Grid Connect tips, tricks and help

[CSParnell]

Hi all,

I thought it may he good to have a feed where we could share any tips and tricks to do with any of the Grid Connect Range being Arlec, Deta, Verve, Orion.

I am learning from trial and error and really just accident so sharing with others and sharing back we may be able to create some good learning information for us all.

Please post below starting with what the trick is as the title then how to do so as the body of information.

Carl 

[JacobZ]

Hi @EmJr,

Allow me to tag @CSParnell to see if he has any ideas on how to get your camera working as you'd like.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information on Grid Connect or Orion's websites that would be helpful in answering your questions.

Grid Connect questions are usually best directed to their technical support who can be contacted on 1300 267 168 in Australia and 0800 003 329 in New Zealand.

I have emailed your question to them and will update you when I have a response, however, it may be easiest if you give them a call when they reopen tomorrow as you have all the information at hand to explain what you are trying to achieve.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[CSParnell]

@EmJr 

I thought you could set it up though Scenes with a motion detection as a trigger and an event record or continuous record as an event?

Or similar!!!? 

This utilities the same camera to trigger a record state rather than another camera or PIR device to trigger it. 

I don't see why this shouldn't work. Let me know. Cheers Carl 

 

[EmJr]

@CSParnell  I want to use a separate sensor because by the time the camera starts recording based on its own detection of motion it's often too late to see what triggered it. In my case the only useful camera position also means a person walking up the driveway is moving toward the camera rather than across its field of view, which makes detection even slower. Using a sensor or camera located closer to the street as a remote trigger for a camera near the house would allow the recording to begin a few seconds sooner and hopefully catch vision of someone walking up the driveway rather than just of the now-empty space they were in when they were detected 10 seconds earlier. 

The problem is that the outdoor camera I currently have doesn't seem to have any form of "start recording" option to be triggered in a scene or automation (see screenshots below). My indoor camera does, but I don't want to buy a random assortment of outdoor cameras just to see if they can do it too once connected to the app. Reading the documentation would be much cheaper.

Indoor camera options      Outdoor camera options

[w0mbat]

Hi EmJr,

"Proper" security cameras actually record continuously to some sort of buffer memory and there is a setting to choose the number of seconds prior to them being motion triggered that is kept as part of a permanent recording on a hard disk. I think you are trying to deal with the lack of this facility. Maybe there is a Grid Connect (or other branded but made by Tuya) camera that does have this ability. Generally, anything made by Tuya will work with the Grid Connect App.

As for the indoor/outdoor rating of components, I actually have found you can get away with using indoor equipment outdoors as long as it is reasonably protected from direct rain and obvious water entry points are covered with tape. This might open up some possibilities.

Ian

[CSParnell]

@EmJr 

That's the issue with the devices they are not control developed and manufacturered like brands like Swann, Hikvision, Vivotek, etc. 

Grid connect are reskinned Tuya and Tuya can use many manufacturers and then flash their software over it.

So it seems you are right it seems you don't have an option to trigger record on your model of outdoor camera.

What I do find interesting is you have Humanoid Filtering???????

So Ameca won't or will be detected??

 

[EmJr]

I would really prefer not to have her turn up unexpectedly on my doorstep, so let's not experiment in case she gets ideas.

The camera is significantly better at detecting me than it is at detecting my car when the setting is On. It will record me walking from (near) my front door to the car and getting inside, then the next recording will show me getting back out an hour later with bags of shopping. It completely misses the car leaving and returning.

[MitchellMc]

Hi @EmJr,

The Grid Connect team will be reaching out to you directly to provide assistance on your feature request.

Please let us know how you go.

Mitchell

[MitchellMc]

Hi @EmJr,

Many thanks for your patience.

Your automation can be achieved with plug cameras only not the battery-operated ones. For outdoor, the Orion Grid Connect Smart 3MP Outdoor Pan and Tilt Security Camera would be suitable as it has the record switch option.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[EmJr]

Thank you for tracking down the info.

A difference between mains and battery powered firmware makes sense (but it does put a crimp on my plans).

[stevesmith2107]

Afternoon all.  First up - a quick call out to the folks that have driven this thread.  It is a fantastic repository for folks like me who are just setting out on their home automation journey.

I am after a set of Grid Connect, solar powered, fairy lights for Christmas decorations (decorating a couple of trees, etc.).  I can see the Arlec Smart 800 LED Bud Lights Grid Connect Wi-Fi Controlled Indoor Outdoor Deco - which looked promising, but they low voltage (with a transformer).

Anyone came across anything of interest? 

Edited to add:  Also - anyone came across an RF transmitter compatible with Grid Connect?  Seen this one on eBay - Arlec WiFi RF Transmitter Self Learning Grid Connect Universal Remote Controller - just wondering if anyone has any experience of it (it appears to have poor reviews).  Note - doesn't seem to be currently available at Bunnings.

Thanks in advance for any advice shared.