True Wireless Valve from Uhome Systems is a battery-powered, smart valve that is easy to install and integrate into your smart home setup. It is based on the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840, a multiprotocol Bluetooth 5.4 SoC with support for Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth mesh, Thread, NFC, and Zigbee.
True Wireless Valve can run on four AAA batteries for up to two years and can also be powered via a USB Type-C power supply. It offers a completely wireless experience with the option for battery power which removes the need for additional wiring and makes installation easier and safer.
It seamlessly integrates with Home Assistant and other smart home platforms via ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. It can be paired with a leak detector such as the AquaPing and used to respond automatically to potential leaks in the home.
True Wireless Valve specifications:
- SoC – Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840
- CPU – 32-bit Cortex-M4 core with FPU @ 64 MHz
- Connectivity – Bluetooth 5.4 (BLE, Bluetooth mesh, Thread, NFC, and Zigbee)
- Networking – Zigbee 3.0, (update to Thread/Matter in development)
- Power – USB Type-C or 4x AAA alkaline batteries
- Integration – ZHA (Home Assistant), Zigbee2MQTT
- Dimensions – 120 x 100 x 60 mm
- Size Options – DN15 (1/2″), DN20 (3/4″), DN25 (1″)
- Protection Class – IP65
The product comes in two versions: a ball-valve version and a clamp version. The ball-valve variant is better suited for users who want to replace their current manual valve, with different dimensions and thread options. Users may require professional assistance in installation to ensure optimal performance and safety. The clamp version, on the other hand, is built for ease of use and convenient installation, and it can be attached to the existing manual valve easily without professional help.
The True Wireless Valve smart valve isn’t the cheapest option on the market, but it is open-source, can be battery-powered, and offers water resistance, unlike many alternatives. The project’s source code and hardware files are hosted on GitHub. Also, there is a getting started guide and an installation guide on the Uhome Systems website.
The True Wireless Valve project is currently accepting pledges on Crowd Supply, with a funding goal of $10,000. Both the ball valve and valve clamp versions are sold for $239, with an $8 shipping fee within the United States while an $18 shipping fee applies to the rest of the world. Orders are projected to ship by October 22, 2024.
Tomisin is a writer specializing in hardware product reviews, comparisons, and explainers. He is very passionate about small form factor and single-board computers.
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Like the idea but not the price, that is way too expensive for what it does.
Yup. I think $50-100 is fair. It’s basically the same thing as a wireless radiator thermostat, but only on-off and other connections.
Yes, if you need just an on-off. By the way, we have a comparison table on CrowdSupply, there are even cheaper solutions. Feel free to check it out. You can subscribe for updates. We plan to make a post in the campaign where we will show the components and prices and explain how this price is formed.
SONOFF will launch a battery-powered Zigbee water valve in the second half of next month. It should be cheaper, but they only have a “ball-valve version”, at least from the rendering I have seen.
What is the implication of only having ball valve?
I’m not sure, but considering the other valve comes with a clamp option, that’s one mounting option that may not be available to users with the SONOFF model.
Interesting to see their solution!
I’m one of the team members working on this project. We don’t like the price as well, and in the last three months before the launch, we have been working with the BOM price to try to reduce it. Unfortunately, for a number of solutions that we try fit in (IP-rated, operated handle, and battery-powered) and ordering quantities, this is the best that we can get (after shipping, tax, minimal possible margin, etc.).