The Sonoff DualR3 () is the latest iteration of Itead’s 2-gang WiFi Smart Switch. It handles 10A per gang for a total of 15A non-inductive load. The device is typically used with the eWeLink app and can be Bluetooth paired to the app during which time the blue WiFi LED indicator alternates in a cycle of 2 short and one long flash and release. If this setup is not completed within 3 minutes the device will exit setup mode – so be sure to get moving once the device is connected to the mains.
Alternatively, long-press (5 seconds) the pairing button to put the DualR3 back into pairing mode. I have to say, the blue light is not very bright – under my desk lighting I could not at first see it. Note reference to Bluetooth – did you notice? Yes, that means there’s an ESP32 inside of this device.
When not pairing the blue WiFi LED sits on, dimly.
NO SONOFFS WERE HARMED IN MAKING THIS BLOG ENTRY
Well, that was easy – I simply told the eWeLink App to connect to a new device, it immediately found device22011d – and that was it. Oh, then the app wanted to know if this was a switch or a motor, I said it was a switch and it correctly identified a 2-channel switch, offering simple on-off control as well as power consumption, scheduling, a timer and a loop timer.
Using the app, I turned on output 1, then output 2 and heard the re-assuring click of the relay in the DualR3 in each case – and also noted a dim red indicator for each output.
There are also contacts for you to add a switch for each output and the design is greatly improved on the unit’s predecessor, the DualR2. I do wish they’d fitted more screw contacts however, as you end up cable splicing, no big deal but it would have been nice to have separate neutrals for the switches and a neutral for each output. Still, overall, a step up.
The device comes with a handy wall bracket which requires 2 (not supplied) screws to mount onto a wall – the DualR3 then simply clips into the bracket. You could also fit the bracket onto a DIN rail.
Power monitoring is welcome – and you can look real-time or historical power consumption (current, voltage, power etc). I do personally wish manufacturers who offer this feature would also use more powerful relays – I mean, really, do we CARE how much power modern LED lighting consumes? Would it not make more sense to keep an eye on the very devices that would be pushing the likes of the DualR3 to or beyond it’s limits, like 2KW+ heating or motor-based systems – i.e. devices that use significant amounts of electricity?
There is a lot of information at https://sonoff.tech/usermanuals and at the time of writing, the R3 is not now included. That extra information online is nice but not essential as the dualR3 is very easy to set up.
If you wish, you can make use of Google Home and Alexa because of the eWeLink App.
Of course, many readers may wish to control the device locally and there is a LAN option. Now, this is new so I’ve not tested it yet but I urge interested readers who use Node-Red to go check this out – https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-sonoff-lan-mode
And here’s the link for the Sonoff DIY page – http://developers.sonoff.tech/sonoff-diy-mode-api-protocol.html
Of course the follow on to that is Tasmota.. well, the DUALR3 should be able to run Tasmota but this device, unlike most other Sonoff devices, uses not an ESP8266 or ESP8285, but as I mentioned above, an ESP32 and it seems Itead may be heading in this direction for their future devices!!! On the PCB, you have of course access to GND, 3V3, TX and RX but it seems GPIO0 has not been brought out (though it seems that GPIO0 has been brought to the physical “button” – so, I’m going to save Tasmota connection for another day.