Integration with c-bus

Hi,
I have had my clipsal c-bus running now for about 4 years, (wiser 2, 8 8ch dimmers, 3 12ch relays etc), mainly running lighting interfaced through neo switches and the iOS and android apps. The system has been running fine since I installed (I'm a novice) into my new build.

I now want to try and get things like Amazon Echo, Siri etc working with it and also try and integrate my heatmiser controlled heating system.

I know I will need to connect my system to third party software which would allow further capability, but dispite searching online I am having difficulty finding some straight forward software.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated?

 

Not much is straight forward from my understanding.

I've got it connected via MQTT and openHAB if you really want to try that. I've only just started playing with it but it's not quite 100% integration.

Josh

 

hi monkey magic,

i'm thoroughly impressed with anthony webb's homebridge-cbus. visit that github link and/or search this forum for information.

with homebridge-cbus i'm able to control much of my house with siri.

it's bleeding edge, but remarkably stable -- but you've got to roll your sleeves up: you need to set up a server running c-gate and homebridge and be comfortable editing json configuration files.

 

I control my lights with the echo using CQC.

Almost everything I have is integrated through CQC so light switches can activate any thing I want and anything else can turn lights on and off.

 

Thanks guys,

I had a look at the homelink -Siri, which was very good. I haven't seen an example with the Echo.
I appreciate it's not going to be straight forward, and I will be going up a steep learning curve. I don't mind getting stuck in, I am not a programmer but IT literate, and have managed to implement my cBus system from scratch , which has been very stable.

 

Mick
CQC was one of the few that seemed to be accessible., aswell as Openhab2, but there seems to be more around on the former.

 

That doesn't look too bad but I'm not in the Apple camp.... I haven't setup everything yet but hopefully with openHAB I can get integration to any phone.
Josh

 

Homebridge - Cbus intergration

Hi Every One

I am hoping that some one can help. I have installed C-gate on my Raspberry PI all works well. I have now installed homebridge and got it running and have successfully got a running config.json file but I am not getting any control of my system from my IPhone. I am totally lost of what to do now.

Hoping some one could give me some pointers

Andy

 

Hi Andy
Were you able to add Homebridge as an accessory on the phone?

Have a look at the text for errors when you start Homebridge program on the pi.

 

It's Working

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

I have finally got it working. I found that I had not added the project name to the cgate access txt file.

So all is good. I am struggling with editing the json files I use nano to edit files in ssh. Seems to cause a lot of issues.

Also I am unable to connect my wife's iPhone to the system it never finds Homebridge to pair.

 

Are you going to let the wife use it
Google Homekit sharing.

 

All workimg

Well I can report that it is working great a number of small things tested me. I think most of it is to do with lack of knowledge. Big up to Anthony Webb great tutorials and plug in.

I am still struggling to edit.json file I use nano on a raspberry pi. Is there something better I should use.

 

Hi barranak
I use nano to edit the config file.
What sort of problems are you having with it.

 

Spaces

I get extra characters when I use the space bar

 

I've not seen that.
Maybe someone with more experience might have some ideas why that is happening for you.

 

Homebridge Config.json

I write the configuration file on my raspberry pi with nano. When I run it it fails to load.

If i paste the contents in http://jsonlite.com to check for errors. Where all my spaces are there is a character A with an accent above it.

I then go through the whole file deleting the characters in jsonlite.com copy and paste back into configuration file and then it works

Maybe some one knows what's going on.

 

Ramp rate

Hi All,

I have been playing with homebridge/siri and c-bus all day got some great triggers and scenes working. I have also been reading about Elgato Eve plugs so have bought one to see how this integrates with home kit app.

Does any one know of a way I can get siri to slowly ramp lights up or down?

Andy

 

Not Working

Well after some great fun using homebridge for 2 days it now no longer works.

I get an error of false network messages constantly from //CLIPSAL/39 unsure how to remedy the situation.

I have deleted the network I have on ID 39 but it makes no difference if any one could helpplease

 

Hi Andy.
Where are you seeing this?
Please post some of the text.