Xathros Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Hello io_guy, Have you considered adding support for the MiLight LED controllers into Nodelink? That have a documented API and seems like it would be a good fit. Loving all of what I can do with Nodelink now. Thanks for your consideration. -Xathros
larryllix Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 +1 The protocol is totally one way and very easy three byte codes. I have some first attempt python code to drive the MiLights with the basics. This would get the delays injected by ISY (Wait 1 second) out of the light response times. Due to UDP protocol used some codes need to be hit a few times to insure response with no handshaking. Right now I am doing that with ISY programs. Not so nice.
io_guy Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Having trouble getting much info from the API. Do you connect to each bulb separately? I see a wifi box but is that no longer used? If it's only one-way there's not much use making it a node, since you don't get feedback.
larryllix Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Having trouble getting much info from the API. Do you connect to each bulb separately? I see a wifi box but is that no longer used? The WiFi box is a bridge for four addresses of lights only. I use two bridges for 11 lamps/strips. Each bridge uses it's own IP address, port 8899. http://www.limitlessled.com/dev/ Scroll down a page or so and on the main page is the protocol. Each three byte packet has a sync byte $55 that was made optional for some. The all white (old bridges) use different codes and are not compatible without a dual protocol interface,
Xathros Posted June 22, 2016 Author Posted June 22, 2016 Having trouble getting much info from the API. Do you connect to each bulb separately? I see a wifi box but is that no longer used? If it's only one-way there's not much use making it a node, since you don't get feedback. Hmmm. I don't think they report status. At least the ones I have don't appear to. Not really sure it matters though since once set up, the ISY should be the only control point making them much like some other items in the ISY where the status is assumed based on the last action performed. The Idea behind adding these as nodes is more to simplify access to them since it takes many network resources to control them as is. In addition, there are a few places that need to have a brief (100 msec) delay between commands sent. The ISY is not capable of delays shorter than 1 sec. Making the delay between functions quite noticeable in the LEDs reactions. Its totally possible to use these without Nodelink support but it would be sooo much better/nicer/cleaner/easier/prettier/smoother to deal with them as nodes rather than as a jumbled list of resources. Again, thank you for the wonderful work you've done with Nodelink and it's predecessors. It makes the ISY much more capable! -Xathros
io_guy Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Alright, I'll drink the Kool-Aid, I'm sure my daughter would like to change her night lamp between pink and purple. Any idea if these are sold in Canada? I threw one (and the remote) in the cart and it ended up being $55.
Xathros Posted June 22, 2016 Author Posted June 22, 2016 Alright, I'll drink the Kool-Aid, I'm sure my daughter would like to change her night lamp between pink and purple. Any idea if these are sold in Canada? I threw one (and the remote) in the cart and it ended up being $55. Awesome! I don't know about availability in CA. I bought mine from Ebay. If $55 is your total cost to get them delivered, I think I can drum up enough funding support that it won't cost you a dime out of pocket. Thanks again! -Xathros
TheFallenAngel Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Alright, I'll drink the Kool-Aid, I'm sure my daughter would like to change her night lamp between pink and purple. Any idea if these are sold in Canada? I threw one (and the remote) in the cart and it ended up being $55. I am in Canada too, and got my WiFi Bridge and 4 controllers (for RGBWW strips) for around $50 delivered. The MiLight compatible bulbs don't use the controllers, just the Bridge. Larry helped me a lot to get going, but if the Node server tasks on all that would be awesome! You got testers if you need them Cheers, Alex
larryllix Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 I have suggested to Xathros in PM that we create a mini-kickstarter for io_guy on this project. I have also offered hardware for loan to io_guy if we can cross paths somehow in Ontario to expedite things. I am also in to make a ks donation to io_guy to encourage him and would like to hear from more MiLight/ISY users regarding support here. Perhaps a new thread to roll out a mini-kickstarter???
Scottmichaelj Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 I have some Mi Lights I am not using that I could send with a LED strip. All IO Guy would need is a Power Supply/Adapter. Let me know.
larryllix Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 Alright, I'll drink the Kool-Aid, I'm sure my daughter would like to change her night lamp between pink and purple. Any idea if these are sold in Canada? I threw one (and the remote) in the cart and it ended up being $55. For RGBWW strips I have not found any in Canada or the US that weren't completely gouging the customers. The Montreal company is ridiculous in price and most only offer the bulbs. Get the 9W bulbs. The RGB doesn't seem any brighter but the white is like a 100W incandescent and the WW is a beautiful about 3000-3300K nice rich colour. You have a PM
G W Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 This seems interesting so I'd like to dive in and play. What items are any of you using? I'm interested LED strips to start out with. Best regards, Gary Funk
Scottmichaelj Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 This seems interesting so I'd like to dive in and play. What items are any of you using? I'm interested LED strips to start out with. Best regards, Gary Funk I like these because there is one led that combines the RGBW. 4 Colors in 1LED RGBW 5M 300Leds 5050 SMD LED Strip Light DC12V/24V 12mm PCB https://www.ebay.com/itm/301804642531
larryllix Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 This seems interesting so I'd like to dive in and play. What items are any of you using? I'm interested LED strips to start out with. Best regards, Gary Funk Typically you will need Wi-Fi bridge Controller 5050 RGBWW strips, waterproof=IP67+ (you will need to be able to wipe dust of them), you can cut into two sections with connector on each end, no soldering, careful not to get RGB only, or RGBW cold white. I ripped mine out after seeing how purple the white was. 12vdc 3-6A power supply with 2.1 x 5.1mm plug, centre positive powers the controller, look for ungrounded plug 5 pin pigtail connector. 5 colour coded wires to a flat 5 pin female connector plus the 5 pin header to convert it to male silicone two hole clamps and screws or hard track slide in. Forget adhesive mount = first usage heat causes it to let go. strip joiners (solderless) advertised are wrong spacing and do not work with 5050 LEDs. If you are in the USA, you can order from US distributors for much higher prices. About double, but you can get it quickly. If you are in Canada the US distributors on eBay are playing the International Shipping scam and it will cost you more than the strips themselves would from China, to be shipped twice, repackaged, taxed, services fees, and still take 3-4 weeks to get them.
