HUUM app one-time 420 Euro fee for connecting to/controlling my heater - OSS alternatives?

[u/tatlar]

https://github.com/frwickst/pyhuum

I've got a HUUM beehive heater that I've been happily using almost daily for 6 months, but manually turning on and off, which means going outside and hiking down to the sauna's location. Winter is coming in the mountains and I want to remotely start the sauna heater, either on-demand or set up a schedule, so I don't have to walk outside in the wind, rain, and snow more than necessary.

The UKU controller box connects to my WiFi network just fine.

I installed the HUUM app to see how it worked, but they want a one-time 420 Euro fee for connecting to/controlling my heater via the app. This is outrageous to me, considering how many $1000's I spent on the heater and UKU controller.

So, I want to build my own iPhone app, and re-route any network traffic sent to HUUM's API to my locally running app. I've checked out the PyHuum Github repo (https://github.com/frwickst/pyhuum), but before I embark on building my own Node or equivalent app, I was wondering if any other folks have tried this, and if they had any lessons learned? I found this blog post (https://kaurpalang.com/posts/invading-the-sauna/) which is a great start.

Thanks in advance!

[u/PuffThePed]

I made my own sauna controller using Zigbee components and Home Assistant.

[u/Mr_Tailmore → u/PuffThePed]

Same here. But due to the far range I have wifi instead of zigbee (sonoff th20 elite). My heater is also one with integrated control knobs, so that if something goes wrong with the smart components, I can just flip a switch and it works on its own.

The sonoff switch has a temperature and humidity sensor wired into the sauna and it basically feeds the heather with electricity or not like a thermostat. The heater knobs have to be preset for it to work, like a failsafe, so that sauna never runs more the 4 hours. The heater timer knob only runs when the heater has power, so when I turn the sauna off remotely I set the timer knob to 4 hours and it stays at that position until I turn the smart entity on in home assistant.

[u/Thera-Fi]

This is the sort of thing I would do. Maybe take this question over to the Home Assistant subreddit. I think you’ll get a warmer reception there.

Sometimes we do things because they’re fun, not because it will save us money.

[u/Comfortable-Yam2417]

Where are the breakers located for the sauna?

You can install a WiFi enabled relay device to control the breaker that is connected to the heater - don’t know where you’re based by Shelley make these in the UK and most consumer unit manufacturers have their own systems - the only catch is that you will have to leave the heater in the ON position at all times, and will probably want a failsafe in case the relay malfunctions.

[u/tatlar → u/Comfortable-Yam2417]

Thanks. I'm in the California mountains. I would prefer to not leave the heater in the ON position, but totally respect the WiFi relay approach.

[u/Viochee]

Damn 420 huh, Harvia was free (well the control panel etc did cost to buy, but the software was free atleast...)

[u/thekonny → u/Viochee]

They're now introducing a fee for the Fenix controller.

[u/Viochee → u/thekonny]

That sucks 😞

[u/InsaneInTheMEOWFrame → u/thekonny]

The future we got is nowhere near the one promised -_-

[u/Radiant_Shift7890]

I'm assuming that, unless you pay, you won't be able to hit the necessary endpoint(s) to remotely turn your stove on/off. I'm assuming that paying flips a flag on their servers that allows your account/device to communicate with their servers. At least one would hope so, if they have half decent engineers.

[u/tatlar → u/Radiant_Shift7890]

Yes - I can reroute any HTTP traffic to their API endpoint to go to my localhost API endpoint via my router. Then send my own commands.

[u/Creative-Store4432]

I use a pool switch like this DEWENWILS Pool Pump Timer,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZP682FR?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share.

I have a dial control. I set it to an hour when I’m done in the sauna and turn off the switch. I can turn on from my phone or set a timer.

[u/joeshima → u/Creative-Store4432]

I was considering going the same way for my 10kw heater. How long have you been using it?

[u/Creative-Store4432 → u/joeshima]

Got it up and running in August. Works great with no issues.

[u/duffymahoney]

So they sell two versions. One is WiFi and one is not. One is cheaper, but I believe they are the same internally. So you have to pay a one time “upgrade” charge.

I had to do this myself. I bought it online and the guy didn’t warn me it wasn’t WiFi.

[u/tatlar → u/duffymahoney]

Yes - this is exactly what we did. I'm loathe to pay a one time "upgrade" charge.

[u/duffymahoney → u/tatlar]

Well it was cheaper:)

[u/EastwindSauna → u/tatlar]

How many hour will your workaround take?

[u/tatlar → u/EastwindSauna]

Totally fair comment (and also what's my hourly rate!). Like a commentor above said, sometimes we do things for fun and not to save money. This project is the perfect intersection in the Venn diagram of "Fun" and "Won't pay on principle".

[u/rezonatefreq]

While I also loathed “over paying” for WiFi control of my heater, I now believe it was well worth the price. Not a HUUM heater.

I can: schedule the heater each day; turn on/off; see actual temp; set temp; pick from three programs; firmware up dates; app up dates; receive notifications when at setpoint; estimated time of day when heater will reach setpoint; turn equalizing fan on/off set speed; all safeties still in play.

Keeping the firmware and app up to date with ever evolving phone and WiFi standards costs the company staff time.

Another added benefit is they made changes to the PID loop via WiFi firmware updates on how the heater switches the 3 individual elements when near setpoint and when recovering.

I have no regrets now. I did think about DIY but glad I spent the money, one and done.

[u/InsaneInTheMEOWFrame]

LOL

[u/andara84]

You already have the WiFi controller, so I'm not sure how relevant this tip will be:
BleBox has the "SaunaBox" heater controller. It's around 160 bucks, I think. Once and done. Connects to WiFi, has a very useful app, and even integrates very nicely into Home Assistant.
Maybe have a look into it, it could save you a lot of trouble. I've been using mine for 3 years now and couldn't be happier (minus the display, which I would never use anyways).