CBI astute products

[Tradie]

Do I recommend these products , yes I do, and I install a lot of them.

Do you get support for the product, yes.

Why would you need support, because sometimes connecting the devices, especially if you have a Microtek router, it can be a little more challenging than other type of routers. I use UniFi cloud gateways, which I create a 2.4 network for all the devices on the sites we manage.

The most important question, do they fail, yes I have had one fail so far. It was about 4 years old. It failed recently and I am sure it is well past the warranty date.

Why do I recommend and install so many CBI astute products, because in the past we installed a few different brands of timers including CBI, with the constant high load switching of geysers, if you got 2 years life span, it was good.

[Tradie]

What do I use the astute range for, mainly high current requirements, geysers up to 4 kw.

When we install the 3 tier DB's for solar installations, normally the centre row is used for the controls.

Why the astute range works so well for solar installations, space eventually becomes a problem even if you install a 3 tier 24 way DB.

IF space doe become an issue, then we use the full range, the ASC in the DB for the lights (works like a charm for switches lights on/off when away from home).

An ASC in the pool pump DB, and if space is an issue, then ASI is slim enough to fit into a 4x2 surface box on the side of the poll DB.

The ASP, is great for tumble driers, washing machines and other high current loads, or if your other half is like mine with more plugs next to the bed with half the house load going through, hair driers, hair straighteners, Heated blankets, you get the idea, you can make sure all those extension cords are not overloaded or when you 3 hours into your holiday trip and starts questioning if she switched everything off, simple you just got to the app and switch off the ASP.

When space becomes a challenge with all these devices, surge protection and additional neutral bars for ELU's in a DB, thats when the ASI is great, it not only opens space for otehr stuff in the DB, but can also be mounted within arms reach of the geyser , we all know how we like our isolators next to the geyser and not lockable in the DB.

[Tradie]

A tip when setting up these devices, if you have more than one "home", make sure you add the device to the correct home in the app, you can shuffle from room to room in a home, but you cant move the device from one home to another.

Some thing t CBI should consider, we install these devices everywhere not just domestic properties.

We have these devices installed everywhere, it would be nice if we could create areas in the factory like injection moulding, driers, admin office, plant office and group the devices.

It would also be great if you could integrate it into Home assistant, so that we can trench the load, instead of just getting a total monthly reading.

As mentioned on numerous platforms, make a small device like the shelly or sonoff, that can be used in light switches etc.

Astute are great products which can handle the load and pretty reliable, now they just need to get a smart team together to take that next step.

[Tradie]

Time wasted (well spent) setting up a bunch of CBI devices identified a solution to a problem I have had with the astute range for many years, the fact that you just get a total kwh per month, that has all changed as of tonight, I can now record when the astute switch was activated, how long it was on, if there were voltage dips, the voltage , the current and power trend in a graph.

This is huge, especially in the factories where we want to monitor the voltage and dips if any, at each machine and at various locations around the building, without having to sit and watch the CBI app .

[Tradie]

Lets hope CBI are going to read these posts and take note that their product is great but not when you install, then find out that in 3 months time you will have to start paying a subscription.

[GCE]

Lets hope CBI are going to read these posts and take note that their product is great but not when you install, then find out that in 3 months time you will have to start paying a subscription.

Where did yo hear that ?

[Tradie]

Let me just clear this up, CBI astute devices dont have a subscription if you ar eusing the "CBI app" and I am not aware of any on the future, however when I tried to link the CBI device to home assistant, you cant connect directly because it is not compatible, so you have to download the Tuya and link it using the Tuya app, which indicated that apparently there is a free subscription for 3 months. That is how I understand it.

The CBI energy smart meter, "apparently" had a 1 year free subscription, however I am not aware that they are still selling the energy meters.

As I said I am new to all this, so feel free to clear up any information that might be incorrect, then share the correct details.

Edited and update ... I will add in apparently in future so that there no confusion or it can be confirmed or rejected by anyone with the facts

Where did yo hear that ?

[Tradie]

It might just be for cloud services, so just check prior to downloading the app and linking all your devices.

CBI energy has certainly left a sour taste in my mouth.


Pricing - Tuya Developer

Tuya Developer
https://developer.tuya.com › docs › iot › product-price
Do you have to pay for Tuya?
You can subscribe to the pay-as-you-go cloud services as you want. It is important to know that a basic resource pack is a mandatory prerequisite to using cloud services.

[GCE]

It might just be for cloud services, so just check prior to downloading the app and linking all your devices.

CBI energy has certainly left a sour taste in my mouth.


Pricing - Tuya Developer

Tuya Developer
https://developer.tuya.com › docs › iot › product-price
Do you have to pay for Tuya?
You can subscribe to the pay-as-you-go cloud services as you want. It is important to know that a basic resource pack is a mandatory prerequisite to using cloud services.

It would appear that you are using a 3rd party app - The normal CBI Home is still free - I have numerous timers on my app and when we set up for people we share to our company account - Have seen no issues or payment requests

[Tradie]

Yes that is correct, and hopefully will be free for ever and ever, however, apparently to integrate CBI devices into home assistant, you need to use a 3rd party app, because when I tried to use the CBI app, it indicated that it is not compatible, but any thing is possible right now, we live and learn.

It would appear that you are using a 3rd party app - The normal CBI Home is still free - I have numerous timers on my app and when we set up for people we share to our company account - Have seen no issues or payment requests

[Tradie]

Just to add it might be that only if you use the cloud base features, you have to pay a subscription.