If you want your home become smart, many people don't know how to design and choose products. This article / video will explain what to consider and how to choose KinCony products before preparing to build a smart home.

1: Function
2: Reliability
3: Expansibility
4: Select products

1. function

    a. What load needs to be controlled?
    b. What software platforms need to be used?
    c. Smart control your device in your home or outside of home?

        a.Lighting, curtains, shutters, air conditioners, televisions, multimedia players, LED strip, cameras, security systems, environmental detector, valves, garage doors, etc.

            Select the corresponding hardware products according to the equipment to be controlled.

        b.mobile phone? computer? PAD? voice?

            You can use kincony's own software or home assistant software.

        c.Only need to be used at home? Or do you need remote control?

            You can use kincony's own software or home assistant software.

2. reliability

    a. Whether can pull new cable? If there is no way to pull the wire, only wireless products can be used. The core control system strongly recommends wired products, because the stability of wired solution is better than that of wireless solution.

    b. It is suggested to use the solution of separation of controller + relay driving unit. Because of the separation design of High voltage circuit and low voltage circuit, it has good anti-interference, but takes up more space. However, if the relay is damaged in furture, it can be easily replaced by yourself.

    c. For the core control system, we strongly recommend the wired solution. If use sensor products, we should also choose wired products as far as possible. Due to limited conditions, we can choose wireless products.

    d. For the smart home system, we hope that there are manually controlled switches at the same time. Even if there is no Internet or LAN, your router is damaged and your controller is damaged, the manual switch should still be able to turn on / off those important devices, so as not to affect the daily work. This is a very important point! No system is guaranteed to be foolproof. Add the KC868-E16 or KC868-E8 can do this.

3. Expansibility

    a. Selection of communication interface: Ethernet, WiFi, RS485, RS232, Bluetooth

        It is recommended to use Ethernet and RS485 wired communication solution products with long distance
        RS232 is about 12 meters
        WiFi as the last option

    b. What are the communication protocols: mqtt, HTTP, MODBUS, TCP private protocol

        Mqtt, HTTP and TCP private protocol are ways to integrate hardware products into third-party platforms based on network way.
        Modbus is a way to integrate hardware products into a third-party platform using RS485 bus
        It is recommended to use Ethernet to connect all hardware devices to the home network, which is more flexible and convenient.

    c. Firmware upgrade: according to different hardware products, firmware upgrade through network, RS232 and RS485, obtain the latest functions and fix some bugs.

4. Select products

    a. Interface definition
    b. Supported software
    c. Shell
    d. Match the available products of different models according to the load control mode
    e. Automatic control solution

        a. The core controller is distinguished according to the interface definition:

            KC868-Server / KC868-H32BS: connect with wall switch button directly, support RS485 modbus, support remote control, MOSFET output, Ethernet and WiFi can work at the same time. MOSFET output need add extend relay module (KC868-E16 / KC868-E8) or DC contactor for loads.

            KC868-HxB series: need add switch terminal board for wall switch panel, without RS485, with relay inside. Ethernet and WiFi can work at the same time.

            KC868-A series: some models of MOSFET output, some models of relay output, Ethernet and WiFi can’t work at the same time, you can use ethernet or use WiFi. MOSFET output need add extend relay module (KC868-E16 / KC868-E8) or DC contactor for loads.

        b. Supporting software:

            KC868-Server/KC868-H32BS/KC868-HxB series:

            1. KinCony Smart Home App (need internet)
            2. KBOX App (without internet)
            3. PC software (without internet)
            4. Open communication protocol, provide software demo source code, but CPU program is not open source.

            KC868-A series:

            1.Support for open source firmware -- Tasmota
            2.You can write programs using ESPHome tool
            3.You can write programs using the Arduino ide
            4.All hardware and software are open source

        c. Shell

            KC868-Server / KC868-H32BS / KC868-HxB series: industrial grade metal shell
            KC868-A series: plastic shell

        d. Match the available products of different models according to the load control mode

            ON/OFF Switch type: such as light, curtain, shutter, valve, garage door
            Products: KC868-Server / KC868-H32BS / KC868-HxB series / KC868-A series

            38kHz infrared signal, 433MHz RF signal type: curtain, shutter, air conditioner, TV, multimedia player
            Products: KC868-Server / KC868-AG / KC868-Uair / KC868-G
            KC868-Server / KC868-AG / KC868-Uair : need write arduino IDE code or config in ESPHome to use.
            KC868-G: only directly use by "KinCony Smart Home" app or integrate into third part software platform.

