system. Thank you in advance for your guidance!

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

You can contact me through my website for consultancy and training services.

[@Jmcinally94]

Yeah not being able to change the mode in Z2MQTT/ZHA is a pretty big deal depending on what you want to use the thing for. I'd argue it makes it unusable unless you want click mode .

[@TimeWalk3r]

At least on Z2M, the version 1.32.2 released 3 weeks ago, it should now be possible to set the upper and lower limit like with the app

[@rickysemmens6250]

I've found that I'd you use a strip of copper tape (sticky backed) going from the end of the "fingers" of these to the negative side of the battery these will activate capacitive touch buttons without issue. Worked great for getting my dumb boiling water tap in to home assistant.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

That's an interesting suggestion!

[@jasonkohrs6288]

Thanks for the introduction to these. My Zigbee Fingerbot is still on the way from Ali Express, but it will be installed on my pool's chlorinator in order to schedule a weekly press of the Super Chlorinate button so I don't have to remember to do it myself.

[@jakobholzner]

sounds really nice but I wish there would be more settings exposed to home assistant not just the on off switch

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I get your point.

[@WijbrendeVries]

I use a switchbot to push the button of my garage door. Works fine. A little bit slow response. Maybe to change to the fingerbot.

[@jeroenvandend]

I'm going to order this to open my one velux window that uses its own closed signal. But dang the one in the link is verry pricey

[@j.4941]

I have one of them in use: I have a washing Maschine with a physical „start“ push button - it has no timer function and it can not be controlled by using a switchable power socket, so the fingerbot was my only option. As I have dynamic prices for electricity that typically are the lowest during the night, I have set it up to press the „start“ button of the washing machine every night at 3am (if there’s nothing in the machine it will simply not be powered on so the button will press in vain). I*could * integrate it into home assistant, but I really do not see the point: it works perfectly standalone.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Sounds great!

[@niklaskarlsson236]

Nice!, can you please tell me how to change in home assistant from the standard toggle/click to on and off. (For a light switch)

[@ilco31]

for capicitive devices you could probly use a conductive fabric as a conducter on the finger to trigger capacitive buttons

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

That is needed indeed, but it's not enough. I know how to do this, and Adaprox will come with a solution for capacitive buttons in a short while, so I'm waiting for them to release it so that I can create a video about it!

[@MisterEffedieffe]

I have an old Home Theater Amplifier that has a button to switch speaker sets that has no counterpart on the remote, when I first learned of the SwitchBot it was a game changer for me.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Thanks for this idea!

[@nughett0]

Does "sustain time" in the app mean how long the button press last? Is it available to set in Home Assistant Z2m?

[@Trapigtrogen]

I would have an use case although very niche one. I live in rental apartment where bathroom light is halogen pipe. All the electric plugs are connected to the light switch so there's no way to use smart devices in there. At the moment Ive put led light to one of the plugs and left it on so it turns on with the main switch. This might be the only solution to even consider automation in situation like mine. Maybe I should consider these as being the only place with no automation I've had bathroom light left on for days when I've left home

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Ah yes, that could work.

[@mikekappasig]

ive got a few switchbot bots. two are on air filtration systems in my workshop, so i can automate turning them on and cut power to the outlet to turn them off. another one is on a fireplace. its a simple toggle switch on the fireplace, so no low voltage switch to replace. I can only turn it on since i dont have room for another bot to toggle it off and its not strong enough to pull it to toggle it off (like you can do on a light switch), but it works well enough for me. ive also got 2 cat feeders. they constantly drop off wifi so they dont work automatically how they should, so ive got a bot on the feed button on each feeder. Then on a schedule via HA, the button is pressed a few times to dispense the right amount of food. I can also easily do a supplemental feeding from the app, or with an alexa routine that runs a script to turn the bot on a couple of times. im interested in the zigbee devicfe here, the BLE response is usually pretty slow, but it gets the job done. Id like for it to be a little more responsive.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

These sound like great use cases!

[@mikekappasig]

@@SmartHomeJunkie thanks! they work well for me. im interested in one of these to put on a PC, but would really like to be able to control the pusher pressure from HA without using their app. maybe one day.

