Custom firmware on cheap Chinese Bluetooth LCD temperature - humidity sensors for Home Assistant

[@makersfunduck]

For those having trouble finding cheap prices, AliExpress unfortunately tries to maximize its profits by showing different prices for different regions. I tried the following methods, and the prices changed significantly: 1 - Log out of your account. 2 - Use a private tab on your browser. 3 - Change your location with a VPN (Asian locations showed significantly lower prices for me). 4 - Open a new account after you put items in your basket. If you have other tips, please reply under this comment so we can all benefit and avoid their shenanigans.

[@sonsti8014]

Using a private browsing window I got the 0,99€ price tag but that's sadly only for one unit. Anything else doesn't get a discount and you need to buy more for free shipping.

[@markpirola8152]

Bought 3 for $AUD 3.69 each and price jumped straight after purchase to $4.50

[@korishan]

Wow!! This is awesome! So much potential here. I immediately was thinking about these being used in Homelab situations where you need/want to monitor rack units. Put one at the top and bottom of the front glass door and have not only visual display at the rack but also remote monitoring. What a great find! Cheaper than making these yourself "and" comes with a display! For those saying they aren't $1, try changing your location with a VPN and scanning through the listings. Some will offer discounts on multiple purchase counts as well

[@xitee4245]

I also have some cheap THB1 / THB3 sensors and they are surprisingly accurate. I'm also using this custom firmware for a while now and it works really good. Be aware that the battery will drain very fast with the custom firmware. You should either wire it to a permanent power source or add a bigger battery pack to it (I've wired a 2x AA battery case to it).

[@tekvax01]

cool project! thanks!

[@makersfunduck]

Glad that you liked it :)

[@tmartin9482]

Please clarify whether the striking difference in temperature and humidity at the end of the video when comparing the Mi thermometer and the AliExpress clone is due to holding the device or whether this is representative data. At the end of the day, I wouldn't really care whether a device is easy to integrate into a smart home or easier to read if the data it collects is incorrect and therefore useless.

[@makersfunduck]

They show different because I was holding them on my hand in the video. Normally, the delta is around 0.1 degree Celsius max, and Xiaomi and the clones are within the tolerance ranges.

[@JohnnyMotel99]

@@makersfunduck Accuracy is paramount with these devices.

[@hedemegmondom]

These are available also in Zigbee version which can be easily integrated to HA. I've been using them in my bathroom to trigger the ventilation fan when there's high humidity.

[@georgedone7997]

Nice. I do not understand how you could put it back together and the display still works. In my experience, every time I detached the zebra strip elastomer from a display and then put it back I never got the display to work properly (there were missing digits and digits that were working but with far less contrast than the fully working ones. I did avoid touching the zebra strip contacts, used isopropyl alcohol, tighten the screws to make sure there is enoug pressure, no luck. What is your secret ?

[@xitee4245]

I've never had problems with that. I have already removed lots of these displays and put it back together without issues. As long as you don't bend it or remove it from the display side there shoudln't be any issues. Even touching it should be fine.

[@RoockeeR]

We couldn't find a product for 1 dollar, unfortunately it's around 10 dollars.

[@sonsti8014]

If you search for "bluetooth temperature lcd" you find some for around 3-4€ even without the fake discount aliexpress always shows.

[@korishan]

try changing your location with a VPN and scanning through the listings. Some will offer discounts on multiple purchase counts as well I'm in Fl,USA and found several that were listed for $3-$5 and there were discounts for larger quantity purchases.

[@xitee4245]

fuck you youtube

[@xitee4245]

I do not know what is wrong here but apparantly I am not allowed to say you where to get it cheaper because y-t kee-ps del my comm.

[@xitee4245]

lets try if this works (you need to reverse the text): .snioc gnisu nehw yllaicepse ,ereht repaehc sgniht fo tol a teg nac uoY .ppa enohptrams ilA eht esu ot si em morf ecivda lareneg a oslA .hcae ¬‚â07.1 tuoba rof enim tog ev'I .trac gnippohs eht hguorht yaw dradnats eht meht gniyub yb ton dna noitces "3 kcip" eht hguorht repaehc tol a meht teg nac uoy tub ilA no gniht labolg a s'ti fi wonk t'nod I

[@Luke-san]

I have a bunch of Xiaomi ones here for almost each important room. At first I liked them, even now ... but I need a subscription for batteries and that is becoming pricey. Sometimes it seems cheaper to buy a new device than a battery. I am now testing the Tuya compatibel versions without a display and 2 x AAA batteries in the hope they will last longer. But now the humidity reading is completely different, about 10 to 20% difference. Seems temp wise most are kind of simular in value but humidity is a problem.

