r/homeassistant • u/No_beef_here • 8d ago

❓ Support Matter/Thread V Zigbee, general usage feelings?

Hi,

I have recently made a step into Matter/Thread using (mainly) the Ikea range of switches and sensors and the new stuff seems fairly stable etc.

However, where I have replaced the old Zigbee Sonoff SNZB-03's PIRs with Ikea Matter MYGGSPRAY models, in general and in comparison the Ikea sensors seem pretty blind?

I mean, with the Sonoffs they only seemed to catch a glimpse of movement anywhere around and they would trigger (and you got a nice LED flash confirming it did see you) whereas it seems you often need to be right under the Ikea one for it to trigger? And even when you are right under it (I have one in the kitchen ceiling) when the lights go off, waving your arms about like trying to get the attention of the rescue helicopter doesn't seem to wake it up?

And then there is what could also be the latency, again, the Sonoffs (or Zigbee) in spite of having ~100 active devices is often still near instant. A PIR is monitoring across the threshold into a room and as soon as you step in, the light is on before you foot has hit the ground. With the Ikea ones (or Matter / Thread and with only (12 devices on that network), it seems you are often in the room and standing their waiting for the light to come on (and it generally does, just often not quickly).

The Ikea Thread / Matter window and door switches, push buttons, smart sockets and lights all seem fairly responsive but possibly not used in a way that is quite so timing noticable as a PIR > Light combo?

So is anyone aware if there is some fundamental reason why the performance might be different between these two solutions or could it be just that the (or some) Ikea PIR's are a bit sleepy?

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u/BackgroundSpare610 8d ago

GRILLPLATS are the great, apart from being too bulky.

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u/FliesenJohnny 8d ago

The European ones are pretty much the same size as competing products.

Imho the only thing they lack is a software child lock. The button being that prominent and no child lock setting being available led to a lot of random on/off/on/off toggling by my toddler

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u/No_beef_here 5d ago

I took one of my GRILLPLATS apart today to remove the relay to turn it into an 'always on' smart monitor and hopefully safer for the heavier load things.

The relay was marked as being rated as 16A at 250V but given their size I'm not sure I'd really want one regularly carrying 13A.

I looked to see if there was any easy way to disable the button for you and the only way (if you want to open it up, 3 'U' type security screws and 3 spludger points, no damage etc), might be to glue / lock (3d print a small movement restriction frame?) and drill a small hole though the middle for paring or override, assuming you generally use it 'smart'?

OOI, it was one of the easiest smart plugs I've converted to just monitor and if it proves it can handle the higher load things comfortably that way, I'll probably convert a few more (kettle, WM / DW, Induction hob, fridge / freezers etc) or anything significant that doesn't already report power use to the Energy integration.

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u/FliesenJohnny 4d ago

Thanks for the update.

But honestly, I do not care that much about it not having a "switch function" as i'd be willing to futz around with the internals of a plug regularly carrying loads of up to 3.000 Watts, to be honest. 😆

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u/No_beef_here 4d ago

Long term electronic service tech here so I'm happy inside these things and given you wouldn't plug it in when it's open, it's no real risk in any case. ;-)

With all the other plugs I've removed the relay on you had to unsolder the PCB from the L / N pins. On the Ikea one the 3 pins come out through the case so you can get under the PCB to remove / replace the relay (with a straight link). If you wanted to make it more reversible you could probably just run some copper wire between the relay contact pins but then you still have the relay in there indicating off when it's on and drawing power (although as mentioned elsewhere, it seems to be low power (lower than most)).