[@paullacatus8975]

Can be glued on vertical surface trough a double face scotch tape ? What is the weight ? I want to start a diesel heater and maybe is the simplest solution instead a relay over buttons.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Yes, you can use double face scotch tape for it. The device does not weigh much. It's really light.

[@Badg0r]

I've used a Bluetooth one on our coffeemaker but I'll switch to the zigbee one a.s.a.p. Zigbee is more reliable in our house. To use it on our washing machine is a good idea!! I hope there comes an option in Home assistant to automatically turn on a device when our solar panels start to produce power. The whole energy network is too full, and I'd be best to use the energy we produce ourself without transporting it back to the energy companies. We'll be able to buy the energy back in the future for 50% of the price instead of receiving the full 100% that we've provided them with. Net congestion is something real and something to take in consideration when buying new hardware. Nowadays you'll be able to buy a battery for your house, but it would be more affordable and comfortable to automatically turn in your washing machine and your airconditioning for example with a fingerbot like this (or infrared)

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

That option is already there. You can create an automation that triggers the finger bot when your solar panels generate enough power.

[@-joggs-]

You could do a video where you try different marerials to get capacitive buttons to work. It should be working with some materials, which you can attach at the end of the finger

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Believe me, I tried different solutions with various results, but none of them were stable and looked good. I'm not living alone, so my family also has a saying in this.

[@WoottonRivers]

Hi Ed. Thanks for another informative video. I'd like a ZigBee finger to replace my Switchbot Bot as it is getting unresponsive in HA. Can you tell me please: in HA can it operate a rocker switch? That is, can it push and pull as separate actions? This is as opposed to pressing a momentary switch.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I couldn't set it up that way in HA. I only got it to work that way in the native app.

[@SuheylBey]

Hello, is it possible to do double clicking? For example clicking 2 times(double click or two clicks has less than 5-10 seconds apart) in every 5 minutes.

[@graemeboal]

I have the bluetooth version of these and they work ok but I frequently get a double movement so turning something on then immediately turns it off which then throws out the "state". I bought a fingerbot plus as it was Zigbee hoping for better reliability but after adding to HA using the conbee stick I don't have the options to change the limit switches. Do you know if there's any way to get these additional sensors in HA so I can tweak the settings as you showed when connected to the Linkoze hub?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Hi, It's not possible to do that in HA. Only in the official app.

[@graemeboal]

@@SmartHomeJunkie Hopefully extra support will come eventually. Could a custom quirk be used to add the features?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@graemeboal I have no idea how that could be achieved at the moment.

[@scobitslab]

This is awesome thx for this video. I'm gonna use it for a old Synology diskstation DS214SE, which doesnt support WoL, so I cant turn it on over the network. I use this synology which still supports the latest DSM only for backups off-site. Now I can activate my script for auto shutdown and use this devise to schedule a on action on specific time in HA. Thank you so much every wattage counts, because of the current energy prices in the EU. Love it keep it up

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Great use case!

[@cihand3851]

What battery life are people experiencing with the Zigbee CR2 battery operated model? I’m only getting 3 weeks maximum with an automation to turn on my coffee machine 3 times per day.

[@TheMennoM]

Great video (again)! I'm pretty sure you can use the fingerbot with capasitive touch. Like there are pens with a "touch side" and gloves that work with capasitive touch. You should be able to glue these on the finerbot fairly easy.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Tried it, but it doesn't work. You have to be grounded as well.

[@EsotericArctos]

It has to get capacitance to get capacitive touch to work. Those capacitive touch pens still rely on your hand touching the pen to become part of the circuit. Gluing the pad to the finger bot won't work. It changes the all the electrical characteristics

[@jsanmart666]

Hi, i did it! With aluminio paper and speakers cable i can control my washing machine.

[@grahamshaw5531]

I use 3 switchbot bots 2 of them turn on or off my Amps for the radio. & one is used to toggle the garage door with a NFC tag or Alexa.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Thanks for the use cases.

