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  3. livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz

livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz

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  • A achurak1

    @Nca78, does that mean I can send high from arduino to this electrode thus imitating the touch? If so, would it be easier to do that or send the high/low directly to the HC238 (to A0 - A2)? It seems that in the first case I can also easily control the dimming function by keeping high for a few seconds. Is there a way to control dimming directly through HC238?
    And an unrelated question, will you be able to sell these replacement PCBs you're working on right now and when? I'm not sure I will have enough patience to solder arduinos/radios to dozens of the switches, so I'd rather buy your plug-n-play solution if the price is reasonable.

    Nca78N Offline
    Nca78N Offline
    Nca78
    Hardware Contributor
    wrote on last edited by Nca78
    #96

    @achurak1 said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

    @Nca78, does that mean I can send high from arduino to this electrode thus imitating the touch? If so, would it be easier to do that or send the high/low directly to the HC238 (to A0 - A2)? It seems that in the first case I can also easily control the dimming function by keeping high for a few seconds. Is there a way to control dimming directly through HC238?

    I think you can simulate the press by setting the pin to a high level, it will cheat the capacitance measurement and should generate a "click". But I take no responsibility for that :P
    I don't think the dimmer is using an HC238, which is a decoder that takes 3 pins as input and sets one of it's outputs high, it's convenient for the relays they use but not suitable for a dimmer. They are probably using PWM for that. I have no dimmer switch here, I ordered one but I still need time to receive it...
    So if you want to control a dimmer livolo switch at the moment, try to simulate touches on the buttons and the mcu on their sensor board will do the job for you.

    And an unrelated question, will you be able to sell these replacement PCBs you're working on right now and when? I'm not sure I will have enough patience to solder arduinos/radios to dozens of the switches, so I'd rather buy your plug-n-play solution if the price is reasonable.

    I will be able to sell them if they work fine on the long term, but that will need at least one month in the wall to be sure, then another month to order and get the fixed PCB (got some improvements to make already...).
    I want to get the dimmer swith also to have a look and if possible make a PCB compatible with both normal switch and dimmer.
    For the price I have no idea, either I get them done in China but I don't think there will be enough volume and it takes a lot of time to prepare (but that's an interesting process to learn :)), or I make them myself which takes a lot of time and logistics to assemble, test, ship. BOM is already around 10 US$ so I don't think it could go below 20US$ for final board. That would make the final swith around 10$ more than the radio version of livolo switch, as with my pcb you can just buy the cheapest switches, without radios.

    A 2 Replies Last reply
    0
    • Nca78N Nca78

      Hello, I just found out that Livolo is selling the glass plates (EU standard only, too bad for me :( ) alone on it's aliexpress shop. 3.72€ for square plate (1 or 2 switches), 6.24€ for double sized plate (up to 4 switches) and 8.77€ for triple size (up to 6 switches !).

      I have US(AU) sized switches here so I'm a bit screwed up, but I think I will try to order a double plate and put on top of one of my switches boxes which are a bit smaller.
      Check the "EU DIY Parts" category in the Livolo shop.

      http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Livolo-Luxury-White-Pearl-Crystal-Glass-80mm-80mm-EU-standard-Single-Glass-Panel-For-1-Gang/32484221458.html

      wallyllamaW Offline
      wallyllamaW Offline
      wallyllama
      wrote on last edited by
      #97

      @Nca78 if you search aliexpress hard enough you'll fund us standard plates only. Search "livolo glass plate -eu -uk"

      Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • Nca78N Nca78

        @achurak1 said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

        @Nca78, does that mean I can send high from arduino to this electrode thus imitating the touch? If so, would it be easier to do that or send the high/low directly to the HC238 (to A0 - A2)? It seems that in the first case I can also easily control the dimming function by keeping high for a few seconds. Is there a way to control dimming directly through HC238?