[@timmturner]

The Tuya WiFi ones with no screen eat batteries, you may get a month out of the two AAA. They also only update once or hour, they are worthless in my opinion. Now the same Tuya zigbee version I've not tried and likely get good battery life.

[@Luke-san]

@timmturner I bought Zigbee versions for that cause. WiFi always has to make a connection to the AP which uses a lot of power. Zigbee or BT ble for the win.

[@twr4641]

I used the wifi tuyas with no display. They update *when the readings change* so it can be every minute or after three hours. It‘s to conserve energy snd makes total sense. The wifi version however runs only 1 month on its single AAA, snd 3 months ehen you use the more expensive non-rechargeable lithium AAA. It‘s best to run them with a small solar panel and a buffer cell. That works forever. Else, at least the wifi version becomes a costly battery grave. ;-)

[@squadas81]

i have it , battery last for 5-6months max.

[@ghostofdre]

Ive gotthe xioami ones, flahsed them wirelessly.

[@julshg]

sadly the product link doesn't work (anymore?)

[@alyti]

just search for it instead?

[@natheyshiro4119]

It's working on my side, it may have been fixed. It's a affiliated link, so you may prefer it.

[@hawks5196]

Let me Google that for you 😅

[@alexf1179]

Cool. I have about 10 of the Xiaomi ones. I never bother with the BT connectivity as the range is pretty poor, I just use them for reading temperature off the screen.

[@sierpus]

I have plenty of devices that serves as Bluetooth proxies (eg esp32 or Shelly) so no issues with range around the house

[@Toteniuz]

Those have ZigBee hardware inside, you can activate that via custom firmware.

[@Luke-san]

Well I have Xiaomi gateway and that one is picking up my Xiaomi temp meters 2 floors up and outside.

[@Toteniuz]

@@Luke-san Oh wow, I guess it only uses ZigBee if you use their own gateway.

[@Luke-san]

@@Toteniuz Yup the Zigbee standard protocol, I am laughing at standards, only works for their brand. The Xiaomi meters I have are BT ones. I have a Sonoff Zigbee stick still in the box but using that I would have to re-pair everything again. So now I am stuck wit a Xiaomi and Tuya compatible gateway that can both do BT and Zigbee.

[@Hilmi12]

This is also sold under Xiomi brand

[@Poebbelmann]

I thi k the Xiomi ones use a different hardware which is even flashable over the air.

[@makersfunduck]

Xiomi uses a different MCU and a sensor. These are clones.

[@3D_Printing]

2:34 ;you must be underwater almost 100% humidity

[@codures]

08:50 "[...] is in english, which is very better than [...]" - bruh, 😂

[@simontube8417]

unfortunately, these devices are horribly inaccurate. but you can offset them in home assistant...

[@spd785]

Hi. Do you have a ref of an accurate temp and Rh HA sensor ?

[@simontube8417]

@@spd785 Yes I do

[@spd785]

@@simontube8417 Which one ?

[@CubbyTech]

Note - not every Home Assistant install will allow integrations to be added. CasaOS is one example where it won't work :(

[@dartfrogdk]

they are not 1 dollar, click bait

[@bbjunkie]

Just clickbait ffs

[@SirHackaL0t.]

Those two show wildly different temps and humidty. Not worth the time it would seem if they aren’t accurate.

[@makersfunduck]

They show different because I was holding them on my hand in the video. Normally, the delta is around 0.1 degree Celsius max, and Xiaomi and the clones are within the tolerance ranges.

[@Shapshapper]

“Chinese apps” 😂

[@april7_]

Is this same or totally different HW than Xaomi ones? As I have many of them and like to connect them to Victron products like those rigigilously expensive Ruuvi ones!

[@makersfunduck]

the mcu and the sensor are different than Xaomi ones.