Shelly 1 quick install

Updated 2023-05-04 !

This post focus on Shelly 1(S1), a really a nice automation device with great versatility, but much of the content is also valid for some of Shellys other devices using the gen1 API.

Setup for the later version, Shelly Plus 1, is found here !!

S1 is a WiFi switch, 16 Amps, with dry contacts and the function "without Internet" + that the S1 can use a 12V DC source makes it perfect for an "use case" in a boat/mobile home.

It's compatible with Alexa, Google or HomeKit using HomeBridge or as a "native" HomeKit device using Mongoose firmware(Flashed via a standard WEB browser !)

Shelly PLUS 1 quick install

Updated 2023-05-03 !

In a former post I made a writing about Shelly 1(S1) and this post will handle about the successor Shelly PLUS 1(SP1) but much of the content is also valid for some of Shellys other devices which uses the same software/API.

To keep it simple, SP1 is a WiFi switch, 16 Amps, with dry contacts but compared to the S1 the hardware and the software is updated. 

The function "without Internet" + that the SP1 can use a 12V DC source makes it perfect for an "use case" in a boat/mobile home.

HomeKit bridge with Shelly/Shelly 1

Updated 2023-05-01 !

I really recommend flashing, via WEB-browser, the device with Mongoose software to avoid Homebridge.

 
HomeBridge is used for this setup and to make it appear in the Apple Home app.

The main advantage with the Shelly devices are that they are WiFi enabled and therefore You don't have to use a hub, this compared to z-way/zigbee and some other solutions. 

First install Shelly1(S1).

Install Weather34 with WeatherLink

Updated 2023-04-14 !! OK with Bullseye and PHP 8.x !

If You want Your Private Weather Station(PWS) Davis Vantage Pro2, or other Davis products that use WeatherLink, to provide data for the template we use at Domstens Båtklubb just follow the instructions below. 

This is made without additional software such as Cumulus, Weather display or the Meteobridge product.

This application is updated !!, to use the v2 API. Check  this post !!

Bootable installer for "any" MAC OS

Updated 2023-06-11 !

The use case is that I had an old iMac, max OS is High Sierra, that crashed and it didn't work with an Internet or Time Machine restore.

The other MAC:s I have are running Catalina or Big Sur and if you try to download and older OS, via app-store, you just get an error saying that the running OS don't accept the download of an old OS.

The universal way to create an USB installer seems to be using the command "createinstallmedia", requires OS X 10.7 Lion or later, but you need the respective OS install app !

A new, better ??, without Python dependences is found here.

macOS Ventura on unsupported Mac

In former posts, Big Sur and Monterey, I went through how to update an old MacBook Air 4.2, (mid 2011, SSD, 4 Gb memory) which has a Non-Metal GPU.

In this post I will update a MacBook Air 6.2 with SSD, Mid 2013, to Ventura with the same patcher but the latest version 6.2 !! 

This is despite that max OS for this Mac is Big Sur

Awesome !!!

Supported models are found here.

Node-Red on MCU:s, Raspberry Pi Pico W

Since I'm not a programmer, and probably never will be 😉, I really like Node-Red(NR). NR is also a nice way trying to learn some JavaScript via the function nodes.

I also appreciate hardware, MCUs, like ESP32 and Raspberry Pi Pico but find it a little hard to code in MicroPython or C++.

Somewhere ?? on the WEB i found some applications that can export NR json code to C++ and run it on several MCUs.

As you understand I had to check it out... 

Upgrade from Buster to Bullseye, Raspberry

Uppdated 2023-10-28 !

I have been running a Raspberry Pi 2(RPi) for several years with Buster and the applications;

• Homebridge(HB)
• Razberry, Z-way interface
• CUPS, printer software
• Node-RED(NR)

When I started with the RPi it was Jessie, then Stretch and Buster. Every time I upgraded the SD card to the latest OS and it just worked. It should been said that I always waited a year or so and I'm using the RPi headless without any GUI.

