B2B Automations Visit in Sonoff China and B2B Safety Standards

It has been a very fulfilling week for us in B2B Automations.

Our COO, Noel Payot Jr., met with the ITEAD team and gave

us a tour of some areas of the plant. They also revealed their exciting roadmap as well. New features such as LAN mode on all its models, LED Strips and Black series switches for those who want more colorful designs will soon be available. Apart from Sonoff, we will also reveal why our Sonoff products haven't been out in the market yet.

Sonoff LAN-mode in all its model will soon be released in the market. Currently, only 1-gang, single devices have a LAN-mode functionality. LAN-mode is a feature in Sonoff that allows you to control your appliances even when the internet is down. As long as the wireless connection is up, just switch to LAN-mode through your ewelink app and your Sonoff devices are still controllable.

Have you ever wondered if Sonoff will only offer white switches forever? Being the proactive Sonoff, they are soon releasing their black series models. Plus, they will also be offering LED strips. For the artistic and adventurous individuals, these two additions in the Sonoff line-up will be deemed useful especially for emphasizing certain areas in your house such home theaters, bedrooms.

Only your imagination can limit the usage of the LED strips and the black colored devices. 

It is a month now since we have not introduced new products in the market and we haven't restocked our inventory yet. There are 2 underlying reasons to these;

1) Sonoff's global demand has really ramped up and what used to be a week of preparation is now

taking a month to fulfill and release from their factory.

 2) We have taken a safety approval from the government and this is now in its final process. Only in

this way can we guarantee that all our products are safe to be used in the market. This is to ensure that the products sold by B2B Automations are legal and safe to use. We do not want that any of our sold products can harm anyone or damage any property. More than profits,  the safety of our clients and resellers, the people who have been there from the beginning and who continue to support and believe in us are our main concern.

Sonoff and B2B Automations continue to grow by leaps and bounds and the main reason for its growth is you, our loyal customers who believe in us. In return, we would like to show our gratitude by providing more good news in the coming weeks. News that would make B2B Automations your source of the latest in IOT and home automation in the Philippines.

More pictures of our trip to Sonoff China.

Sonoff Touch or Sonoff T1 - Which one should you buy?

The Sonoff US T1 and the Sonoff Touch have a lot of similarities in aesthetics and design but there are a couple of notable differences in its functionalities, physical layout and the price.

The Sonoff US T1 is both RF and Wifi enabled while the Sonoff Touch only has a Wifi functionality.To use the RF functionality, a Sonoff 433Mhz programmable remote is required that can provide an additional comfort and dual control through both your phone and the remote. However, both switches can be controlled through LAN during an event where the internet is unstable by just switching to LAN mode. 

The Sonoff US T1 design is vertically aligned while the US Touch has a horizontal placement. If you can see in the figure, the T1 model's Sonoff and the wifi logo display are both upright when the US T1 switch is placed vertically. As for the US Touch, the upright position of the Sonoff and the wifi logo is upright when it is placed in the wall horizontally. As for which one is better is just a matter of personal preference since both can be installed with the current utility box commonly available in the Philippines.

You're probably not decided yet on which one to buy, right? This 3rd factor might help you. The price disparity between the Sonoff T1 and the Sonoff Touch is significant. The retail price of the Sonoff Touch is cheaper buy 40 percent compared to the Sonoff T1. However, our latest research observation indicated that Sonoff is increasing its Sonoff Touch price and we also don't know until when will this huge price difference remain the same. 

So which one do we recommend to purchase? Although the Sonoff T1 has the RF remote control functionality, which is very applicable in the Philippines because of its unstable internet services, switching to LAN mode would still allow you to control your light switches through your phone. Having the 433 Mhz remote is a plus but it also entails an additional cost, a minus in your budget. By purchasing the Sonoff Touch, you can almost buy 2 devices for the price of a single Sonoff T1 switch. 

Interested to buy a Sonoff Touch, click on this link.
If you need an installation video, just click here. The model in the video is EU but the installation procedure is the same for the US Touch.
If you're still thinking about buying the Sonoff T1, here is the link as well.
Finally, a quick reference page  for all the Sonoff products. 