[@indianpolish5297]

Hi, any ideas what modes: click, switch and program are for? Is there a way to change defaults for them?

[@sevagj.b]

Thanks Ed, I don't think it’s bad idea, if I bought it I will find use for it😎

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Thank you Sevag.

[@Dimmers]

I have been searching for a Zibee Fingerbot for quite some time now and I have a question about it. In my warehouse, we use an old-school conveyor system to control the internal roller door. Having a Fingerbot would be very helpful as I wouldn't need to walk all the way to the back of the complex to open the front door every day, which takes me about 3-5 minutes (and the same for closing up). My concern is whether it can handle the amount of pressure needed to operate the buttons, which are from the early 2000s. Based on your experience, do you think it would be too difficult? As a side note, we recently discovered that the Fingerbot could also work on our living room heater, but since it uses IR, we hooked it up to a bond bridge. If there is no IR, a Fingerbot would definitely be helpful.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I'm not sure. It applies quite some pressure. I think the Switchbot applies more pressure, but his have to try it yourself to see if it works for your switch.

[@fibergran9]

I use the switchbot to open my main door when I'm fra from the interphone, but it takes too long to process the order. Wish it was zigbee but these fingerbot doesn't look too solid.

[@jjbankert]

Would maybe work for my intercom so I can let people into the building without getting up from the couch, haha. By the way, I turn my PC on with the Wake on LAN integration (comes with HA), and I can turn it off with HASS agent. Combining them into a switch template makes it quite easy.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Yes, wake on lan works great as well, but I wanted to turn my PC off automatically as well. I know, it's a bit overdone.

[@DannyFeliz]

That's my use case too, it's for my intercom.

[@theburntcrumpet8371]

This would be pretty cool (heh) for my freestanding air-conditioner, really simple way to power it on and off in accordance to the temperature on the ZigBee sensor and last motion in the room

[@encostablanca]

In my case I use it with my central AC. It's ducted and quite old and has no IR. So at least I can turn it on and of via the wall command making the bot pushing the button

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Ah yes, that is a good use case indeed!

[@MindForgedManacle]

I have an old RGB Monitor/TV (a Sony A20F1U), which were not produced with a remote control (at least not a normal, useful one for home use...). But the set does have a control unit with a power button, so I could get one of these cheap fingerbots to finally allow me to remotely power the monitor on for faster retro gaming. 😅

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

And another great use case!

[@emilsecker7881]

The response time for Bluetooth with a Bluetooth hub. I have isn’t that bad imo. I’d take Bluetooth and a rechargeable battery over zigbee and a CR2 battery any day of the week imo

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I use a Bluetooth dongle in my Home Assistant server and the response of Zigbee is way faster in this case. Using a Bluetooth hub and the native app might indeed be fast as well.

[@emilsecker7881]

Agreed

[@horians]

Hi, i have an old dishwasher with 'normal' buttons. To start you need to push the button twice. How quick is the Fingerbot in repetitive pushing?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

That's a good question! There are a couple of seconds in between two push actions.

[@horians]

@@SmartHomeJunkie Thank you. That might be okay.

[@michaelmcalceet]

A use case for me would be to automate simple battery-powered Christmas lights without having to create a custom ESPHome solution. I have a bunch of smart lights back home (more than 57 devices), yet my partner still insists on buying battery-powered candles and other small items from Lidl, Action, etc. With a bot like this, you can automate it pretty easily.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Nice one.

[@BeardedTinker]

Nice video Ed. I've never been able to find any practical use for such devices, but they are fun to play with I must admit

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Yeah, I have one on my PC button, but can also use wake on lan for that purpose. And I have one on my old printer now.

[@rsporsche]

I bought one to allow me to remotely open the main entrance to my apartment block. I would prefer a zigbee relay that I could wire directly to the switch contacts but battery powered zigbee relays don't seem to exist. Only thing I don't like: I'm using it with zigbee2mqtt and there's no way to change the behaviour like the range of movement and sustain time. Hopefully that gets added soon because it really limits the usefulness.

[@ech0ech071]

@@rsporsche Did this ever get added? Was just about to buy one....

