IKEA Bäve dimmer hack

Dimming not dimmable LED, IKEA Bäve

Inspired by LarsWH and using a Z-Wave controller I got it working with a "standard" component.

Other HomeKit posts 
     on this Blogg        

A new version !! With an IKEA controller and HomeKit enabled is available here !!

HomeKit, Trådfri and Gledopto RGB

I bought the Gledopto RGB+CCT LED controller(GO), so I could use RGB LED strips, not just the IKEA ones.

There were some IF:s, which will be scrutinized below, but it worked.

Other HomeKit posts on this Blogg

Mac install Apache/PHP WEB-server

Updated 2019-01-07 

!! Note !! Before Monterey !! 

As a part of one of my projects, the ultimate Weather site ?? Weather34(W34), I needed a WEB-host with PHP and started to use a Raspberry Pi.

In this post You will get some short install tips on Apache with PHP on a Mac with Mojave, macOS 10.14.x, and at the end of the post the W34 installation is done.

Homekit with broadband speed measure

Updated 2019-09-02 !

If you think it's ok that the broadband speed appears as temperature in Home apps this plugin is very nice.

The plugin, used with Homebridge(HB), measures Your broadband speed at chosen intervals. If You use the free app "Eve for Homekit", besides that it shows the last measured broad band speed, it also shows the speed history in a nice graph.

Other HomeKit posts on this Blogg

Weather34 install at WEB hotel

Updated 2019-04-01 !

Prerequisites is listed in the beginning of the post for installation on Raspberry Pi(RPi)

You will find migration information, from WeatherLink 1.0 to WeatherLink 2.0, in this post

Router as WiFi extender

Extending Your WiFi via cable have the advantage, compared to extending via WFi, that You keep the bandwidth at max. Extending Your WiFi with products that use the same frequencies, as Your WiFi, will just put through 50% of the data flow.

One way to extend the WiFi is with a cheap router, or maybe an old router You don't use any more.

IKEA Trådfri gateway install & HomeKit

Updated 2019-02-05 !

Using Homebridge for a while, getting nice hardware to emulate Apples HomeKit devices, I finally decided to test IKEA:s Trådfri concept.


The actual device that I was interested in is the wireless control outlet. But they have bulbs and other stuff that is really nice priced.



This post will cover an installation of the Trådfri gateway with a HomeKit approach.  


Other HomeKit posts on this Blogg

Raspbian Jessie to Stretch upgrade

Upgrading from Jessie to Stretch can break the entire system so ALLWAYS do a backup.

There are several sites/posts with "how to" information but the Raspberry site, the Linuxconfig site and the Superuser site, (where You can find more details about the upgrade), made the base for this post. 

Davis WeatherLink upgrade to 2.0

During summer 2018 Davis are updating WeatherLink to 2.0 (WL2). So if You have registered devices before 2017-11-28 You must migrate.

This update is changing their website, as shown in picture, and API.

Their API documentation is found here

The following information is sent out in 2018-06 to users who still haven't upgraded to WL2

OpenPlotter, updating SignalK Node server

Updated 2018-06-07!

The SignalK server(SK), the engine in OpenPlotter(OP) is coming with new releases pretty often and if You want to update, having used OpenPlotter RPI V0.10.0 NOOBS, the following instructions will help You.

I really recommend to start all over with a new fresh installation with the new OP V1.x.x.

TP-Link Deco install with ethernet

TP-Link Deco is a smart Mesh system that extends Your WiFi.

It is pretty easy to install but there is no direct information in the install app, Apple or Android, about how to interconnect the Decos with ethernet. 

Especially if You must keep the old Router.

Connecting via ethernet is faster and more stable and also necessary if the Decos WiFi can't reach each other.

Another post with DECO:s in router mode.

Boat navigation network

In a former post a I presented our approach to mix a modern NMEA 2000(N2) network with the older Raymarine ST 1 network, installed 2006.

During the Years it has grown and been added with new functions. The pictures to the right is the actual layout.

The first add on was a N2 GPS described here.

Bandsaw Tuning

The ultimate bandsaw tuning video ? 

Enjoy !

Weather34, the production version

Updated 2019-05-12 !

I have got some questions which version we are using for the moment at the site vader.domsten.nu 

The version is from 2019-05-12 and You can get the whole site code from here.

Please note that I have done some modifications so if You want the original code please rename 

menu.php

ViewSonic SC-T25 and certificates

ViewSonic SC-T25, VS, handles certificates, cert, for different applications in Base64-encoded DER format.

