DIRIGERA Binding (IKEA Home smart)

[g_g_rich]

@PePe

Controlling devices:
→ Power-state (switch type) works well for both lights and plugs.
→ Trouble to control lights via brightness channel (dimmer type):
PROBLEM 1
Not possible to control the light using dimmer after it’s been switched OFF in IKEA app. On the other hand when switched ON via IKEA app, then the state updates and can be contolled via OH.
PROBLEM 2
Can’t set 0 (OFF) value via dimmer type item. Can’t switch OFF the light using dimmer.

@weymann can confirm, I am seeing this behaviour as well.

[weymann (Bernd Weymann)]

@PePe

PROBLEM 1
Not possible to control the light using dimmer after it’s been switched OFF in IKEA app. On the other hand when switched ON via IKEA app, then the state updates and can be contolled via OH.

Many thanks for testing! Yes, can reproduce this and it’s fixed now!

@PePe

PROBLEM 2
Can’t set 0 (OFF) value via dimmer type item. Can’t switch OFF the light using dimmer.

To be honest I wasn’t aware that you can send ON/OF to Dimmer channels. This is in now too! Binding is updated.

[PePe (Pawel)]

@weymann I can confirm that both are fixed, thank you.
I’ve noticed however, strange behavior of the slider item when controlling brightness. Slider does not follow / present the actual value.

Testing scenario:
Set brightness from 43 (any value > 0) to 0 using slider item.

Expected behavior:

1. Switch OFF the light
2. Reflect 0 value on the slider

Testing result:

1. switch OFF the light - PASSED
2. Reflect 0 value on the slider - FAILED.
   The slider bounces back from 0 to 43 although the demanded value is kept and the light remains OFF.

Please try to reproduce.

[weymann (Bernd Weymann)]

Thanks for your deep testing, I really appreciate that!

@PePe

Expected behavior:

1. Switch OFF the light
2. Reflect 0 value on the slider

Yes, I can reproduce.
What do you expect if I add point 3. Switch ON the light? I think expectation is

1. light shall be ON
2. Brightness shall be applied to the last stored value e.g. 43

[Pedro_Liberal]

The amount of amazing people joining and working on stuff currently is fantastic!
@weymann thank you for your hard work!

[PePe (Pawel)]

What do you expect if I add point 3. Switch ON the light? I think expectation is

1. light shall be ON
2. Brightness shall be applied to the last stored value e.g. 43

Yes, I’d expect last stored value > 0 in this case. Using slider = 0 (brightness = 0) shall be the same logic as switch = OFF

[weymann (Bernd Weymann)]

@PePe

Yes, I’d expect last stored value > 0 in this case. Using slider = 0 (brightness = 0) shall be the same logic as switch = OFF

Ok, this works for me after adating the code. This makes me total sense because what you see is what you get - if light is off => brighness is zero.

I’ve no experience with other lights like Phillips Hue or anything other. There are also lights with color temperature or real colors.

Honest question: What shall happen if you change color-temperature or color if light is OFF?

• Shall it be preserved for the next power ON?
• Shall it switch the light automatically ON?

[g_g_rich]

@weymann

Honest question: What shall happen if you change color-temperature or color if light is OFF?

• Shall it be preserved for the next power ON?
• Shall it switch the light automatically ON?

Yes to both for me.

[rpwong (Russ)]

@weymann

Honest question: What shall happen if you change color-temperature or color if light is OFF?

• Shall it be preserved for the next power ON?
• Shall it switch the light automatically ON?

I’d agree with preserving the value, but I would personally prefer for the light to not switch on automatically. I’ve had scenarios where I want to change the colour of a light without turning it on.

Perhaps this could be an option in the thing settings?

[apas_csc (Christian Schäfer)]

I just tried with a Hue light that I have integrated into OpenHAB: Changing the color-temperature or color alone does not switch the light on, but preserves the value until I switch it on later.

This can also be used to adapt the light to the time of day (“natural light”) so that it is already in the right color temperature when it is switched on.

