Mi-Light controller for Mysensors

[Cliff Karlsson]

can rgb bulbs also be controlled/set color/dim ?

[ted]

@Cliff-Karlsson
Yes, I can control RGB color as well. The node can relay any command from the gateway to the Mi Bulb. It can implement the full capability of the original remote controller. The format of the MI protocol can be found here: https://hackaday.io/project/5888-reverse-engineering-the-milight-on-air-protocol . The node receives the command as a ASCII string; it then convert it to HEX format and send it to the bulb.

[koen01]

i'm getting this error:

[code]
open_Mi_Light_Controller_repeater.ino:3:23: fatal error: nRF_24L01.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.
[/code]

[ted]

oops. I forgot to attach the modified nrf24 library.
Somehow the module that simulates PL1167 is not compatible with mysensors' nrf24 library; instead, it requires the nrf24 library found here: http://tmrh20.github.io/RF24 , which, strangely, is not compatible with mysensors. So I end up with using two different nrf24 libraries, one for mysensor and the other for simulating PL1167. To make this work, I have to change the variable/file names of one of the libraries. Maybe there is something I didn't do correctly. Anyway, if you import the following library, it should work. 0_1460766143691_RF_24-master.zip

@koen01

[Cliff Karlsson]

I just ordered four 9w rgbww bulbs to try your script out. But when reading the reviews one of the main disadvantages I found where that it was not possible to query the bulbs for the current state/color/dim-level.
But if the bulbs are wired so that they are always on then the script/repeater-node or the controller keep track of all the states, right?

Also is it possible to connect an battery powered arduino/nrf to the existing non powered wall-switch and have the arduino to send the switch-commands directly to the mi-light-repeater-node for faster reaction times for turning the bulbs on/off?

[ted]

@Cliff-Karlsson

Yes, it is possible to keep track of the bulb state from the controller.

As to the switching speed, it is almost instantaneous (<<1 s). You can for sure add another node, but that will make the whole thing much more complicated to build.

[Cliff Karlsson]

@ted

Thanks, I forgot to ask but if the node(s) have the full capability as the original remote controler. That means that I can also control ledstrips using the mi-light led dimmers like this: Led controller right?

[ted]

Assuming the on-air protocols are the same, yes.
I only have the RGB-W light bulb and were able to control it without ever using the remote controller.
@Cliff-Karlsson

[Cliff Karlsson]

@ted said:

(1) turn the white light on/off using a light switch node

What does this mean? do I connect a light switch to the repeater-node? Or does it just mean that I can use another arduino to detect button-switches and send command to domoticz or other controller?

[Cliff Karlsson]

I have received my lamps now but no controller yet. Is it possible to pair/control the bulbs without controller?

[ted]

@Cliff-Karlsson
To pair, turn on the light switch, and send 'ON' command within 2-3 seconds. If successful, you will see the light flash on and off a couple of times.

The repeater-node simply relay any command it receives from the controller (I use openhab) to the light wirelessly. There is no physical wire connection between the node and milight.

[Cliff Karlsson]

Ok, I meant to say that I had not got any bridge for the mi-light yet. In the first post it is mentioned that you need to pair using a bridge.

[ted]

@Cliff-Karlsson
thanks, the original post was updated to clarify this.

[Cliff Karlsson]

Thanks, next stupid question. How do I control the rgb/dimming features of the lamp? I got a ordinary on/off lamp under device in domoticz.

[ted]

@Cliff-Karlsson
You have to program your controller to produce the command string and send it to the node. The command string is transmitted as a ASCII string to the 'custom' node. See https://hackaday.io/project/5888-reverse-engineering-the-milight-on-air-protocol for the command format. Sorry I don't use domoticz.

[Cliff Karlsson]

Do I need to unpair the bulbs if I want to try pairing again? It got paired as a regular on/of bulb the first time. But I think I found out that I could add mi-lights using a dummy switch. But The bulb are not pairing.

[ted]

@Cliff-Karlsson
I don't know. Let us know what you find out. :)
To unpair, you turn on the power to the bulb and send 'off' command within seconds.

[Cliff Karlsson]

Ok, I tried with several bulbs now. First time I managed to pair as on/off switch but after that I had no luck. If anyone is using this with domoticz please describe the procedure of how to add the bulbs.

[Cliff Karlsson]

@ted

I forgot to ask, but what controller have you been trying them out on? And are there any limitation to how many bulbs one repeater-node can control? I recall reading something about one original controller only being able to control 4 bulbs or similar.

[Cliff Karlsson]

Ok, I think I found a clue :), S_CUSTOM seams not to be supported by domoticz so I changed it to "gw.present(0, S_RGBW_LIGHT);"
So now everything looks ok with a RGB selector and everything. But I still can only turn on and off the bulb and am not able to dim or set colors. So I guess there is some more serious witchcraft going on thats over my head.