If You open the certificate file, with a simple text editor, it shall begin with "---- BEGIN CERTIFICATE ----" and end with "---- END CERTIFICATE ----" if it is the right format.

The most simple way to load the cert, is to use "Method 1".
Please note that You log in with the CLIENT, PC/Mac, user/password.

Another method is "Method 3". In this example I will load Citrix Intermediate Certs to the SC-T25 from a USB stick.

ViewSonic SC-T25 upgrade VTOS

This cost effective Thin Client is based on Raspberry Pi 3 and together with Stratodesk OS it is very versatile

If You bought, or got, the thin ViewSonic client, VT, produced before date 2017-07, You can upgrade to the better Stratodesk NoTouch OS with out any cost. This OS  is the "standard" OS for new devices.

Qubino flush dimmer 1-10 V

We bought a nice LED lamp, Nemo Ellisse Pendant Double, which was said to be dimmable, but when receiving it there was a big IF  !!! 

The lamp was not "standard" dimmable, instead it was dimmable with 1-10 VDC or 100 Kohm potentiometer.

The 1-10 VDC control is common in big installations, in public environment, since it can control a lot of lamps with one dimmer.

Checking the lamp I found that the AC/DC LED driver was a Mean Well LPF-90D and in the drivers specification the second IF was found !!

The lowest control level didn't switch of the lamp

Volvo Penta D4/D6 water pump leak

The sea water pump, labeled 3589907 and replaced by 21380890, was leaking a little so a change of seal was necessary. Numbers below refers to the explode view.

• Detach the generator belt from the pump pulley and the 2 hoses from the pump.
• Unscrew the water pump, 4 scews, from the engine block.
• Remove the cover, 7, from the pump.
• Pull out the impeller, 6.
• Remove the cam, 4, by unscrewing screw 18.
• Remove the washer, 22.
• Remove the lock ring 14 and washer 21.
• With a pliers remove the seal 8.

OpenPlotter V1, NMEA data TO file

Updated 2021-12-14

A newer post in the same subject !!

Sometimes You want to "take home" Your latest trip on sea and "replay" it or replay it doing some changes in the settings for the OpenPlotter or OpenCPN applikation and se the result direct.

One way is to create log files with the the "raw" NMEA data and then use them at home with tips from this post.

Creating log files from NMEA 2000 bus, N2K, is the most straightforward.

OpenPlotter V1, USB sensors install

Updated 2018-06-26!

If You started with my quick instal guide You are a little familiar with OpenPlotter, (OP), basics and now we proceed with the sensors. Don't forget to delete the RMC sentence from the "NMEA 0183 generator" which we used.

Link to a stand alone AIS receiver.

Not valid for OP Beta V2 !!  Check here !

OpenPlotter V1, NMEA data FROM file

Updated 2021-02-23 !

A newer post in the same subject !!

For Openplotter V2 check here

To test Openplotter, (OP), together with OpenCPN,(OC), without connecting to the navigation network on board there are two features 

• Using the NMEA generators, found in the OP "Tools" menu 
• Use log files which are stored within the SignalK application.

RPi, Raspberry image backup to Mac

Updated 2018-02-14 !

This backup method will make a copy/image of the whole card even if there is very little data on it. So if the card is 16Gb, the backup file also will be 16Gb. On the other hand You can ZIP the image file to save space.

Another, maybe smarter ?,  backup method is described here.

The ULTIMATE Weather WEB-site ??

Updated 2017-08-25 !


If You have a Private Weather Station(PWS) and would like to have a good view over the data and, as an add on, also forecasts from Weather Underground (WU) this free software probably solves Your problem. Despite that the project is terminated the code is available and instructions is available at my other posts

https://weather34.com/homeweatherstation/

Thunderbolt cable replacement

The 27" Thunderbolt Display, part number A1407, is connected to my MacBook Air and sometimes the display is going black.

After some Googling I found that other people have had the same problem and the issue is that the Thunderbolt cable is defect.

The thing is always to get the right spare part number which is 922-9941

So search with Google or Bing => "Apple cable 922-9941"

Some hints to exchange the cable is to follow the relevant parts of these instructions on IFIXIT

I bought suctions cups from Biltema to lift the the glas screen which is attached with magnets

Empty the water system

Empty the fresh water system with compressed air !!

One of the things, when You head back to land with the boat, is to empty the fresh water system. I have got several instructions/tips over the years but the best advise I got is to empty the pipework with compressed air.

Some time ago I bought a handy Stanly compressor from Jula. Just below 10 Kg in weight including a 6 liter tank. Nice for smaller works