Interfacing with the OneControl system via CANBUS

[OffToHavasu]

Question - how do you intend on monitoring doors/vents/etc? On our 2021 376THS-R, the Maxxair vents are not integrated into the OneControl setup. I run a RPI with a custom app by Jeremy Gulick that opens the interface up to Apple Homekit. I had a similar desire as you - be able to hit one button or tell siri I am leaving, and everything shuts down. Here are some screenshots of the Scene that I created. Essentially is the last thing I do before we hit the road. This setup works very well.

Depending what kind of backbone you intend to run, but you could ad a zwave element to it and use wireless zwave contacts.

[bob]

I am using RF contact sensors and a Sonoff bridge, connected to Home Assistant. It currently won't close the vents, but I'll get to that eventually.

Which bridge are you using? I'm looking into coachproxy as an example of what I am trying to do

[shaferz]

I am using RF contact sensors and a Sonoff bridge, connected to Home Assistant. It currently won't close the vents, but I'll get to that eventually.

Which bridge are you using? I'm looking into coachproxy as an example of what I am trying to do

RPi 3B+ with Jeremy's RV-Homekit project in a docker container. Network access is via ethernet from the router.

[bob]

RPi 3B+ with Jeremy's RV-Homekit project in a docker container. Network access is via ethernet from the router.

What components are exposed? Does it have to be Ethernet?

[Karp13]

This is what I have been looking for! Been using Home Assistant for 5+ years in a house and want to set it up in my RV as we transition to full time. My Solitude has limited OneControl devices, but I would like to add the lights, at a minimum, to home assistant.

Please keep sharing your progress and any info you can. Will be a great help in getting me and others started.

Thanks for posting your progress.

Nick

[bob]

OK, some progress to report.

I installed the bridge onto the canbus ports on the controller on top of the fridge - unfortunately, I got no messages from the bus at all, despite sending commands from the panel to the hot water heater, liights, etc. I reviewed the settings on my bus controller, and figured they might be related to the bus speed settings, so I copied the config from CoachProxy scripts, and I am seeing the same results. I sent a message to the bus and not only received the message, but also got a message back from the X4 controller - I need to debug and see what I am doing wrong here.

I removed the LCI router, and replaced it with my Pepwave and a mini switch, and I am able to control the RV with the app. I used an SSID that started with MyRV and everything seems to work as it should, I am working to install the LCI app on a tablet, and will see how well that works out. If it works well, then I will replace the wall mounted tablet with one running the app, and call it a day for that at least until I get more control over the system. Once I get the canbus figured out, I will bring everytyhing down and mount it properly on a board to secure it for travel. I will also document it for those who want to do it as well.

BTW: The OnceControl web interface is working as well, even though I do not have the LCI data plan, so I can at least open the webpage remotely and check on/control the system. Incremental steps, for sure

I will continue to work on the CAN bus interface, but I am happy so far to be able to get this far!

[bob]

This is what I have been looking for! Been using Home Assistant for 5+ years in a house and want to set it up in my RV as we transition to full time. My Solitude has limited OneControl devices, but I would like to add the lights, at a minimum, to home assistant.

Please keep sharing your progress and any info you can. Will be a great help in getting me and others started.

Thanks for posting your progress.

Nick

Initially I went with a seperate Pi for the CAN interface, just so I could do what I needed to without having to mess too much with my HA server. Once I get things figured out, I am going to move the CAN bus bridge function to the HA system as well.

More to come!

