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Homekit enable plug in the UK
- Thread starter thedon1
- Start date
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I have WeMo switches and got tired of waiting for Belkin to sort out HomeKit for them so found Homebridge on GitHub which allows you to run your own HomeKit server (you'll need and 'always online' computer at home) to control the WeMo switches.
I've been using it for a few weeks now for my WeMo switches and Nest thermostat and it works well with my iPhone and Apple Watch.
Have a read here,
https://github.com/nfarina/homebridge
I've been using it for a few weeks now for my WeMo switches and Nest thermostat and it works well with my iPhone and Apple Watch.
Have a read here,
https://github.com/nfarina/homebridge
I got a Raspberry Pi at Christmas and have now set it up to control those cheap RF 433mhz sockets using some even cheaper 433mhz Receiver/transmitters from eBay!
Took a little researching but it works well and integrates with Homebridge and therefore Siri too!
The range is pretty good, with the Rpi central in my house it reaches around 2 rooms away in all directions.
Only downside is the range and you don't get any feedback of the state of the socket (the sockets only receive) just the last state you put it in. Other than that they're great!
Took a little researching but it works well and integrates with Homebridge and therefore Siri too!
The range is pretty good, with the Rpi central in my house it reaches around 2 rooms away in all directions.
Only downside is the range and you don't get any feedback of the state of the socket (the sockets only receive) just the last state you put it in. Other than that they're great!
Sure it's basicly installing a small program that acts as a homekit bridge and it controls the wemo switches, I've installed mine on my mac mini but homebridge runs on raspberry pi etc. If you want the commands how to install it or a copy of my config file just let me know as it took a little while to get that part working.
I'd appreciate this as well! I've got 11 Hue white bulbs, two Blooms, and a Hue light switch along with two WeMo light switches and and a Nest thermostat. If I could figure out how to install Homebridge and the plug-ins on my Mac mini it sure would save me a lot of money switching out the WeMos and Nest for other switches and an Ecobee 3.
Do you use a script to restart Homebridge if it crashes? I've been trying to get 'Forever' working but with no luck yet.
Complete programming n00b here and I managed to figure it out with a bit of fiddling. I'll post instructions later.
Hopefully this helps, any questions just let me know.
1) install xcode command line tools - takes a few minutes depending on your connection speed.
Open the terminal (CMD + Spacebar and type: terminal - press enter to open. Type: xcode-select --install
2) Type: ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
3) Type: brew install node
4) Type: sudo npm install -g homebridge
5) Type: sudo npm install -g homebridge-wemo
6) Type: hombridge (this will fail as you have no config file)
7) cd ~/.homebridge
8) touch config.json (to create the file)
9) create your config file, I will try to upload mine for reference, I only have 2 wemo's but it should help.
Note as per the homebridge site dont use notepad or text edit, I used vi from the terminal but something such as textwrangler should be fine.
Once you have setup the config.json file you just type homebridge to run the application. I will write up some more notes
on adding it to homekit shortly.
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Please see post 12, any questions just let me know.
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I don't as I haven't had too many problems with it so far... I also use IFTTT as a backup and have a DO button added as a widget takes up to 5 seconds to work but it great for when Siri is playing up.
[doublepost=1455621551][/doublepost]I had to change it to a txt file to upload, you need to make sure the "name" and "wemo name" match the name of the plug in the Wemo app for it to find it.
Quick note: you'll need an app to set up the HomeKit stuff. The homebridge developer recommends MyTouchHome, but I found that Eve by Elgato was much better, and free.
Also used Eve by Elgato really good app. I've since brought the £10 Home app for the widgets as I prefer using the widgets over Siri.
Thanks for this! It'll be Saturday before I can try this but I do have one question: In your example config file I would just change the name and description of my WeMo light switches to match the names I'm using in the WeMo app?
Do I need to download anything first ? Can you expand on what yo been by touch in step 8
Yes that's what I did
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No you don't need to do anything in advance other then follow the steps, maybe as a caution create a time machine backup.
The "touch" command is just a way of creating the config.json from the terminal, as you have to manually create the file for homebridge to work. so just to confirm you will need to type: touch config.json
Got an email this week from them as I have the Thermo and Heating Control. Think they need they Hive Hub though
I have now managed to get it to restart when it crashes, let me know if you need the details and I can post it.
it's about unified platform control.
sure you could have "Works with Nest" using Siri (eventually) and LWRF through their app (ignoring homebridge for now)
but you shouldn't have to use a different app for different devices. that's the point of HomeKit. Unity!
sure you could have "Works with Nest" using Siri (eventually) and LWRF through their app (ignoring homebridge for now)
but you shouldn't have to use a different app for different devices. that's the point of HomeKit. Unity!