openweather plugin ?

[PerH]

Sounds good! What do you use to make it talk MQTT?
I'm not quite happy with the domoticz plugin for my xiaomi, and I just launched ioBroker on my testbench. That looks very good for this vacuum, but its huge! 1.3gig dockerfile..

[rafale77]

@perh

I am using home assistant for my 2 vacuum cleaners (roomba and xiaomi). On openLuup I made them show as a virtual switch (initially used SiteSensor but moved from polling to event based updating...

[therealdb]

@perh I’m using a nodejs library. It’s cloud based but I’m ok, it’s just for monitoring and occasionally launch it. It’s already supported by Alexa, so we could summon it via voice.

I’ll start building a generic device template and then we’ll see.

[CatmanV2]

@rafale77 Tangentially how's your Xiaomi? Looking for a robocleaner

TIA

C

[rafale77]

I can only say that it is smarter than the roomba but is less friendly with thick carpets as it gets stuck a little easier. Initially getting the security key off of it to access the local API was pretty painful but after that, it's been working very well. Also have to think about replacement spares and after market batteries availability when it comes to this type of purchases. So going to smaller off brand is usually not such a great idea. As a result I run the Xiaomi on rugs and hard floors and the roomba upstairs on thick carpet which would usually cause the Xiaomi to get stuck.

[PerH]

I have that functionality now with the domoticz plugin, in addition to reporting of consumables.. But the iobroker addon can do much more, like setting up zoned cleaning ("clean kitchen"), or "go to point x".. (also discovered a "carpet mode", @rafale77 )

I really like the xiaomi, very good machine! It's had a few accidents where it dropped out the stairs at the highest fall-point it could find, but no harm done! the last time it actually started cleaning down stairs immediately..
That also means that it isn't great at detecting edges.. but its happened two times in 1400 cleanups, so its not a huge problem.

[parkerc]

Not something I’ve really considered in my set up ..

Are these robot vacuum cleaners any good ?

[PerH]

They're awsome. We're at a point where it is a part of the equation in buying furniture - "can it clean under it?"
Its a serious time saver, especially with kids or dogs in the house - but it does require some dicipline in not leaving too much stuff on the floors.

[parkerc]

Ok, now my interest is tweaked....

Is there a particular make/model people recommend ?

[CatmanV2]

Hmm the 950 does not appear to be in the UK Been thinking about getting something for a while. Have wood floors and cats....

Anyone got some specific Xiaomi models?

C

[Crille]

I'm pleased with my Xiaomi S5 but it's my first and only so can't really compare it with other models/brands.

[therealdb]

My first Roomba, still in service (700 series) is approaching its 13 year in duty. It's becoming sluggish and slow, but it's still operating. The second one was sent to the basement, and we have a new Deebot that we love, since it's also mopping. We have hard floors (white on first floor, dark gray on the 2nd) so my wife wants them to do the daily tasks because otherwise dust will be visibile and she hates it.

Belevie me or not, she is the main driver to get robot vacuums, because they're really helping with the daily maintenance. The one one could mop as well and on white floor she said that it's good, because it's helping to maintian the floor cleaned.

We have no dogs/cats (we're both allergic), kids are not really kids anymore, but we live at the borders of the city and dust is a problem.

[a-lurker]

In 2017, bought a "Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner Laser Distance Sensor NIDEC Brushless Motor, MPN: SDJQR01RR". Need to lift the smaller obstacles off the floor so it gets a good go at the floor and it can get stuck under some furniture. We have a mix of hard floor and carpet and it gets cleaned really well. Based on its work, it paid for itself very quickly. It maps the house with LIDAR and sends the map of my house back to China - no doubt there is some good data mining to be had in thousands of house plans!!! It vacuums in lines, up & down, rather than just bumping around randomly, like some of the older vacs do. Takes a while but that's only because it does a good job.

[parkerc]

Thanks - this is good timing as I’m at the point where I need to replace both the vacuum cleaner and also our lawn mower , and the robot option look very attractive in both areas

[CatmanV2]

@parkerc Probably want to make sure you don't get them confused....

C

[PerH]

Just started looking into the background stuff for the domoticz plugin.. It uses a separate Miio-server instance to talk to the vacuum, and i suppose that could be upgraded to push directly to MQTT? it uses the python miio library..

I have no idea of how to go about that, and with what layer.. guess i could ask the miio server developer..

[therealdb]

@perh I’m writing an mqtt client for my deebot. I’m working slowly but it’s coming nicely. I’ll publish the device file with a virtual http device next week.

[CatmanV2]

@therealdb said in Generic support for vacuums:

@perh I’m writing an mqtt client for my deebot. I’m working slowly but it’s coming nicely. I’ll publish the device file with a virtual http device next week.

Might have to buy a Deebot then
C

[therealdb]

@catmanv2 it’s based on nodejs, but since you’re on openluup, you’d run nicely along it. Logic is still rough, but I’m pushing maps via telegram as well when cleaning is completed

[ronluna]

@therealdb could use homebridge 2 openluup also...