io_guy Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 So is the bridge actually required or can you talk to a bulb directly? Looking on the limitless webpage 2016 bulb, they say the bridge is required for phone/PC use and is not currently available.
larryllix Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 So is the bridge actually required or can you talk to a bulb directly? Looking on the limitless webpage 2016 bulb, they say the bridge is required for phone/PC use and is not currently available. No the bridge is required. The bulbs and controllers are not Wi-Fi and have nothing to do with Wi-Fi despite all the scamming adverts attempting to make buyers thinks that and using Wi-Fi, 2.4GHz in the advert lines. I have the 9W RGBWW bulbs and they give off a good 100W equiv. light when white. Dim well down to the minimum 2 out of 27 counts = about 3% = barely glowing. The bulbs and MiLight controllers will not mix white and RGB so no pastels. They do remember both settings even through power loss.
Xathros Posted June 23, 2016 Author Posted June 23, 2016 io_guy, Would you prefer that this group pony up loaner hardware for you to work with or funds for you to purchase your own? For me, being in the US, it's easier to send funds. -Xathros
larryllix Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 io_guy, Would you prefer that this group pony up loaner hardware for you to work with or funds for you to purchase your own? For me, being in the US, it's easier to send funds. -Xathros io_guy has indicated he will just get his own equipment. To get most of the MiLight stuff it has t come from China for a decent price (less than half). This involves 5-6 weeks of shipping time. I would like to see other MiLight users chip in $20 to support his (and our) cause. We would need a method, probably an email address and possibly a Bitcoin address (if io_guy OK with that) to make this happen.
Xathros Posted June 23, 2016 Author Posted June 23, 2016 All, I decided to send $20 off to io_guy via the donate link on the Nodelink page of his website at: http://automationshack.com/wp/nodelink/ to help further the development of Nodelink. If a few more do the same, io_guy will have what he needs to purchase the MiLight gear for development. -Xathros
larryllix Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 All I have also made a $20 US, donation to io_guy via his NodeLink webpage, using Paypal. This is to help support his efforts integrating MiLight bulbs and LED strips into NodeLink (and other contributions) http://automationshack.com/wp/nodelink/ Please do the same to encourage io_guy's hard work making the ISY a greater system.
TheFallenAngel Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 I like these because there is one led that combines the RGBW. 4 Colors in 1LED RGBW 5M 300Leds 5050 SMD LED Strip Light DC12V/24V 12mm PCB https://www.ebay.com/itm/301804642531 4 colour in 1 LED ain't good because the white is not very good Use double row RGBWW and they work fantastic. Cheers, Alex
io_guy Posted June 25, 2016 Posted June 25, 2016 Just started looking into the "API", this is ugly. These guys have different byte sets for each bulb type and version of the Wi-Fi bridge. Ridiculous.
larryllix Posted June 25, 2016 Posted June 25, 2016 Just started looking into the "API", this is ugly. These guys have different byte sets for each bulb type and version of the Wi-Fi bridge. Ridiculous. Yes. They developed a set for the original RGB LED strips with $20-$3F code range. Later RGB/RGBWW strips came out and they changed the whole range of codes to $50-$9F range (aprox) But the white and the colours never mix and have completely different codes. When you turn on white the RGB turns off and vice versa. The controllers remember the white and RGB settings through power cycles and through switching modes. To address any group/bulb always send an On sequence, more than 100 mSec delay and then colour, level etc. in rapid sequence. In view of this PITA always dim the bulbs to level 2of27 before turning off so that when you address an off bulb next time it doesn't flash full on and then change colours. I can send you python code I wrote and it's pretty easy. I can make a bulb or two flicker like candles but not more, due to time constraints of the protocol. I repeat most codes twice, and Off sequences three times as they miss occasionally. Poor protocol with absolutely no security of operations and no confirmation, It's ugly.
G W Posted June 25, 2016 Posted June 25, 2016 Ugh, now your talking me out of buying these strips. Best regards, Gary Funk
larryllix Posted June 25, 2016 Posted June 25, 2016 Ugh, now your talking me out of buying these strips. Best regards, Gary Funk This is a work in progress with all the brands. With the Philips Hue bulbs, the protocol used is at a higher OSI defined level , but the original bulbs (3 LEDs only) and strips produce different colours, and the bulbs cannot produce green at all or a real blue (no Christmas themes). Some newer products, like the Bloom, use different (4 LEDs) colour LEDs now, and produce different colour ranges. The Philips Hue bubs sell for $80 each and the 2x2m? strips are over $100 The MiLight products can produce ALL the colours and mostly consistently throughout the products. None of the older code units have not been sold for years. The protocol is UDP, at a lower layer of the OSI protocol layer stack. If you want a handshake you would have to write your own. The MiLight bulbs and 5m strips sell for about $15-18 each. They all have their own negatives but I would trade my Hues for Philips any time. I am sick of them coming on, glaring full white, in the middle of the night, every time their is a power blip. MiLight controllers and bulbs don't do that.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.