Blind Control Firmware V6 Update and Release Developments

#1

The lastest release v6.9
Random movement of blinds caused by Broadcast Discovery Message from Home Assistant/ Resolved. (Thanks to all involved in reporting bugs and their findings to help improve the firmware).

Remote wired button now encoded and optioned via GUI. (Does need hardware modification).
GUI full firmware upgrade. With manual or auto options.
ABOUT menu option to provide help information.

Battery Software encoded giving status on run discharge times, charge capacity etc.
this needs hardware modifications as well, simple to do and some calibrations.
this is for running on Solar Battery Configuration. (Work in progress).

Windows SSDP discovery for explorer

Device will show up in explore under networks, right click brings up about, left click will launch to webpage to device .

A lot of bugs removed and overall performance improved.

All firmware is compiled using platformio using latest libraries.

Currently working on the code to support auto discovery and intergration into home Assistant.
I use OPENHAB 3 so Home Assistant is new to me , I do have a server running Home Assistant with nothing . Been having troubles getting head around it LOL.

Current work in progress.
Conversion to JSON 6
Auto Discovery for Home Assistant
Compacting code base
Solar Battery Intergration.
Full redesign to allow setting open position and closed position
And full 180 degree swing

Constant work on code to remove bugs and glitches as they arise
Adding new features
Releasing updates quickly

I would like a auto upgrade function for minor upgrades that doesnt impact the device. IE forces into AP mode due to major changes in system.
The current check option in firmware does advise of impact. and outcome.
The firmware could check the repo server weekly for changes then upgrade automatically if minor.
This is might be too fancy. LOL

I prefer the end user to be in control. But how do you get notified of upgrade available?

Thankyou to all that use this firmware and Matts MK-Blindcontrol system, it is awsome and cost effective. to give us that Smarthome that all of us had an input to develope.

Many Thanks

Mountain-Eagle

#2

THANKS MOUNTAIN!!

I think I speak for a lot of people…we really appreciate all your hard work!

#3

Where can we download the v6.9 firmware?

#4

Current firmware 6.9 can be downloaded from here.
http://mesmarthouse.com/tasmota/mk-blindcontrol.bin

#5

Thank you!!

I flashed the new firmware to all five of my blinds controllers. Every time my Home assistant server reboots the blinds go crazy and does the random movement of blinds caused by Broadcast Discovery Message.

Please help lol my wife already hates thems

#6

You need to change your ymal file and have retain set to false. (there are retainrd messages in the MQTT database that causes this problem.)
You need to delete these retained messages. They are the original command messages you 1st used. when system restarts and devices re connects they respond to these old retained messages.
Retained messages are never deleted.
You need to delete the MQTT database. or the retained messages
This should fix this problem as other have had same experience.

The only retained should be LWT and device configs that are sent out for discovery.
let me know if this fixes the problem.

(I came accross this problem when I setup homeassist test had retain set. true. and had random movements on reboot of device etc. Has openhab does not have this set.
I also have a beta release which address more home assistant issues, including auto discovery etc

I am working on a full ymal file. but trying to fine tune it, as I don’t use home assistant but use OPENHAB3, I do have a test home assistant server running.

I would be interested in your setup ymal to see what others are doing in their setups and come up with a standard to have in final design

If you are interested I can give you link for beta version so you can test out.

#7

Thank you for that. I’ve been testing to see what makes the blinds go crazy. And it seems to happen when my raspberry pi restarts or when the blinds lose power. The only way to get them to stop going crazy is to unplug all of them and plug one at a time while restarting the Home assistant server. I changed the retain to false but I wasn’t sure how to do the rest of the stuff you said.

#8

Here’s a copy of my ymal folder

cover Livingroom-blinds1:

  • platform: mqtt
    name: “Livingroom-Blinds1”
    command_topic: “cmnd/Livingroom-Blinds1/POWER”
    state_topic: “stat/Livingroom-Blinds1/STATE”
    retain: false
    payload_open: “70”
    payload_close: “0”
    payload_stop: “30”
    state_open: “70”
    state_closed: “0”

cover LivingRoom-Blinds2:

  • platform: mqtt
    name: “LivingRoom-Blinds2”
    command_topic: “cmnd/Livingroom-Blinds2/POWER”
    state_topic: “stat/Livingroom-Blinds2/STATE”
    retain: false
    payload_open: “60”
    payload_close: “100”
    payload_stop: “80”
    state_open: “60”
    state_closed: “100”

cover kitchen-Blinds:

  • platform: mqtt
    name: “kitchen-Blinds”
    command_topic: “cmnd/Kitchen-Blinds/POWER”
    state_topic: “stat/Kitchen-Blinds/STATE”
    retain: false
    payload_open: “71”
    payload_close: “4”
    payload_stop: “30”
    state_open: “71”
    state_closed: “4”

cover Masterbedroom-blinds:

  • platform: mqtt
    name: “Masterbedroom-Blinds”
    command_topic: “cmnd/Masterbedroom-Blinds/POWER”
    state_topic: “stat/Masterbedroom-Blinds/STATE”
    retain: false
    payload_open: “10”
    payload_close: “75”
    payload_stop: “30”
    state_open: “10”
    state_closed: “75”
#9

The below link is a MQTT Explorer, very powerful.
Use this to view and edit your MQTT Database
Deleting retained messages etc.
follow the link to install the software

Or you can delete the whole MQTT database as MQTT will recreate on restart of service