Flashing and using a Sonoff with Tasmota firmware

Final Setup Test

Once flashed, I set the 'startup mode' to be on, so it can be used as a normal switch. I didn't really have to worry about running buttons into its i/o.

Then, whenever mains is switched on, it turns on... and turn on time seems to be about half a second, so pretty much little difference noticeable between that and a normal switch. About 25 seconds later it will pick up the on/off value from mqtt server (if it is available)

Advantages with this setup:
I can just chuck in a sonoff in a light circuit anywhere, and set it up (eg pull out a downlight and install a sonoff in-line). I use the existing main switch - and it works normally without any mqtt server running. Later I put some buttons in another flush box beside the mains switch (ELV buttons, connected to the sonoff, or a sonoff dev or NodeMCU etc), and cover the mains switch with a flip pdl plates. The new buttons just change the values in MQTT server.

I then get:

- local mains isolation with the pdl switch (but covered so it isn't bumped)

- lights useable with no mqtt and/or wifi running... with the following disadvantages:

...... I'll be wasting power if power outage occurs and wifi/mqtt doesn't come back up
...... There will be some annoyance in a power outage, with possibly 30 seconds of lighting at night after a power cut until sonoff connects back to wifi/mqtt

- ability to split lighting ccts in the ceiling space (no need to get into the mains flush box... just throw in more cable and another sonoff)

..... obviously this only works with wifi/mqtt running though

- I can put a ceiling fan on the same isolation cct, but control it with sonoffs (using 4 channel)

Atom Text Editor with platform i/o

- install Atom https://atom.io/
- install packages, "platform-ide" (from within the Atom menus - recent versions... it may already be installed))
- Atom complained clang wasn't installed, needed to install in ubuntu

sudo apt-get install clang

- had issues with Clang in Ubuntu... Go to Atom's Preferences menu, click packages, autocomplete-clang, settings, and change 'Clang Command" from "clang" to clang-4.0 (or the version running on your linux)
- Open Project, click on the Sonoff-Tasmota-development folder

Isues with USB serial

- in Ubuntu, I needed to add my user to the dialout group

sudo adduser $USER dialout

- Probably need to logout and in again to make this work
Later I had more permissions on this TTY and had to change permissions on this port

sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyUSB0

Setup the firmware & flash

- Update the user_config.h with wireless SSID, Password and MQTT server details
- save

Connect Sonoff

- https://github.com/arendst/Sonoff-Tasmota/wiki/Hardware-Preparation
- solder the board pins (see tutorials everywhere)
- Set up a usb ftdi/serial programmer (I got a ch340g for $8 from trademe)
- make sure you set it to 3.3V...

Pins TDI: Blue GND, Orange VCC, Green TXD, Yellow RXD
Sonoff: Tot to bottom: Blue (GND), Yellow, Green, Orange (VCC 3.3v)

- connect up the sonoff in programming mode (hold button and power up, release)
- in the Sonoff-Tasmota-development folder is a platformio.ini file. Click on it
- in Atom PlatformIO menu, click upload

zorruno wikki SonoffSetup2017

Revision [3010]

Flashing and using a Sonoff with Tasmota firmware

Final Setup Test

Bulk Sonoff Order, August 2017

Devices

useful youtube tutorials

Tasmota

Atom Text Editor with platform i/o

Isues with USB serial

Setup the firmware & flash

Connect Sonoff

Monitor the serial happenings

Configure it more on its web interface if you like

MQTT

MQTT Example for 4 Channel