[@simgplusnervt4698]

I cant get it working with zigbee2mqtt. Which adapter do you use for zigbee2mqtt? Thank you!

[@ancellitto]

nice video! I think a nice usecase would be to attach it to a room freshener spray and use it in toilet when someone uses it ;)

[@michaelthompson657]

Is this available in the UK yet?

[@FrankMoebus-g9u]

Use to avoid 3-part gateways for a remote controls (433/868) of gates (garages) or buildings intercom button door opener!

[@emilsecker7881]

Does Zigbee2MQTT let you put it in switch mode now?

[@saleh1362]

I wish this video covered how to configure the device into switch mode for lever light switches. It's a shame this review didn't really focus on applying the fingerbot outside of a couple use cases.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

This is because it is not possible to change using HA.

[@chrismills5470]

I have a finger bot control my kitchen extractor fan with a humidity sensor as i always forget to turn it on but it doesnt always work via HA im ordering ine of these as Zigbee is.more reliable

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Ah, that's actually a user case that will work for me too.

[@chrismills5470]

​@SmartHomeJunkie did you have any problems getting them to work I've had 2 and both only work when in pairing mode once out they disconnect from my HA

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@chrismills5470 Hmmm, at my side they still work using ZHA

[@MarcelSinn]

Anyone knows of a good solution to detect the doorbell without wiring the doorbell itself (like ring intercom)? More like a sound detection or small light detection (my doorbell is blinking when someone is ringing. Thanks 🙏

[@bat3332]

is there any video in pipeline for Scrypted with home assistant

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Not yet...

[@loboenlaestepa]

Hi! Thanks for this video. I have the same fingerbot as yours (TS0001 by _TZ3210_dse8ogfy) and it is perfectly recognized as a switch, liker yours. The problem I have is that I can't control it. I change from on to off and vice versa but nothing happens. If I press the button on the fingerbot HA detects it and toggles the current state. Any clue on what can be wrong?

[@danielwolman]

Can these press and hold using zigbee? I have a button inside my bed I need to press and hold.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

If I understand you correctly it can using the native app.

[@danielwolman]

@@SmartHomeJunkie ah, I want that functionality in home assistant otherwise I might as well just stick with the switchbot I already have

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@danielwolman So far I only found a way to click a button in Home Assistant, but maybe I missed something. I will test it later this week.

[@JohanVromans]

Wouldn't that drain the battery quickly?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@JohanVromans No, it just stops when pushed in and starts again when pulls back.

[@leoashcraft3]

Had 2 of these. They worked for about a month and no longer communicate - I tried removing them, factory resetting and added back to HA, which it does successfully but still nothing actually happens when triggered in HA. The device physically works when pressed. The other strange thing is, both fingerbots simultaneously stopped working. I have other zigbee devices that are still working but they're only various sensors. Any thoughts?

[@loboenlaestepa]

Huh... I have your very same problem... Have you found any workaround or solution?

[@twinrixone5295]

can you use another zigbee button to trigger the finger bot?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Yes

[@michaelthompson657]

Is this available anywhere else than aliexpress?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Not yet, but starting next week it will be available on Amazon. I will post the link as soon as it is.

[@michaelthompson657]

@@SmartHomeJunkie oh cool, that’s great thank you very much!

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@michaelthompson657 No problem!

[@michaelthompson657]

@@SmartHomeJunkie 👍🏻

[@encostablanca]

Ohh! I'm still waiting that they deliver mine 😮

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I hoe you will get them soon!

[@EsotericArctos]

This basically looks like a Zigbee clone of the Switchbot. The idea is cool to automate existing devices without changing too much. Bluetooth isn't so much of a deal with all the proxies available these days. I would still prefer to use Switchbot. I am like you with them. Struggle to find use cases as I have added smart switches and the like, but if we were looking at a completely dumb house, with slightly older appliances, old toggle light switches, physical push buttons on appliances, setting them up on the neighbours doorbell to ring the bell with no one there..... Maybe not that last one lol

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Haha! That's a fun idea! Or use it for Christmas to let Santa ring the doorbell!

