Hi everyone,
I would like to introduce my new external free@home integration for Gladys Assistant to you.
This allows devices from the free@home system by Busch-Jaeger / ABB to be integrated into Gladys: turn lights on and off and dim them, operate roller shutters, and use existing wall switches as triggers for Gladys scenes.
The first stable version 1.0.0 has been released. Communication with the System Access Point is exclusively local, without cloud connection and without XMPP.
GitHub and Installation:
What can the integration do?
Lights and Switching Outputs
- Turn lights on and off.
- Set dimmable lights to a specific brightness.
- Turn other consumers on and off at supported switching actors – it doesn’t necessarily have to be a lamp connected.
- Display status feedback from free@home in Gladys.
Roller Shutters and Blinds
- Move up and down.
- Stop an ongoing movement.
- Set a percentage opening position.
- Control the louver opening separately with suitable actuators.
The position display uses 0 % closed and 100 % open. Louvers are also offered as a percentage value, not as a calibrated angle in degrees. Which functions appear depends on the data points that the respective actuator provides via the local API.
Wall and Panel Buttons
Existing free@home buttons can trigger Gladys scenes. This allows devices and functions outside of free@home to be controlled as well.
Depending on the button configuration, for example, on/off, dimming, or roller shutter actions are reported. Even two identical consecutive actions are processed as separate events.
Important: These are the button actions provided by free@home, not a universal raw data interface for pressing, releasing, or double-clicking.
What can you use this for?
A few possible applications:
- Turn off selected lights and consumers when leaving the house.
- Position roller shutters via Gladys scenes at certain times.
- Start an evening or absence scene with an existing free@home wall button.
- Operate devices of other systems already integrated into Gladys with a button.
- Control light and shading together via the Gladys dashboard.
You define the desired automation in your Gladys scenes. The integration provides the supported devices and button events for this.
How does the connection work?
The integration connects to the official local REST and WebSocket API of the System Access Point:
- REST is used to read the configuration and send control commands.
- WebSocket provides ongoing status changes and button events.
No Gladys Plus is required for local communication. The interface and documentation are available in German, English, and French.
Tested and important notes
With real hardware and SysAP firmware 3.5.3, among other things, light switching, dimming including feedback, roller shutter positioning, upward travel, and stop as well as repeated button events as scene triggers were tested.
Not every device or firmware variant is covered. Louver control, the separate downward command, and the other side of the tested button are only simulated and tested so far. Heating functions, further sensor classes, and existing free@home scenes are not yet part of the supported scope.
Additionally, the following applies:
- Some actuators only report their roller shutter position after the end of a trip.
- Missed button events during a connection interruption are not caught up.
- Control commands are not automatically repeated after errors. In case of a timeout, first check the actual device status.
- Do not expose the controller API to the internet. HTTPS with a trusted certificate is preferable; HTTP transmits the API access data unencrypted.
I look forward to feedback and experiences – especially regarding further free@home actuators, buttons, and firmware versions. This way, we can further expand the integration together.