The Aqara T1 Valve Controller is an affordable motorized water shutoff valve whose mounting bracket is widely regarded as its weakest component. Many Amazon reviewers cite the included bracket as the device’s Achilles heel, while users in the Reddit r/Aqara community as well as Aqara forums frequently discuss the need for a more robust mount design. Details regarding the T1 can be found here.
The Tuya Valve Control has a mount that is eerily similar to the Aqara. Buyers report that this product has a solid design with the exception of the metal mounting bracket. Why not create a mount that can be used for both products? I did. Next might be the Dome Water Main Shut-Off valve which appears to have the same body bracket. There's a series of comments about the Dome and similar products suffer the same mount concerns as the Aqara and Tuya.
Rigorous tests for both using a Home Assistant script that opens and closes these valves at random intervals between 1 and 3 minutes would be a logical next step. Let's see which one dies first. Perhaps I should add the Bulldog to the mix?
This project provides the Aqara and Tuya controllers with a sturdy mount that:
- Attaches to the valve body and not the pipe. This is consistent with plumbing best practices.
- Incorporates a C-clamp design that mitigates twisting during operation. This is even more foolproof and customizable than the one offered on the EcoNet Bulldog.
- Fits a large variety of valves.
- Brings the Zigbee-based Aqara and Tuya controllers on par with the Z-Wave-based EcoNet Bulldog at one-third the price.
This repository has the following directories:
src has OpenSCAD source for the T1 mount and HA test scripts for 100 on/off tests
stl contains various .stl files for different valve bodies for both the Aqara and Tuya controllers
doc has installation instructions and other supporting documents (images).
Current valves supported for this project are the Sharkbite 3/4" valves (old and new) but if we follow EcoNet, the following alternate mounting brackets might be next:
- HC2XXL Mounting Kit for Large Valves
- 3/4” Propress Mounting Kit for ¾” Propress Valves
- 1” Propress Mounting Kit for 1” Propress Valves
- 1-1/4” Propress Mounting Kit for 1-1/4” Propress Valves
- 1-1/2” Propress Mounting Kit for 1-1/2” Propress Valves
- HC3PEX0.5 Mounting Kit for Pex B 1/2" Tab Ring Valves
- HC3PEX0.75 Mounting Kit for Pex B 3/4" Tab Ring Valves
- HC3PEX1 Mounting Kit for Pex B 1" Tab Ring Valves
- Other - Send your valve body measurements, a photo, and manufacturer’s make and model information to fpgirard@gmail.com.