[@deepfeelings1545]

hi please help i bought finger bot plus it dont connect via bluetooth with my mobile phone even after doing all steps its not discoverable am using 2.4 wifi do i need zigbee hub ? i mean it cant be used directly from phone using app ?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

If it's Zigbee you need a Hub.

[@esaedvik]

You could super easily make the finger work on capacitive screens.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I know a way now.

[@18sign]

Stick a piece of foil to the finger bottom and it will work with those capacitive buttons.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Nope, tried that. There's more needed for that and I know how to do it. Just didn't find the time to create a video obout it.

[@18sign]

@@SmartHomeJunkie yea you will need to connect the foil to a battery's negative terminal

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@18sign That is correct

[@mikebilsborough765]

Hi. Do I need the smart gateway?. I have HA with a SkyConnect but when I do discovery (wtih fingerbot in pairing) it never finds it... I got fingerbot so I could start testing out Zigbee/SkyConnect but so far no joy... Is there more kit i need when using Zigbee?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

It should work with the SkyConnect. In my video I use the SkyConnect to connect it too, but are you sure you have the Zigbee version? It's brand new and thus far only the Bluetooth version was sold as far as I know.

[@mikebilsborough765]

@@SmartHomeJunkie Ah I saw your review and went ahead and purchased it presuming it had zigbee (not aware that there was previous bluetooth model only). I think that's my problem :-)

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@mikebilsborough765 The link in the description points to the Zigbee version.

[@marc3793]

My Switchbot bot has been sitting in a draw for 6 months. No idea what to do with it!

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Maybe you can create a useless box with it?

[@Tntdruid]

Mine keep getting stuck.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Weggaat do you mean with "keep getting stuck?" Maybe it's a faulty device. I think you should be able to get a new one from the seller.

[@Bejziczek]

My fingerbot use it to open intercom

[@frankbartling1387]

Hierzu habe ich noch eine Idee: Einen Bewegungssensor an die Mülltonne kleben und darüber schauen, ob der Müll schon an die Straße gebracht wurde. Falls nicht - eine Erinnerung über Alexa :-)

[@dizzc7838]

PS5 with psplay app can play ps without using rest mode 🎉

[@bramnelissen9106]

Can’t you take a set of them and let them play guitar? 😂

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Great idea, but I think I might get timing issues. 😜

[@JohanVromans]

@@SmartHomeJunkie Nah, just a creative re-interpretation of the timing. A new form of art1

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@JohanVromans Would be nice to test 😂

[@Dimmers]

​@SmartHomeJunkie who's stopping you :)

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@Dimmers Time is a thing here...

[@Marcelgrotepunt]

Weggegooid geld. Allereerst lukt het niet om te connecten. Dan ben je snel klaar. Het voordeel van deze video is, dat ze lieten zien dat je de resetknop 5 seconden ingedrukt moest houden en dat was bij de instructie niet duidelijk. Maar verbinden ho maar. Ik wilde het apparaatje gebruiken op mijn afstandsbediening van mijn airco, zodat ik in de winter op tijd de verwarming aan kan zetten en in de zomer de verkoeling. Ik vond de verdere uitleg van deze video duidelijk bedoeld voor mensen die er veel verstand van hebben en dus geen leken zoals ik.

[@canberksenolsun]

DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM. I have ordered 9 of these for various purposes in my house, mainly to operate the wall panels of the old VRF A/C systems. These devices change states randomly and you just don't know what happened. Turned your A/C on on home assistant and an automation turned it off? The state of the switch turns off but in reality nothing happens, your A/C is still on and now they are off sync. Beware!

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Are you sure the issue is in the device? I do not recognize this issue at all. Might be an issue in your setup instead of the device.

[@JLGBinken]

Do other people have these issues? As I have mine connected to a overheaddoor.

[@canberksenolsun]

@@JLGBinken I still do, my fingerbots randomly change states. Monitored this for over a month and issue remains. I am knowledgable enough to know that this is not related to my setup.

[@JLGBinken]

@@canberksenolsun Thank you for your reply. I haven't had a single issue with my fingerbot over the last 5 days.