            Dimming type: dimming bulb, RGBW LED strip
            Products: KC868-Server / KC868-A series / KC868-D8
            KC868-Server / KC868-A series : mainly support WS2812B LED strip
            KC868-D8: 12V LED Driver or AC110V-380 SSR load driver (For SSR, if want install on DIN RAIL, just add the heat sink)

        e. Automatic control solution

            KC868-Server
            Node-Red / home assistant installed on raspberry pi
            Make logical or write code for any functions by yourself
            Logical control by raspberry pi

            KC868-COLB
            Just use KC868-COLB’s software to config and set directly.
            It’s easy to use, not complex logical conditions. Logical control by local CPU inside.
            KC868-COLB can be integrate with KC868-Server

            KC868-COLB is a input module , connect with all sensors, it can do IFTTT automatic command to control KC868-H32BS or KC868-H32B controller. KC868-Server also can make logical , it have 16 channel DI and 4 channel AI and some GPIOs for DIY, if not enough input ports for use, then you can integrate KC868-COLB to KC868-Server by MQTT, so that will add 16 channel DI + 16 channel AI +5 channel temperature sensors.

Hello, everyone, This article / video I will show you why we make these smart home automation lessons.

Because the smart home is not a simple subject. It is a comprehensive application of network, software, hardware, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and big data.

It will not only involve the WAN, LAN, operating system and program that we often encounter.

It will also involve the hardware technologies such as MCU and sensors.

It will also involve the application of the latest artificial intelligence technology, face recognition, character recognition, speech recognition and so on.

Because it covers a wide range of areas, many enthusiasts who want to make their home become smart, but they do not know where to start.

Many people fall into some troubles and waste a lot of time because they mistakenly choose software and hardware or maybe have wrong configure.

We make this video lessons allows anyone who wants to enter this field to get started quickly, So you can avoid all kinds of annoying mistakes in the process, and let you contact and learn all kinds of knowledge in the process of hands-on.

We insist that each video contains real and complete operation, so that you can follow it and certainly you can achieve results. We choose home assistant as the core software platform because it is the hottest open source smart home project, Because it has a complete and open API, because it has thousands of components and can interact with various external devices and cloud services.

We choose kc868-server as the hardware operation platform because it integrates the CM4 industrial module of raspberry pie. It not only has good system compatibility, but also has low power consumption and is suitable for long-term power on at home.

From the installation of raspberry pie to the end, we will work together, we will make a smart power distribution box that can control the electrical appliances in the home, We have carefully prepared dozens of practical contents.

It covers all kinds of smart device access, camera access, face recognition, voice recognition, hardware DIY, apple mobile phone integration, virtual machine, remote access, front-end interface customization, automation, Node-red and other aspects.

Smart home covers a wide range. Follow the video. You can start quickly and save a lot of time. Smart home covers a wide range. Follow the video, you can learn wonderful knowledge in different fields.

IP: 47.96.253.237  PORT: 1883  is KinCony's MQTT cloud server.
   

IP: 47.96.253.237  PORT: 1883  is KinCony's MQTT cloud server.
   

Hi

I'm tyring to use a K868-Uair with ESPHome but I have some problems ! According at Kincony ducomentation it should GPIO32 and 33 to control RGB LEDs of bottom ring and vertical bar ! Unhappy these two GPIOs are doing exactly the same thing: control the ring only and only 3 LEDs of it
Someone has the proper GPIO configuration of that board ?
Noticed also that the Dallas temperature sensor is a chinese copy I think as it's 4/5° offset of other temperature sensors I have in the room

Code used so far in ESPHome for LEDs:

KC868-COLB support use by MQTT or TCP Server or TCP Client work mode. When using MQTT, use Json format send command. When using TCP by HEX format command. KC868-COLB's PC software support "DEBUG" mode for programmer developing.
   
open your KC868-COLB PC software, use mouse left button quick click > 5 times will enable "DEBUG" mode.


   
this page for debug relay


   
this page for read digital input, analog input and DS18B20 temperature sensor data.

   
this page for debug set temperature and analog input threshold and RTC clock

   
This is write RTC clock example.

for example, set RTC clock:
we set 2022-03-08  21:38:00 to KC868-COLB

send command is:
5E 01 32 C0 06 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 03 08 15 26 00

0x5E 01 : begin byte, never change it.
0x32 C0: command type
0x06 00: message length  now the message is "16 03 08 15 26 00"  total 6 bytes
0x00 ... ... 00  38 of 0x00 retain bytes, not chang it.
0x16 03 08 15 26 00 is year,month,date, hour,minute,second
0x16=22 use two last number of year, default begin with20 so year=2022
0x03=03
0x08=08
0x15=21
0x26=38
0x00=00

install the ZigBee dongle will support ZigBee 3.0 device by zigbee2mqtt in home assistant.

   

A is +, K is - for IR tube
   

This cable is extend IR for 3 meter.
   

IR receiver: GPIO22
IR sender: GPIO23
433MHz wireless receiver: GPIO13
GPIO-1: GPIO4
GPIO-2: GPIO5
GPIO-3: GPIO18
GPIO-4: GPIO19

GPIO1-4 can use for LED Strip/DS18B20/DHT11/21 Temperature and humidity sensor.