Node-RED Lifesmart Gateway Integration

A specialized Node-RED node for integrating with Lifesmart brand local gateways. This node enables communication and control of Lifesmart smart home devices through their local gateway protocol.

Features

• Gateway Discovery: Automatically discover Lifesmart gateways on the local network
• Device Management: Retrieve and control connected smart devices
• Real-time Communication: UDP-based communication with Lifesmart gateways
• Device Control: Send commands to control various Lifesmart devices including switches, sensors, and plugins
• Multi-device Support: Support for multiple device types including:
  • Smart switches (SL_SW_ND series)
  • Blinds/Curtains (SL_CN_IF, SL_P)
  • Human sensors (ZG#HE200_ZB, SL_SC_BM, SL_SC_CM)
  • Smart plugs (SL_OL_3C, SL_OE_W, SL_OL_W)

Installation

Via Node-RED Palette Manager

1. Open Node-RED in your browser
2. Go to Menu → Manage Palette
3. Click on the Install tab
4. Search for geeqee-node-lifesmart
5. Click Install

Manual Installation

1. Navigate to your Node-RED user directory (usually ~/.node-red)
2. Run the following command:

   npm install geeqee-node-lifesmart

3. Restart Node-RED

Node Types

Lifesmart In Node

Receives messages from Lifesmart gateways and devices.

Configuration:

• Port: UDP port to listen on
• Multicast: Enable/disable multicast listening
• Interface: Network interface to bind to
• Output Format: Choose between Buffer, UTF8 string, or Base64

Output Messages:

• msg.payload: Device data or gateway response
• msg.ip: Source IP address
• msg.port: Source port
• msg.ssid: Message type identifier

Lifesmart Out Node

Sends commands to Lifesmart gateways and devices.

Configuration:

• Address: Target gateway IP address
• Port: Target UDP port (default: 12348)
• Multicast: Broadcast/multicast options
• Local Port: Local binding port

Input Messages:

• msg.action: Command type ("gateways", "devices", "control")
• msg.args: Command arguments (for control actions)
• msg.ip: Target IP (overrides node configuration)
• msg.port: Target port (overrides node configuration)

Usage Examples

1. Gateway Discovery

// Send gateway discovery command
msg.action = "gateways";
return msg;

2. Device Discovery

// Get all devices from gateway
msg.action = "devices";
return msg;

3. Device Control

// Control a smart switch
msg.action = "control";
msg.args = {
    idx: "gateway_id",
    me: "device_id", 
    type: "P1",
    val: 1  // Turn on
};
return msg;

Message Types

Gateway Search Response

• msg.ssid: "lifesmart_gateway_search"
• msg.payload: JSON string containing gateway information

Device List Response

• msg.ssid: "lifesmart_device_search"
• msg.payload: JSON string containing array of devices with formatted information

Device Types Mapping

| Device Code | Type | Description | |-------------|------|-------------| | SL_SW_ND* | switch | Smart switches (1-3 gang) | | SL_CN_IF, SL_P | blind | Curtain/blind controllers | | ZG#HE200_ZB, SL_SC_BM, SL_SC_CM | humansensor | Motion/presence sensors | | SL_OL_3C, SL_OE_W, SL_OL_W | plugin | Smart plugs |

Protocol Details

The node communicates with Lifesmart gateways using a proprietary UDP protocol:

• Port: 12348 (default)
• Format: Binary protocol with JSON payload
• Authentication: MD5-signed requests with timestamp
• Discovery: Broadcast "Z-SEARCH" command

File Structure

node-red-lifesmart/
├── geeqee-lifesmart.js      # Main node implementation
├── geeqee-lifesmart.html    # Node configuration UI
├── package.json             # Package configuration
├── locales/                 # Internationalization
│   └── zh-CN/
│       └── geeqee-node.json # Chinese translations
└── readme.md               # This file

Building Package

To create a distributable package:

tar -zvcf lifesmart.tgz package/

License

ISC License

Support

For issues and feature requests, please refer to the project documentation or contact the maintainer.

Version History

• v2.0.0: Current version with enhanced device support and improved protocol handling