Today, I’ve searched for AC powered wireless switched similar to Sonoff devices, but with ESP32 instead in order to get WiFi and Bluetooth, since the latter is better to use with a battery powered buttons. I did find a DC powered board, but no AC powered ones yet. However, as I visited ITEAD website to check if they had anything of the sort, I discovered they had a new model called Sonoff G1, similar to Sonoff TH16, but instead of using WiFi, you can use 2G GSM/GPRS to control the switch remotely.
Sonoff G1 specifications:
- Wireless Module – ST86 quad band GSM/GPRS module
- GSM/GPRS connectivity
- GSM850, EGSM900, DCS1800 and PCS1900 MHz support
- GPRS multi-slot class 10, GPRS mobile station class B
- 1.8V, 3V SIM card slot
- Transmit power: Class 4 (2W): GSM850, EGSM900; Class 1 (1W): DCS1800, PCS1900
- Relay – Up to 16A (3000 Watts max)
- Terminals – 6 terminals for mains and load’s ground, live and neutral signals. 90~250V AC (50/60Hz) input supported
- Misc – LEDs for power and connection status, button for manual on/off
- Standby Power Consumption – 1.0 mW
- Dimensions – 114 x 52 x 32mm
- Weight – 100 grams
- Temperature range – Operating -40°C to +80°C, but recommended is 0 to 40°C… So go figure.
Such system could be useful if you need to control devices in remote locations, as long as you are in a zone not affected by 2G sunset like China and Europe.
You’ll need to open the device to insert your own SIM card, install the usual eWelink app, scan a QR code on the device to initialize it. Once this is done, you can turn it on/off, set timers, integrate it into scenes, and share it with other permitted users. Basically anything you can do with the WiFi model, including Amzon Alexa & (soon) Google Home support, but it adds checking the remaining balance. This is explained in more details in the Wiki and links there. There’s also Sonoff G2 model for mainland China with a built-in China Mobile SIM card. You’ll have to happy with using eWelink Android/iOS app, as that model is unlikely to hackable with a custom firmware.
ITEAD sells Sonoff G1 for $19.90 plus shipping.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Looks like the comms mechanism is separate on this board, so you could substitute the GSM module for an ESP32 or NRF24 or whatever radio you prefer. Although there is probably a separate microcontroller on the main board, talking to the modem, so you’d need to either emulate the AT command set that the uC is using to interact with the modem, or figure out how to reprogram the uC itself.