[rpwong (Russ)]

@apas_csc

This can also be used to adapt the light to the time of day (“natural light”) so that it is already in the right color temperature when it is switched on.

That’s exactly the scenario I was thinking of.

[g_g_rich]

@apas_csc

I just tried with a Hue light that I have integrated into OpenHAB: Changing the color-temperature or color alone does not switch the light on, but preserves the value until I switch it on later.

This can also be used to adapt the light to the time of day (“natural light”) so that it is already in the right color temperature when it is switched on.

I’m fine with this as well. Nice to keep it in line with how other devices work.

[Fechado (Marco)]

Hi @weymann

Thank you for creating this binding. I’ve just tested an air purifier STARKVIND and everything worked as expected. Great work!

[weymann (Bernd Weymann)]

Wow, Software which is working without testing is every time amazing. Can you also check if every functionality which is shown / possible to control in IKEA app is also reflected in channels? Anything missing or so?

[weymann (Bernd Weymann)]

@apas_csc

This can also be used to adapt the light to the time of day (“natural light”) so that it is already in the right color temperature when it is switched on.

Unfortunately it will not work that way
During implementation the DIRIGERA gateway shows it’s badass behavior. Setting color while bulb is off the command is acknowledged AND confirmed by the gateway. But in fact it doesn’t work.
You can trick also IKEA App with one curl command setting color e.g. to red while it’s off, then switch it on via app. Bulb is shining Hulk Green while App thinks it’s Ferrari Red. Reproduction rate is 100%.

So currently color cannot be set in beforehand. Next difficulty is to adjust color and brightness when switching on. Doing this very quick results into inconsistencies - color or brightness will not reach their target states randomly.

Finally I ended up to present a switch on sequence based on fadeTime which is now present as config parameter with default time 750ms. In addition you can define the sequence if first brightness shall be applied and then color or vice versa. If light is switched on you’ll see the adaptions during fading but I see no other solution right now.

IKEA has a lot of things to do on their gateway!

[Fechado (Marco)]

I will check it during this week an replay by end of the week.

[apas_csc (Christian Schäfer)]

@weymann

Next difficulty is to adjust color and brightness when switching on. Doing this very quick results into inconsistencies - color or brightness will not reach their target states randomly.

Finally I ended up to present a switch on sequence based on fadeTime which is now present as config parameter with default time 750ms.

Too bad. I see the same behaviour with an old Tradfri light bulb connected to my Hue hub. Just switching it on yields a different brightness and color temperature each morning, so I had to write a HomeKit shortcut to first switch it on and then set the brightness and color temperature after a delay. I wonder if this is not a problem of the bridge but rather the normal way IKEA implements the light bulbs.

[weymann (Bernd Weymann)]

@apas_csc

I wonder if this is not a problem of the bridge but rather the normal way IKEA implements the light bulbs.

I’m sure it’s a problem with the gateway. In IKEA App you can do the following

1. Create a Scene with color and brightness settings for one bulb / led strip.
2. Turn ON the bulb and give it some different color and brightness, then turn it OFF.
3. Now trigger the Scene => you’ll recognize the bulbs are shining in the correct color and brightness.

So internally they can do it and there’s no technical restriction from the bulb. Externally steering the gateway there are problems!

[Fechado (Marco)]

Hi @weymann
I was able to check all the functionality that’s shown in the app. All the possibilities available in the app are represented/reflected in the different channels. Nothing ist missing. On the contrary: Yesterday my filters in the STARKVIND reached their end of life. In the IKEA-app there is no message or notification. With the FilterRemain-channel and a rule I get a notification in openHAB. Thanks to your binding I even get a notification two weeks in advance so that I can order new ones.

One thing I noticed is the different speed settings. In the IKEA-app I’m able to choose a speed from 1 to 5 in 0.5 steps. It is possible to choose a speed of 2.5. Other than this it’s the same.

[g_g_rich]

I find the Binding looses sync with device states after a few days, then becomes unresponsive for sending commands. I can’t seem to consistently replicate it, restarting the Binding solves it.