        I think you can simulate the press by setting the pin to a high level, it will cheat the capacitance measurement and should generate a "click". But I take no responsibility for that :P
        I don't think the dimmer is using an HC238, which is a decoder that takes 3 pins as input and sets one of it's outputs high, it's convenient for the relays they use but not suitable for a dimmer. They are probably using PWM for that. I have no dimmer switch here, I ordered one but I still need time to receive it...
        So if you want to control a dimmer livolo switch at the moment, try to simulate touches on the buttons and the mcu on their sensor board will do the job for you.

        And an unrelated question, will you be able to sell these replacement PCBs you're working on right now and when? I'm not sure I will have enough patience to solder arduinos/radios to dozens of the switches, so I'd rather buy your plug-n-play solution if the price is reasonable.

        I will be able to sell them if they work fine on the long term, but that will need at least one month in the wall to be sure, then another month to order and get the fixed PCB (got some improvements to make already...).
        I want to get the dimmer swith also to have a look and if possible make a PCB compatible with both normal switch and dimmer.
        For the price I have no idea, either I get them done in China but I don't think there will be enough volume and it takes a lot of time to prepare (but that's an interesting process to learn :)), or I make them myself which takes a lot of time and logistics to assemble, test, ship. BOM is already around 10 US$ so I don't think it could go below 20US$ for final board. That would make the final swith around 10$ more than the radio version of livolo switch, as with my pcb you can just buy the cheapest switches, without radios.

        A Offline
        A Offline
        achurak1
        wrote on last edited by
        #98

        @Nca78, thanks! I'm going to try this touch simulation, probably tomorrow.
        They use PIC16F690 chip for the dimmable switch versions: http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/PIC16F690
        $20 seems reasonable, I paid $22 for the one gang dimmable switch, so the total would be $42.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • wallyllamaW wallyllama

          @Nca78 if you search aliexpress hard enough you'll fund us standard plates only. Search "livolo glass plate -eu -uk"

          Nca78N Offline
          Nca78N Offline
          Nca78
          Hardware Contributor
          wrote on last edited by
          #99

          @wallyllama said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

          livolo glass plate -eu -uk

          Maybe but I'm missing your point ?
          I still need to buy the switch to have the box + main power/relay board.

          @achurak1 said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

          They use PIC16F690 chip for the dimmable switch versions: http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/PIC16F690
          They use the same PIC16F690 in all the switches but what is interesting is to know to which pins of the connector it is connected, and what is connected on the main/ac board to control the dimmers.

          If someone has the 2 way switches I'm interested to know what ics are connected to the A and B connectors and to which pins those ics are connected to on the 2x7 pins connectors.

          wallyllamaW M 2 Replies Last reply
          0
          • Nca78N Nca78

            @wallyllama said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

            livolo glass plate -eu -uk

            Maybe but I'm missing your point ?
            I still need to buy the switch to have the box + main power/relay board.

            @achurak1 said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

            They use PIC16F690 chip for the dimmable switch versions: http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/PIC16F690
            They use the same PIC16F690 in all the switches but what is interesting is to know to which pins of the connector it is connected, and what is connected on the main/ac board to control the dimmers.

            If someone has the 2 way switches I'm interested to know what ics are connected to the A and B connectors and to which pins those ics are connected to on the 2x7 pins connectors.

            wallyllamaW Offline
            wallyllamaW Offline
            wallyllama
            wrote on last edited by
            #100

            @Nca78 said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

            @wallyllama said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

            livolo glass plate -eu -uk

            Maybe but I'm missing your point ?
            I still need to buy the switch to have the box + main power/relay board.

            Nope, I missed yours. Someone mentioned getting glass plates only, then i saw your comment about US plates, and I combined the two. I return you to your regularly scheduled project.

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • Nca78N Nca78

              @wallyllama said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

              livolo glass plate -eu -uk

              Maybe but I'm missing your point ?
              I still need to buy the switch to have the box + main power/relay board.

              @achurak1 said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

              They use PIC16F690 chip for the dimmable switch versions: http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/PIC16F690
              They use the same PIC16F690 in all the switches but what is interesting is to know to which pins of the connector it is connected, and what is connected on the main/ac board to control the dimmers.

              If someone has the 2 way switches I'm interested to know what ics are connected to the A and B connectors and to which pins those ics are connected to on the 2x7 pins connectors.

