Sonoff ZBMicro – Zigbee USB Smart Adaptor

Last week this turned up in the post here in Spain by CTT courier so I thought I’d write a few lines about it.

Typically, mains powered USB Zigbee devices act as routers (I’d call them repeaters but never mind). As regular readers know, I use Sonoff a LOT – but I only use their APP when forced by circumstance, so for Zigbee I use their inexpensive Zigbee dongle as the central Zigbee coordinator (my thinking says router but again never mind) in my Zigbee2MQTT-based network for my home control and a variety of mains powered Zigbee devices as “routers” – so I’m eager to know if this gadget functions as a “router” in the Zigbee mesh.

Well, as you can clearly see below, it DOES. I just called it zbmicro in the end.

So what is this? Well, its a simple Zigbee device, USB in, USB out, manual override/training button which Zigbee2MQTT says is “unsupported” even today on launch date – yet clearly it IS supported as I can turn it on and off from the Zigbee2MQTT control page as well as (obviously) it’s own on-off button.

I guess I’ll have to update Zigbee2MQTT if I want rid of that “unsupported” message.

If anyone has wall sockets with USB, it could be handy to adopt the odd one of these just to make on-off remotely programmable USB available while extending Zigbee coverage as a side-benefit. I just wish people would clarify “USB” as it means so many things these days. I VERY much doubt this device will put out QC3 high voltage charging even when connected to a QC3 outlet – perhaps Sonoff could clarify here.

Coupled to cheap AliExpress USB nightlights, I see a future for these devices if sufficiently inexpensive, providing programmable night-lighting – that’s where my Node-Red BigTimer comes in. Reading the spec, they can handle 4.6A MAX at 5.2v. Good. I also note that by default when disconnected then reconnected they retain the last on-off status. No doubt in eWeLink that can be altered but as yet, not in Zigbee2MQTT.

I received a note from Sonoff to say that the device has just been updated but as I’m not using eWeLink to talk to the device – the instruction doesn’t apply.

I temporarily tried to pair with eWeLink forgetting I’ve no Zigbee coordinator currently attached to eWeLink so nothing happened after that helpful startup screen and certainly no indicator light.

However, this new Sonoff USB device is happily working with Zigbee2MQTT despite the “unsupported” message so I’m happy. I’ll update Zigbee2MQTT later. The on-off button on the device works, Zigbee2MQTT can turn it on and off.. no problem.