Every so often I get a bunch of stuff from Meross (no payment or commitment – just stuff to play with) and today in the post, a package via CTT courier arrived.I opened up the package and… Meross Smart WiFi Switch MSS815 If you’re new to Meross – another fly-by-night cloud company? Nooo, they’ve been around for years.This one’s interesting… looks like you’re basic WiFi switch – live and neutral in, live and switched output out and that’s it.
It’s Matter compatible like all their new stuff – but my question is – is it Home Assistant compatible? I’m guessing this is an ESP32 as it has Bluetooth as well as WiFi.It has to be said you get loads of info including a note to say that despite being Matter-compatible, you still need the Meross APP for updates etc.Ok, someone braver than me can figure this out – I took the PCB out of the case to let you guys have a look, but the CPU is in a module and the only way to get to it is by desoldering… maybe once th newness novelty wears off… A quick aside, when wiring up this unit I asked my friendly AI what the spanish colours are for mains wiring in the home.
Once it got past insisting I was talking about MEN’s wiring ( I was using VOICE for queries)… the answer came back that brown or sometimes black is used for LIVE while neutral or NOT LIVE is blue.Ok, I’m part way with this – how could ANYONE come up with the idea that BLACK would be acceptable for LIVE – usually thought of as the HOT connection – since when is BLACK HOT? Many decades ago the UK used to use red for live – which to me seemed perfectly logical – I can handle brown as that is warm-ish – but black – are these regulations people all colour-blind? Right – so I’ve hooked up the power and a test lamp – in at the deep end… WELL, this is new – 3 BEEPS in a row.I’ve not come across that before on a simple smart-switch.
No light active but at least I know something is working and I’ve not blown it apart.Next, that button on the top of the case.Erm, no – I could hear the relay clicking – but no light… AH, the S1 connection is NOT a return via the load to neutral – it’s a SWITCH connection – they want you to double up on the neutral connector.
That’s what I get for jumping in without reading the manual.So, L & N to power, bulb to L1 and N.How much would it have cost (as the connector hole is in the case anyway) to put in a second neutral.
Anyway it works – that S1 is for a real switch – a job also done by that tiny button (short press – the long-press will be for re-pairing).Here we go – I should have looked at the manual.So we have a switch – now to the important bit – making it a smart-switch.
The diagram depicts wiring up showing live and neutral being available – where I live in rural Spain, switch sockets are often like they are as they sometimes are in the UK – i.e.no neutral available – but there you are… Meross APP on my smartphone – “add a device – MSS815 series – ADD – make sure you are using 2.4Ghz WiFi…” – isn’t it about time we moved on from that limitation? I note there is an ESP chip now that handles both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz WiFi – clearly not being used here.Oh I have to say the instructions on the Meross APP are GREAT – and with lots of pictures… even tells you about wire colours..
scan the QR code, checking network… beeping… device connected.“Congratulations – we’ve got something special for you… blah blah…” Done.I definitely should have read the docs first but no harm done.
One smart in-wall switch working – complete with power monitoring.To clarify here, I have Meross power sockets running my 2 home boilers – no problem – and they do work in Home Assistant.This device won’t be running any boilers – 10A relay contact and they even warn you about maximum loads (unlike some) – for example 400w maximum load for INC (whatever that is) and 150w max for CFL and LED.
I guess with a simple resistive load you could go nearer the relay’s capacity.Before I forget, you get some useful black-on-white sticky labels in the box – useful.With the Meross APP you can set up schedules etc as you can with all of their controllers – but I’m going to go in the deep end again and open my Home Assistant panel.
Has it?….yes it has..notifications – new devices discovered..
Right – I can just go straight into HA and configure the smart switch – it’s given the switch an awfully long name… Woah, 10 entities found? This could be fun – “energy estimate”, “sensor protocol”, “Smart switchover temp enable”, others….“consumption”, “current”, “outlet”, “power”, signal strength”, “voltage”.I like it already.
Well, I’ve hada 9w bulb running for several minutes now, let’s take a look… naw, coffee time, it’s going to take a while to show anything meaningful.Voltage 245.5v – that sounds about right… meanwhile….in the time it took me to go get coffee… That’s enough about that for now – more on other new Meross devices soon….
but first… POWER – interesting, drops a little I guess as the bulb warms up… just a little..