              M Offline
              M Offline
              Markhill
              wrote on last edited by
              #101

              @Nca78 I have 2 way switch for 1 gang, 2 gang and 3 gang. Will take a picture for you guys soon

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Nca78N Nca78

                @achurak1 said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

                @Nca78, does that mean I can send high from arduino to this electrode thus imitating the touch? If so, would it be easier to do that or send the high/low directly to the HC238 (to A0 - A2)? It seems that in the first case I can also easily control the dimming function by keeping high for a few seconds. Is there a way to control dimming directly through HC238?

                I think you can simulate the press by setting the pin to a high level, it will cheat the capacitance measurement and should generate a "click". But I take no responsibility for that :P
                I don't think the dimmer is using an HC238, which is a decoder that takes 3 pins as input and sets one of it's outputs high, it's convenient for the relays they use but not suitable for a dimmer. They are probably using PWM for that. I have no dimmer switch here, I ordered one but I still need time to receive it...
                So if you want to control a dimmer livolo switch at the moment, try to simulate touches on the buttons and the mcu on their sensor board will do the job for you.

                And an unrelated question, will you be able to sell these replacement PCBs you're working on right now and when? I'm not sure I will have enough patience to solder arduinos/radios to dozens of the switches, so I'd rather buy your plug-n-play solution if the price is reasonable.

                I will be able to sell them if they work fine on the long term, but that will need at least one month in the wall to be sure, then another month to order and get the fixed PCB (got some improvements to make already...).
                I want to get the dimmer swith also to have a look and if possible make a PCB compatible with both normal switch and dimmer.
                For the price I have no idea, either I get them done in China but I don't think there will be enough volume and it takes a lot of time to prepare (but that's an interesting process to learn :)), or I make them myself which takes a lot of time and logistics to assemble, test, ship. BOM is already around 10 US$ so I don't think it could go below 20US$ for final board. That would make the final swith around 10$ more than the radio version of livolo switch, as with my pcb you can just buy the cheapest switches, without radios.

                A Offline
                A Offline
                achurak1
                wrote on last edited by
                #102

                @Nca78 I have a probably very stupid question. Why is it every time I'm trying to solder my arduino in parallel to the pins A0-A2 everything basically stops working - the lights would go on, but not off, dimmer would stop working either or the lights would just start flickering like crazy. What am I missing here? Is that somehow related to pull-up/down resistors? I tried both modes on arduino, INPUT to just listen what's going on when I'm touching the button and OUTPUT to actually control stuff, but both gave me the same results - nothing :(

                Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • Nca78N Offline
                  Nca78N Offline
                  Nca78
                  Hardware Contributor
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #103

                  Hello, just published my first version for the US/AU switch.
                  https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/6489/livolo-3-buttons-us-au-switch-adapter/2

                  Still needs some improvements, so no gerbers at the moment.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • A achurak1

                    @Nca78 I have a probably very stupid question. Why is it every time I'm trying to solder my arduino in parallel to the pins A0-A2 everything basically stops working - the lights would go on, but not off, dimmer would stop working either or the lights would just start flickering like crazy. What am I missing here? Is that somehow related to pull-up/down resistors? I tried both modes on arduino, INPUT to just listen what's going on when I'm touching the button and OUTPUT to actually control stuff, but both gave me the same results - nothing :(

                    Nca78N Offline
                    Nca78N Offline
                    Nca78
                    Hardware Contributor
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #104

                    @achurak1 said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

                    @Nca78 I have a probably very stupid question. Why is it every time I'm trying to solder my arduino in parallel to the pins A0-A2 everything basically stops working - the lights would go on, but not off, dimmer would stop working either or the lights would just start flickering like crazy. What am I missing here? Is that somehow related to pull-up/down resistors? I tried both modes on arduino, INPUT to just listen what's going on when I'm touching the button and OUTPUT to actually control stuff, but both gave me the same results - nothing :(

                    Sorry I forgot to reply to your question...
                    I ordered a dimmer and checked it, it has another PIC on the "main" board so I think it's not that easy to control, I suppose the PIC on the "main" board manages PWM, and it receives instructions from the PIC on the "sensor" board, we need to know how they communicate.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Nca78N Nca78

                      @Markhill it cannot work, this board needs external power because the ESP8266 he is using is too power hungry, the switch cannot provide enough power. And this board is sized for EU switch it will not work with US or US/AU switch.