[bigrobtemp]

I just bought a 376 ths-r and have the one control system. It is incredibly slow as talk about in this thread. I am not as tech savvy as some of you but will still be interested in seeing how you come out. This thing would be so much better if I could use my Ipad and apple home or something that at least was faster than 90's dial up

[bob]

OK, so here is an update from this past weekend:

1. I was able to swap out the LCI router for the Pepwave one. This is important so I can have remote access into the environment.
2. I installed the CAN bridge but was unable to detect any messages, although when I sent one, I got a response from the controller, so I am sure this is a communication settings thing.
   1. I have been reviewing the code from the CoachProxy project, and it looks like it is somthing that can be extremely useful especially since it uses RV-C to MQTT already. I am not 100% sure how this will go looking forwards, but I suspect I will have a combination of HA and Coachproxy.
   2. The Coachproxy project uses a different CAN adapter, so I have ordered one for testing. In a perfect world I can do everything up on top of the cabinet, but I suspect I will be running some wiring to the belly to connect the adapter directly to the X4 controller.
3. The Home Assistant node has been updated and is being installed into the network tomorrow. This will give me some tasks to manage (like waether, forecasts, etc) as well as get myself working again with the RV Lock, RF bridge, etc.
4. I set up ZeroTier VPN so that my home HA instance can monitor the RV HA instance. In this case it is just looking for the MQTT client on the RV instance, and if it gets a LWT message, it flags the RV as down. I will use this method as a way to use the Home HA instance to control the RV, etc.
5. As a way of speeding up the processing of commands, I am trying to install the Lippert App onto an Android tablet, then have it running in Kiosk mode - this should work as a good replacement for the terrible touch screen, as well as open up doors for other things as well,
6. I am hoping to be able to eventually share this configuration with everyone as a docker image - I have no idea how long that would be, however, so don't hold your breath

[bob]

Here are some useful documents I found - as well as a great training resource - https://lippert.thinkific.com/

[bob]

Minor Update: I was able to replace the Lippert Control panel as my primary interface to the system - it is MUCH MUCH more responsive! I added a Kindle Fire table to the network, and added the OneControl app to it. Using a seperate piece of software called "Fully Browser", I am able to force the table to only run the OneControl app (my choice, it doesn't have to - in a future change I will make it multi-function)

Here are the products used:
Kindle Fire8HD - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0794RHPZD
Kindle FireHHS Show Dock - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BNXZDJ3
Fully Broswer (You need the Kindle version) - https://www.fully-kiosk.com/

[OffToHavasu]

Minor Update: I was able to replace the Lippert Control panel as my primary interface to the system - it is MUCH MUCH more responsive! I added a Kindle Fire table to the network, and added the OneControl app to it. Using a seperate piece of software called "Fully Browser", I am able to force the table to only run the OneControl app (my choice, it doesn't have to - in a future change I will make it multi-function)

Here are the products used:
Kindle Fire8HD - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0794RHPZD
Kindle FireHHS Show Dock - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BNXZDJ3
Fully Broswer (You need the Kindle version) - https://www.fully-kiosk.com/

great work! Even we could just swap out the underpowered tablet they use and replace it with something better (as you have done) it's a win. Everything you do here on out is a bonus!

[bob]

great work! Even we could just swap out the underpowered tablet they use and replace it with something better (as you have done) it's a win. Everything you do here on out is a bonus!

Unfortunately, no. The existing tablet is the controller for the whole system - it is the component that sends all the commands to the individual control boards via CANbus. It is the only component you can use to program the system to - without that panel nothing will work.

The architecture of the OneControl system is actually really smart, as I am learning as I start to peel back the layers of the onion. The challenge as I see it is that the system is inflexible when it comes to external components, and I believe that is largely for cross-OEM support and end user simplicity. My personal assumption is that the performance challenges are due to the control panel meeting both the UI as well as the underlying brains. It would require a whole new panel design, at the hardware level, and not simply a faster Android tablet.

I'm going to use this thread as a way to document what I am able to uncover, as well as answer whatever questions I can

[bob]

Here is a video comparison between the stock interface and the add-on

https://youtu.be/debe-zvf_kc

[OffToHavasu]

Amazing! You have me thinking now, since the original display is required to operate, moving it to the basement for redundant controls, and mounting a Kindle where the existing panel is.