Turning the Mini into a Smart Home device

What would you change about your LaSpaziale espresso machine?
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GDK
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Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:06 pm
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Turning the Mini into a Smart Home device

Post by GDK »

I have posted earlier in other threads that I am in the process of doing this and now the project is complete. So I hope the following will be helpful to some.

If you are inclined to do a bit of work then Mini can become an automation powerhouse. Now I can:

* control it (On/Off) with Google Home via voice commands when I am home
* control it with my phone from anywhere with an app like Smart Life - turn it on before I head home or from bed in the morning, as well as turn it off if I change plans
* set timer/schedule via the Smart Life app or other app like that

BTW, manual operation is not affected and would work as before.

The only soldering intervention in the machine is to pull out two wires that go to the On/Off button pins. Here is post a and pics on how and where to solder:
https://s1cafe.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t ... 872#p24872

The design is based on the following timer board, 3 of them actually - for reliable operation from any state machine can be in (including programming mode):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/281747815529 - $20 for the three

Two boards have their relays work in parallel to produce the impulses to reset state (in case machine is already ON) and turn machine ON, the third board is used to turn it off. These boards are powered by the USB outlets of this wifi smart plug:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0786JXBYL/ - $37 (CAD)

Programming and soldering of the three timers, which I mounted in an external box (pack of 3 - $2 in Dollarama) requires a bit of skill though.

Here is the timer programming manual, you need to buy the 5V timer version so that USB can be a power source: https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/FKQ/ ... HMS1GV.pdf

Then, here are a few pics and videos:

Three timers in a box, smart bar in background:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FyN0f- ... sp=sharing

The first two timers implement the ON command. They are powered from a single USB outlet and work in parallel. See video below. Timer three is powered by the second USB outlet on the bar and implements the OFF command.

Timers close-up:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1olcPoF ... sp=sharing

Google Home in action, though I use the app to turn machine on remotely a lot more often. I turn it off manually most of the time.

Video - Google Home ON command:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dl1XCO ... sp=sharing

Timer one kicks in first and relay pulls in immediately as power is supplied with two one second pulses spaced 1 sec apart to turn the machine off, in case it was already ON. Otherwise you will end up in programming mode. The two pulses are required in case machine was already in programming mode. This is programmed with Function 8 in the manual, where T1=1s, T2=1s, NX=2 (number of cycle repeats).

Timer two does not pull in with power on but waits 4 sec (while Timer 1 does its thing) and then pulls in and holds for 5 secs so that machine will turn on. This is done with Function 3 in the manual, where T1=4s, T2=5s. Viola...

Video - ON command close-up:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kKKUpo ... sp=sharing

Timer three turns machine off with two 1 sec impulses. Remember we need two in case machine was in programming mode at that time, just in case. This timer is programmed exactly like Timer #1 above

Video - OFF sequence:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17af3iP ... sp=sharing

The normally open contacts of all three timers are used and are connected in parallel among themselves and then in parallel to the On/Off switch of the machine. Details on how can be seen on the link I posted at the beginning.

I also use a command to turn the entire power bar off to cut off power to timers at the end.

You will notice I have another plug on the bar - that is to control my custom LED lights on the machine. Perhaps to confuse some I will also mention I use scenes to turn machine and light at the same time and light turns off only after I turn of the power bar (like a reminder that there may still be power to timers).

Note that other solutions are also possible as these timers are quite flexible.

If you want to make machine turn on at a given time of day, then you can easily program the corresponding USB outlets with the app. Due to the fact that I can control the machine remotely though, I do not see the need for myself to program machine with time of day on/off.

P.S. For full disclosure
USB 1 powers Timer 1 and Timer 2 (ON sequence)
USB 2 powers Timer 3 (OFF sequence)
Plug 1 controls machine LED light

I have defined 3 scenes as follows:
Machine ON: turn on USB1, turn on Plug 1, turn off USB 2 (in case - prep for a potential consequent OFF command)
Machine OFF: turn on USB 2, turn on Plug 1 (still want the light to be ON), turn off USB 1 (in case - prep for a potential consequent ON command)
Bar OFF: turn off USB 1, turn off USB 2, turn off Plug 1
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