                      I'm working on 3 buttons and 4 buttons version with atmega and nrf24, power from the swith is enough so it's just a plug&play replacement. I'm testing the 3 buttons switch at the moment (same layout than 1 button in which only the center button is connected). It will be cheaper than 15$ if you solder it yourself, if you don't want to do smd soldering we can probably find a solution for pre-assembled boards.

                      0_1487478771875_IMAG1399.jpg

                      A Offline
                      A Offline
                      alexus
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #105

                      @Nca78

                      hello. Is there a connection example with ESP?

                      Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • A alexus

                        @Nca78

                        hello. Is there a connection example with ESP?

                        Nca78N Offline
                        Nca78N Offline
                        Nca78
                        Hardware Contributor
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #106

                        @alexus said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

                        @Nca78

                        hello. Is there a connection example with ESP?

                        Somewhere on youtube it seems, but using external power supply. It doesn't sound like a good idea to try to draw over 100mA from a power supply that was designed to provide less than 10, especially when a MySensors board can provide exactly the same functionality as a plug-in replacement of the livolo sensor board.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • wallyllamaW Offline
                          wallyllamaW Offline
                          wallyllama
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #107

                          My goal would be to connect an arduino to the data pin on the power board and use the library to control livolo direct without a radio. The problem I have is that when i connect ground to ground on an ftdi I get magic smoke all over. Inuse my. Volt meter and sure enough the gnd pin is connected directly to the live input. Im guessing gnd and +3v "float" around the AC in some fashion.

                          Has anyone sucessfully bypassed the radio? Im thinking t may work if i power the arduino off the livolo power supply, or from a battery, but then if i connect that to an rs485 or other device with a real ground, kapow! At least that is what i am thinking will happen.

                          On a side note I have a regular, 2way, and remote switch, all the same revision and all US style, and from what I can tell the difference for 2way is a diode (d2) and a resettable fuse (r10). It lookes like there is basically a primative modem that sends/recieves the same data as the radio. (The radio is receive only, but 2 way has to be, well 2 ways). The "modem" is connected to "B" and "A" is connected to live and "gnd", which is why I think the dc voltage sort of floats on the ac.

                          mtiutiuM M 2 Replies Last reply
                          0
                          • wallyllamaW wallyllama

                            My goal would be to connect an arduino to the data pin on the power board and use the library to control livolo direct without a radio. The problem I have is that when i connect ground to ground on an ftdi I get magic smoke all over. Inuse my. Volt meter and sure enough the gnd pin is connected directly to the live input. Im guessing gnd and +3v "float" around the AC in some fashion.

                            Has anyone sucessfully bypassed the radio? Im thinking t may work if i power the arduino off the livolo power supply, or from a battery, but then if i connect that to an rs485 or other device with a real ground, kapow! At least that is what i am thinking will happen.

                            On a side note I have a regular, 2way, and remote switch, all the same revision and all US style, and from what I can tell the difference for 2way is a diode (d2) and a resettable fuse (r10). It lookes like there is basically a primative modem that sends/recieves the same data as the radio. (The radio is receive only, but 2 way has to be, well 2 ways). The "modem" is connected to "B" and "A" is connected to live and "gnd", which is why I think the dc voltage sort of floats on the ac.

                            mtiutiuM Offline
                            mtiutiuM Offline
                            mtiutiu
                            Hardware Contributor
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #108

                            @wallyllama

                            In order to have isolation why not use an optocoupler from arduino to send logic high or low to the livolo relays board? This way they won't share the same gnd and no more issues of this kind in theory. But this means adding the optocoupler as an extra component..but I don't think this is a big issue and it should be cheap also.

