Integrating LampSmart Pro V3 Night Light With Home Assistant

by StackCamp Team 61 views

Introduction

In this article, we will delve into the process of integrating a LampSmart Pro V3 with its night light feature into Home Assistant. Many smart home enthusiasts use Home Assistant to centralize control over their devices, and integrating a LampSmart Pro V3 can significantly enhance their smart home setup. The user in this scenario has successfully connected their LampSmart Pro V3 to Home Assistant using a custom component but is facing challenges in controlling the night light feature. This night light, a gentle golden glow emitted from LEDs around the lamp's base, is distinct from the main CW/WW LEDs. The goal is to find a more streamlined method to manage this feature within Home Assistant, rather than relying solely on raw Bluetooth packet injection. This article will explore the steps taken, the challenges faced, and potential solutions for achieving seamless integration.

Understanding the Challenge

The primary challenge lies in deciphering the communication protocol used by the LampSmart Pro V3 to control its night light feature. The user has captured raw Bluetooth packets using ESPHome when the night light toggle button on the remote is pressed. These packets provide a starting point, but understanding their structure and the specific commands they contain is crucial. While replaying these raw packets via the inject_raw function in ESPHome does toggle the night light, it’s not an ideal solution. The system seems to have a significant delay, requiring at least five seconds before accepting another command. This delay makes real-time control clunky and unresponsive. Additionally, the user's attempts to decode the raw packets and send direct commands have resulted in an “Unsupported command” error, indicating a need for deeper understanding of the protocol.

Initial Setup and Packet Capture

The user has already made significant progress by integrating the LampSmart Pro V3 into Home Assistant using a custom component, showcasing their technical skills and determination. The initial step involved capturing Bluetooth packets when the night light button on the remote was pressed. The captured packets, as shown in the provided logs, consist of three strings. Two of these strings, starting with 02.01, can toggle the light when replayed. However, the third string, starting with 1E.FF, appears to have no effect. This inconsistency suggests that the night light toggle might involve a specific command or sequence embedded within these packets. The challenge is to isolate and understand this command to control the night light feature more directly.

Analyzing Captured Bluetooth Packets

The initial step in integrating the LampSmart Pro V3 night light feature involves a deep dive into the captured Bluetooth packets. The user has provided valuable data, including three raw packet strings captured when the night light toggle button is pressed. Let's break down the analysis process:

  1. Packet Structure: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) packets typically have a specific structure. They often include header information, advertising data, and manufacturer-specific data. Understanding this structure is crucial for dissecting the packets.

  2. Identifying Relevant Data: The packets starting with 02.01 seem to be the key to toggling the night light. We need to focus on these and identify the specific bytes or sequences within these packets that act as the toggle command. The packet that begins with 1E.FF might contain other information or commands, but it doesn't seem directly related to the night light control.

  3. Command Isolation: By comparing multiple captured packets (toggling the night light on and off), we can potentially isolate the command sequence. Look for bytes that change consistently when the light toggles, while others remain constant. These changing bytes likely represent the on/off state of the night light.

  4. Manufacturer Data: BLE packets often include a section for manufacturer-specific data. This is where companies can implement custom commands and protocols. The 1B.16.F0.08 portion in the 02.01 packets might be a manufacturer identifier, followed by specific commands for the LampSmart Pro V3.

  5. Tools and Techniques: Several tools can aid in analyzing BLE packets. Online Bluetooth packet analyzers can help visualize the data and identify patterns. Additionally, software like Wireshark (with BLE extensions) can capture and dissect Bluetooth traffic, providing a more detailed view of the communication.

Understanding the Delay Issue

The five-second delay observed when using the inject_raw function is a significant hurdle. This delay suggests that the LampSmart Pro V3 might have some form of rate limiting or internal processing time associated with these commands. There are several potential causes for this delay:

  • Command Processing: The lamp's internal microcontroller might take a few seconds to process the injected command and update the night light state.
  • Rate Limiting: To prevent flooding or interference, the lamp might intentionally limit the frequency at which it accepts commands. This is a common technique in BLE devices.
  • Confirmation Mechanism: The lamp might be expecting a confirmation packet after a command is sent. If this confirmation is missing or delayed, the lamp might not accept further commands until a timeout occurs.

To address this delay, it's essential to:

  • Optimize Command Injection: Ensure the inject_raw function is being used efficiently, minimizing any overhead in Home Assistant or ESPHome.
  • Investigate Confirmation Packets: Look for any response packets from the lamp after sending a command. These might contain valuable information about the command's status and any required acknowledgments.
  • Experiment with Timing: Try sending commands with varying delays to see if a shorter delay is possible without overwhelming the lamp.

Attempting Direct Command Sending and Errors

The user's attempt to send direct commands and the resulting “Unsupported command” error is a crucial piece of the puzzle. This error indicates that the lamp's firmware is validating commands and rejecting those that don't match its expected protocol. This is a common security measure in smart devices. The fact that the lamp responds with an error message is actually positive, as it confirms that the lamp is actively listening and processing commands. It also suggests that we are on the right track but need to refine our approach.

Deciphering the Command Structure

To overcome the