AM43 Bluetooth Blinds Chain Motor - How could it be integrated?

[cw-kid]

These Bluetooth AM43 motors for blinds that have cords / chains are really cheap.

Loads of them on eBay and Aliexpress under various names, ZemiSmart A-OK etc.

Looks like some folks have them working in Home Assistant and OpenHab.

However seems you need to be an expert in Node Red / MQTT etc which I know nothing about.

How are they doing it with a Raspberry Pi with a Bluetooth dongle or something ?

Might there be an easier way to integrate this motor in to Vera ?

[ElCid]

from the looks they link via smartlife app. you could possibly use httpswitch plugin with ifttt webhook

[cw-kid]

Why do you think that ?

I don’t think so all the ones I have seen are Bluetooth only not WIFI.

[cw-kid]

@ElCid

smartlife app. you could possibly use httpswitch plugin with ifttt webhook

This is a good idea however from some of the more expensive motors that are WIFI.

These on Aliexpress for example here, they are twice the price but support Google Home / Alexa and IFTTT with the Tuya app.

[ElCid]

from link i clicked support and it said download smartlife app

[cw-kid]

Zemismart have other products that use the Smart Life app. But all those AM43 motors are Bluetooth only.

[ElCid]

so what app do the bluetooth devices use?
is that app linked to ifttt?

[cw-kid]

I believe the app is this one here.

No IFTTT or WiFi no, just Bluetooth BLE comms.

[ElCid]

then you would have to run the node.js api from GitHub - binsentsu/am43-ctrl: Node Util for controlling an AM43 Blinds Drive Cover, either over MQTT or via a HTTP API
It will run on linux,Widows or Raspberry Pi.

[cw-kid]

OK but the Windows machine let’s say would need a Bluetooth adapter to communicate with the motor right.

[ElCid]

directly yes, but this may be using some api server the blindengine app is using

[therealdb]

Nice motors, I’ll maybe try a couple of them (I have more windows than lights in my house).

Bluetooth things can be easily integrate with a pi4 (bt is already on board). if it’s already supported under home assistant it’s a no-brainer, or you can also use its http server with no MQTT.
You can then bridge it under Vera. I started adding support for http based blinds under my http virtual devices plugin, I’ll release it later this month and you’ll be able to perform blinds action with native devices calling http endpoints.