Now it was time to go from Buster to Bullseye !

Raspberry/Linux print server Windows/Apple, CUPS

Updated 2023-03-12 !

When we upgraded our WiFi to a Mesh solution, TP-link Deco M9, our old printer, WiFi connected, didn't want to "play" with us anymore. This was due to stronger encryption which wasn't supported. Since the printer just have WiFi or USB connection, no standard Ethernet, I was looking for another solution.

We have no computer running 24/7 except a Raspberry Pi, RPi, which is handling our home automation, Homebridge. So the solution was to use CUPS on that RPi.

On the web there are several posts/manuals how to install CUPS on a RPi so this post will refer to one of these and then some additional hints regarding, Apple AirPrint, Windows Network Printer, scanning....

NTP server on Raspberry & Linux(Offline)

Uppdated 2023-02-01 !

The use case, creating an offline NTP, was that I'm on our boat sometimes don't have an Internet connection but always have a connected GPS. The GPS updates time on a Raspberry(RPi) running Signal K.

The actual issue is that there are other devices on the LAN that needs to be updated and then you need an NTP server.

Of course this setup is also valid for a RPi/server, with a RTC, acting as a NTP server in an isolated LAN.  

Receive temperature, 433 MHz sensors, with RTL-SDR

In my underfloor heating project, using Node-RED, I have to have one sensing thermometer per room/zone, seems to be 8 in total, so therefore it would be nice with a wireless battery sourced device with good resolution and frequent updates.

During the test phase I used a Z-way device but the resolution was pretty bad. Another device mentioned is the Ruuvi tag but since it's a bluetooth device the transmitting range could be better.

After some googling I went for 433 MHz devices.

Z-Wave on Raspberry PI

Updated 2023-02-23 !

Installing a Z-Wave controller on Raspberry Pi is much easier than You think.

The only add on You need is the Razberry Z-wave Shield and free software from the same site.

Underfloor heating with PID controller, NodeRed

In a former post I did some hacking/checking how our underfloor heating control system handled the valves, actuators, regulating the heat. 

Now it was time to do some tests with NodeRed(NR), with a PID controller, and a Shelly 1(S1) connected via WiFi and driving the actuator.

The actuators are in my case controlled by 24 VAC and the S1 accepts 110 - 240 VAC, 24 - 60 VDC and 12 VDC. So in this case it was simple to just add a rectifier and a capacitor, to the 24 VAC, to get approx 36 VDC to source the S1.

Seatalk 1 and NMEA2000 combined

Updated 2023-01-20 !

Our boat was delivered, 2006, with just Raymarine equipment using network Seatalk 1(ST1), and some NMEA0183(N1). Updates and additional equipment will use the newer NMEA2000(N2K). We will keep the two well functioning Raymarine 12”, E120, and the radar. In addition, for Navigation purposes, we use the iPad app iSailor.

The easy way to combine ST1 with N2K is to use the Raymarine Seatalk 1 to Seatalk NG(STNG) converter, Raymarine E22158. STNG and N2K is the same protocol, with some dialectal differences, but have different cabling.

Don't miss this post where I'm presenting additional solutions, including a NMEA WiFi gateway, and add ons.

 Updated 2023-01-02 !

OpenPlotter(OP), a Boat Navigation application, is really a nice and simple installation of

• OpenPlotter(OP)
• OpenCPN(OC)
• SignalK(SK) 

and other supporting applications for Your boat.

Please note that OP V2 is outdated use .......

CTC heatpump MODBUS interface

The installation of a CTC heat pump(HP), EcoAir 600, and the indoor module, Eco Zenith i360, was not optimal from the beginning, so to monitor it closely I checked how to retrieve data. 

The newer CTC HP:s are always shipped with a MODBUS TCP interface, without any additional hardware, which solved the issue.

MODBUS was new to me but after some reading and checking I found that there is a NodeRed node which solves the interface dialog.