                            wallyllamaW 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • mtiutiuM mtiutiu

                              @wallyllama

                              In order to have isolation why not use an optocoupler from arduino to send logic high or low to the livolo relays board? This way they won't share the same gnd and no more issues of this kind in theory. But this means adding the optocoupler as an extra component..but I don't think this is a big issue and it should be cheap also.

                              wallyllamaW Offline
                              wallyllamaW Offline
                              wallyllama
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #109

                              @mtiutiu i usually need help with the obvious. Thank you.

                              mtiutiuM 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • wallyllamaW wallyllama

                                @mtiutiu i usually need help with the obvious. Thank you.

                                mtiutiuM Offline
                                mtiutiuM Offline
                                mtiutiu
                                Hardware Contributor
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #110

                                @wallyllama

                                What do you mean? You don't know how the wiring goes? I can provide a simple wiring diagram not a problem if that's needed.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • wallyllamaW Offline
                                  wallyllamaW Offline
                                  wallyllama
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #111

                                  I meant that using an optocoupler was an obvious solution, and I should have thought of it.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • Andrei Călin TătarA Offline
                                    Andrei Călin TătarA Offline
                                    Andrei Călin Tătar
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #112

                                    I managed to do some reverse engineering on the livolo dimmer switch. It seems that the touch MCU talks to the dimmer MCU via USART (idle: low, 19200 bps, 1 start, 1 stop, 8 data). Each 20 msec the dimmer MCU sends a byte that shows the level of the dimmer and the touch MCU replies with a byte that has bit 0 set to one if touch is present, rest of the bits are all 0 (except for each 10th reply, when all the other bits are 1).
                                    Also the 433MHz radio signal is decoded by the touch MCU not by the dimmer MCU.

                                    wallyllamaW 1 Reply Last reply
                                    3
                                    • Andrei Călin TătarA Andrei Călin Tătar

                                      I managed to do some reverse engineering on the livolo dimmer switch. It seems that the touch MCU talks to the dimmer MCU via USART (idle: low, 19200 bps, 1 start, 1 stop, 8 data). Each 20 msec the dimmer MCU sends a byte that shows the level of the dimmer and the touch MCU replies with a byte that has bit 0 set to one if touch is present, rest of the bits are all 0 (except for each 10th reply, when all the other bits are 1).
                                      Also the 433MHz radio signal is decoded by the touch MCU not by the dimmer MCU.

                                      wallyllamaW Offline
                                      wallyllamaW Offline
                                      wallyllama
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #113

                                      @Andrei-Călin-Tătar said in livolo Glass Panel Touch Light Wall Switch + arduino 433Mhz:

                                      Also the 433MHz radio signal is decoded by the touch MCU not by the dimmer MCU.

                                      The touch mcu does this for non dimming temote modules also. I think it uses mostly the same system for the 2way switches also.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • Andrei Călin TătarA Offline
                                        Andrei Călin TătarA Offline
                                        Andrei Călin Tătar
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #114

                                        I decided in the end to completely remove both MCUs and replace them with one mega328p, at42qt1010 and one nrf24l01. The problem is that it must be really power efficient. Once the light goes close to full power, the current drops significantly. I also noticed on the PCB space for a battery and a transistor that controls when it's connected to the power supply. Do the switches that come with RF modules have the battery location (B1 I think) populated?

                                        wallyllamaW 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • Andrei Călin TătarA Andrei Călin Tătar

                                          I decided in the end to completely remove both MCUs and replace them with one mega328p, at42qt1010 and one nrf24l01. The problem is that it must be really power efficient. Once the light goes close to full power, the current drops significantly. I also noticed on the PCB space for a battery and a transistor that controls when it's connected to the power supply. Do the switches that come with RF modules have the battery location (B1 I think) populated?

                                          wallyllamaW Offline
                                          wallyllamaW Offline
                                          wallyllama
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #115

                                          @Andrei-Călin-Tătar b1 is the buzzer. When you hold a touch pad down for more than 5 seconds, the switch goes into learning mode and the buzzer makes a sound.

                                          Andrei Călin TătarA 1 Reply Last reply
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