Openthread Sensor Tag

Hey Folks! We have developed a new Home Assistant Addon to integrate the Thread Sensor Tag into Home Assistant which removes the need to use the Python script we provided.

With the Addon the Thread Sensor Tag data is received and translated into a Home Assistant Device showing you the data it sends. I wrote a little page on how to integrate the Addon and how to use it - it is really easy: https://hackaday.io/page/22298-home-assistant-addon-to-integrate-the-thread-sensor-tag

You can now also setup a OpenThread Border Router using Home Assistant and the nRFR52840 or the SkyConnect from HA.

Happy automation!

I wrote an easy to follow tutorial on how to setup your own Thread Border Router using an nRF52840 USB Dongle and a Raspberry Pi 4 to connect the Thread Sensor Tag to it using the commission feature of Thread.

You can find the Instructables here: https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Setup-a-OpenThread-Border-Router-Using-a-NR/

or if you prefer a Hackaday.io Page I also created a page for that here: https://hackaday.io/page/22272-how-to-setup-a-open-thread-border-router-with-raspberry-pi-and-connect-the-thread-sensor-tag

I would be happy about any feedback! 

Finally we have implemented and integrated the Thread Sensor Tag to be used in Home Assistant! Look how beautiful it is:

Once you have the MQTT integration installed and setup and a Thread Sensor Tag connected it will be automatically detected with all the values in the image (Voltage is of course from the battery)

Also multiple devices can be detected and be used.

I tested the solar-version of the device and the solar panel short circuit current indoors was only around 0.6mA which is not enough to really charge the battery. I moved it outside on the balcony and now it is charging and running perfectly. 

The white stuff in the image is just some trash to move the solar panel and the Thread Sensor Tag up and against the glass ;)

We tried to run the Thread Sensor Tag with a AEM10941 Solar Harvesting IC (Module can be found here: https://www.tindie.com/products/jaspersikken/solar-harvesting-into-li-ion-battery/ ) from E-peas (see image below) and a small 45x45 4.5V Solar Panel. This was supposed to harvest energy inside a building but apparently it did not work out as expected. Somehow the battery voltage droped lower and lower even with brighter light. Not sure whats the cause of it and we have to investigate more but the idea was that this device will never need a battery change again!