Calculate wind using U and V GRIB components, NodeRed, JS

Updated 2022-11-28 !

In a former post I showed how to download and extract data from forecast GRIB files but avoided to handle if the wind direction and speed was declared as U and V components, vectors. 

In this post I will extract wind data from a GRIB forecast file and use the U V components to calculate, and display, wind speed and direction at a chosen point. The data is visualized as graphs in a NodeRed dashboard.

Normally, using charts in NodeRed, the timestamp is taken from the time when the input message is created but here I will use the timestamp from the forecast, loading the whole chart in one go.

Speedtest LAN and Internet/WAN, iperf3

Updated 2022-11-06 !

Sometimes I'm a little confused if it's the local network that is the bottleneck or if the ISP, Internet Service Provider, is slow.

In a former post I used 2 applikations to get the information, from both the local LAN and Internet, but on the other hand it maybe hade been nice with a more lightweight approach. 

From this post I got inspiration and discovered a nice little application "iperf3" which is available for several OS.

Internet speed measure II

New to Node-Red(NR) ? Maybe start with a simple application You direct can benefit from.

This application is measuring Your Internet connection at chosen intervals using speedtest.net and showing the result in a graph. If the speed is under a set value it will send You an e-mail.

Show the measured Internet speed in Apples Home app ?

Victron monitoring solution, Venus, on Raspberry

Updated 2022-09-18 !

Victron have a state-of-the-art monitoring solution used by the GX products. It can monitor their other system components such as inverter/chargers, solar chargers, shunts, and batteries both local and remote all over the world.

If you have a smaller Victron solution it is nice to know that the same software, Venus OS(VOS), can run on a Raspberry Pi(RPi) instead of the more expensive and versatile GX products.

macOS Monterey on unsupported Mac

Updated 2022-08-16 !

In a former post I went trough how to update an old MacBook Air 4.2, (mid 2011, SSD, 4 Gb memory) to Big Sur and in this post I will update the Mac to Monterey with the same patcher !! 

This is despite that max OS for the Mac is High Sierra. This is done, among other things, due to that the patcher handles Macs with graphic cards from 2008 - 2011 which Monterey doesn't do natively.

Since my former upgrade, to Big Sur, included a format of the SSD disk I here used the patcher to do an upgrade from Big Sur to Monterey.

Awesome !!!

Node-Red quick install

Updated 2022-08-14 !

Node-Red(NR) is Flow-based programming for the Internet of Things

This post isn't made as a complete install guide, there are several, just some links to the best information I have found.

The best thing is that even if you don't are a skilled programmer, but like logic flows, you can make really advanced things. It's pre-installed on some Raspberry Pi(RPi) distributions.

Running Node-Red with multiple instances ?

RS-232 with displays & AV equipment

The use case for this post is that a got a request from a customer where a commercial displays brightness, used for digital signage, should be put at a minimum when there is no people in the surroundings.

After some checking I found that on most displays, even on our own TV set, there is a connector for the RS - 232 protocol that accepts commands similar to the commands sent by the remote control.

A nice explanation on how it works is found here.

Davis PWS linked to pwsweather.com

If you are using Davis Personal/Professional weather stations(PWS) you will get a nice dashboard when you link your PWS to the Davis weatherlink(WL) site.

What you probably really miss is a forecast displayed together with your PWS data. The picture is showing a part of the dashboard at pwsweather.com(PW) after you have linked your PWS to the site.

An add on is that you via API:s can get both the current weather, forecast and other data free of charge, via the aerisweather.com(AW) site.

This post will handle the setup and also a Node-Red dashboard interfacing the aeris API.

Node-Red multiple instances, RPi

Updated 2022-07-04 !

On the same server/hardware you can have

• a test environment for Node-Red(NR), separated from production
• separated instances for different applications

Setup will follow for a Raspberry Pi(RPi) including how to auto start at power on.

A post for NR quick install.