Sonoff US Switches: Made for existing houses and buildings

With the new US T1 switches just released during the 3rd quarter of 2018, there were pros and cons that we would like to share. The Sonoff T1 US switch is a standard size switch made for the US market but can be utilize in the Philippines as well. It's base plate is not laying flat to the wall and Sonoff was very quick to address this. Finally, just like any IOT switch, an additional line is still needed which requires an experienced electrician.  

The new US T1 switch is designed for the US market. The Philippines' utility boxes are manufactured based on the US standard. Thus, the US T1 switch can easily replace an existing conventional switch already installed in a wall. There is no need to replace an existing utility box.

Despite having a US standard design, the baseplate of the switch does not lay flat on the wall.

Upon installation, you will see a small gap between the wall and the switch. Sonoff had already  had made improvements in this. Applause to Sonoff for quickly taking action on this.

Like any IOT wall switch, an additional line is required to power on the switch. With conventional switches, the toggle is only a point of contact to turn the lights on and off and the switch itself doesn't have to be powered up. Since Sonoff is an electronic device, an additional line is required to power it. This will require pulling an additional wire into the utility box. We would highly advise that an experienced electrician be hired to add this wire to avoid accidents and injuries.

The new US T1 switch despite its early release on the 2nd half of 2018, has a very stable and fairly good design. Sonoff was also very quick in their design improvement base on their first release.  LIFE and PROPERTY SAFETY is a number one priority and it important that an electrician do the replacement of an existing conventional switch.  As always, B2B Automatons is a company dedicated to innovate Filipino lives through technology. We hope that this becomes a valuable resource for everyone.

To know more about its installation, just click on the link.

Thinking of purchasing one, just click on this link and it will direct you to our store.

US T1 1-gang

US T1 2-gang

US T1 3-gang

Sonoff B1 Dimmable RGB Bulb: It's effect on you and the environment

Although there are plenty of smart bulbs available in the market, the Sonoff B1 bulb stands out really well.
It is cheap compared to the ones available. It has plenty of home applications and it is environment friendly.
You might think that is expensive at first but as time goes by, the savings and contribution you have for the future
is substantiated. Below are the reasons why. 


It is cost-effective .  It is averagely priced at 800 pesos and the maximum lifespan of an LED bulb would last for 50,000 hours.
On a usage of 10 hours per day, that would equate to 13.7 years.
However, we must also take into consideration that there are factors that can lower the life expectancy of the LED bulbs: heatsink, capacitors and the environment. Comparing it to regular light bulbs, LED bulbs are still worth an investment.

It has plenty of applications at home. The Sonoff B1 bulb has a preset setting of rest, reading, party and casual. The settings can be manually set as well based on the user's preference. There is also a timer feature that can be set which can serve
as a reminder for you to go to sleep and to wake up. It can also be remotely controlled. So when you left it on, just look at your phone
and just click the off button. That will save you money and help lessen your carbon footprint.

Which adds to the last part, that it is also environment friendly. LED bulbs can reduce energy of up to 80% without brightness or quality loss compared to a 60W incandescent bulb. This means, that you are using lesser electricity which either came from burning coal or burning fossil fuels that heavily contributes to carbon production that lead to one of the biggest crisis of our time, climate change. Instead of buying those regular bulbs think about the next generation and the waste you can prevent just by investing in a Sonoff B1 bulb.

There are plenty of smart LED bulbs in the market and Sonoff stands on a class of its own. It is cost effective, has plenty of home applications and environment friendly. So next time you think of replacing your bulbs at home, consider buying a Sonoff B1 bulb. Not only will you save money but at the same time you also contibuted to help in fighting climate change.

Classic and Stylistic Sonoff T1 UK Switches

   The UK Type switch might not be the standard size switch in the Philippines but it is not inferior to the US type models. When Sonoff started its home automations lineup, the UK markets and EU markets were the first two markets where Sonoff launched its products. Its aesthetics bring in a luxurious feel compared to the common US switch. Lastly, UK Junction boxes are not available in the Philippine market but B2B Automations can provide the junction box in every UK switch that B2B Automations sells.

