Today this turned up in the post here in Spain by CTT courier.Thinking about it I’ve no idea why – but it’s here so I thought I’d write a few lines about it.Typically, mains powered USB devices act as routers (I’d call them repeaters but never mind).
As regular readers know, I use Sonoff a LOT – but I only use their APP when forced by circumstance, so for Zigbee I use their inexpensive Zigbee dongle as the central Zigbee coordinator (my thinking says router but again never mind) in my Zigbee2MQTT-based network for my home control and a variety of mains powered Zigbee devices as “routers” – so I’m eager to know if this gadget functions as a “router” in the Zigbee mesh.Well, as you can clearly see below, it DOES.Forgive the daft name i gave it – just arrived and I wanted some reference to the last 2 digits of it’s originally un-friendly name hence “sonoff usb zigbee ending in 16” So what is this? Well, its a simple Zigbee device, USB in, USB out, manual override/training button which Zigbee2MQTT says is “unsupported” yet clearly it IS supported as I can turn it on and off from the Zigbee2MQTT control page as well as (obviously) it’s own on-off button.
If anyone has wall sockets with USB, it could be handy to adopt the odd one of these just to make on-off remotely programmable USB available while extending Zigbee coverage as a side-benefit.I just wish people would clarify “USB” as it means so many things these days.I VERY much doubt this device will put out QC3 high voltage charging even when connected to a QC3 outlet – perhaps Sonoff could clarify here.
Coupled to cheap AliExpress USB nightlights, I see a future for these devices if cheap enough, providing programmable night-lighting – that’s where my Node-Red BigTimer comes in.Reading the spec, they can handle 4.6A MAX at 5.2v.Good.
I also note that by default when disconnected then reconnected they retain the last on-off status.No doubt in eWeLink that can be altered but as yet, not in Zigbee2MQTT.
