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The first version of the video didn't go deep enough.  So here's the luxury version with images of the main PCBs for exploration, a look at the (rusty) motors and encoders, and the user interface.

https://youtu.be/1zZzIOk19dI

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Smartap - when the Internet of things goes down

This is a home automation product that lets you run a bath or have a shower by voice commands via your voice recognition device and a remote server. It looks like someone put a lot of work into the design, but it seems like a bad idea to have your shower controlled via a remote server (which is currently down). The idea of a glitch or hacker turning your shower on unexpectedly while the door or curtain is open, and flooding your house, or even just splurging gallons of hot water down the drain seems undesirable. With no physical override it also means that a system crash, fault or hack could leave you with no way to have a shower, bath or even wash your hands. Then there's the cost of getting a "home automation expert" to repair it. It's an industry flooded with big egos with matching hourly rates. But Kudos to the people who actually designed and built this unit. It looks like it was a valiant effort to create a functional product, albeit a bit ill-conceived. It certainly looks like it was expensive to develop and manufacture. The Home Assistant posse do seem to be exploring the protocols of this system to try and get it back up and running on a local network. https://community.home-assistant.io/t/smartap-shower-control-getting-started-with-reverse-engineering-a-smart-home-device/358251 If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:- https://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's algorithm quirks, allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty. #ElectronicsCreators

Comments

Mike Bird

Back in the 1970s, in the USA, we had a system called X-10. It was created by a stereo equipment manufacturer. It used the superimposition of data over the domestic power line at the zero-crossing point. The modules could handle a 16-bit address. They had either a thyristor (recommended for lighting) or a relay (recommended for inductive or appliances). Then they had a whole bunch of transmitters. Push button modules that fit standard (American) switch boxes would transmit signals to the address set on them. All modules with matching addresses would listen to the signal. There was a whole developed infrastructure. The best thing was that you only had to switch back to standard switches and unplug the receivers, and your flat was back to normal.

Anonymous

Is SmarTap still a thing? There is a web page for it at https://archello.com/product/smartap

bigclive

I think that's an advertising site that may have featured it. Not sure.

bigclive

The X10 system was developed in Scotland. It still seems to exist in various forms.

Joel Murphy

So cool. thanks for digging into this magical IOT failures. Bravo!

Bill Kerr

I distrust devices that require an internet connection, especially when not specifically needed. Many Chinese devices make regular outbound connections that seem unrelated to the device's function. I have seen this on security camera systems and on a NAS.

Gordo

Ha ha, I laughed when you started with "all this stuff is open".. it couldn't be less open.. But joking aside, for the tinkereres among us, there's a project called Tasmota which allows devices based on Espressif ESP32 SoCs (eg. SONOFF IoT kit) to be flashed with an alternate, open-source firmware giving complete control over our devices and what they connect to. You can host your own home-automation server while still having smart-device control and stop worrying about your vendor going bust..

Dave Frederick

Yea. Kind of kewl I guess but without sounding like the old man that I am, I think I prefer nice faucets that you turn on and off by yourself. Thanks Big Clive.