   When Sonoff first launched its home automations system, it was first introduced in the United Kingdom and the European Union. In manufacturing, the longer a product gets tested in the market the more bugs can be found and fixed. This means that its firmware is more stable and reliable consequently resulting to a superior product. Working in a technology company that creates its own system and tools, I can easily conclude that these models are the basis of what is the current Sonoff US type switch.

   Compared to the US switch, the aesthetics of the UK type switch is flat and plain but mysteriously sophisticated. This would probably be because its base perfectly sits flat to the wall. Its look is unique, unlike the standard US size  which is always rectangular. The Sonoff UK Type switch is of a perfect square shape, its size is not big but just enough to be seen and not be a center of distraction on any wall. When you are using a wall paper or any wall with designs, the UK type switch is highly recommended.

   B2B Automations always get comments that it is difficult to find UK junction boxes in the Philippines and so we have provisded a junction box on every UK type switch that B2B Automations sell. You will no longer have to worry about where to buy them but instead just be excited on when they can be installed to your wall.

   In a country predominated by the US standard switches, the UK type switch is a very good alternative. Considering that Sonoff used the UK and EU type switches as its foundation for its wall outlet, it is superior to the US type model. If clients are building new establishments or adding switches on new locations, I would recommend to use the UK type switch as they are more reliable, luxurious and its junction boxes had been provided by B2B Automations already. All then, that you will have to think about is to tone down your excitement and get ready to have your life innovated by technology.

Interested in buying the Sonoff T1 UK Type switches, below are the link sto our page:

Sonoff T1 UK 1-gang
Sonoff T1 UK 2-gang
Sonoff T1 UK 3-gang

Below is the video as well for its setup and installation:

Sonoff T1 UK Setup and Installation

Convert your favorite bulb into your favorite therapy bulb

          First, I would like to introduce the Sonoff B1 bulb. It is a multi-functional, multi-feature bulb that can be controlled through the ewelink app. It is also easy to setup. It is almost a perfect bulb except for one limitation: personal light preference. As an alternative for users who want to keep their preferred regular bulbs and automate them then the Sonoff Slampher is a very good choice. To provide some comparisons, below are some basic information regarding the difference and similarity of a Sonoff B1 bulb and of a Sonoff Slampher.

         The Sonoff B1 bulb is a 6W LED color changing bulb which is controllable through the ewelink app. All the color-range from red, green, blue, etc can be set from the app and the color intensity can be varied based on its color temperature and brightness. The color temperature can be set from cold to warm and the brightness from 1% to 100%, which is equivalent to a 60W incandescent bulb. There are also 4 preset scenes for dimming the bulb which is: rest, reading, party and casual. It is suitable on a small concentrated area for leisure and work.

        The Slampher, on the other hand, is a light bulb holder that allows any light bulb with an E27 screw base be remotely controlled. The E27 type is the regular-size of the light bulb commonly available in the Philippines. Whenever you have a favorite bulb and you can't find an automated bulb as a replacement because they don't meet your preferences or they might be too expensive, the Slampher is the alternative. Imagine turning your favorite room lamp into an automated one that allows you to turn your lamp on and off on a certain time of the day and night while enjoying the same light and the enhanced experience through the additional convenience of having it automated. You'll definitely fall in love with your bulb more. 

          There are lots of applications for the B1 Bulb and Slampher. In my own personal experience, I use it as a light alarm in my bedroom to wake me up everyday. Compared to a sound alarm, having a light alarm makes my morning easy, light and calm. It mimics the way how the sunlight reach my eyes and naturally wakes me up. As a result, it allows me to start my day relaxed and calm which becomes a source of leverage for my hectic day. Plus, I don't even have to worry whether or not I forgot to turn off my lamp before I left for work as it is scheduled and I can see its power status through the app.

                I hope that you would be excited to try both product and enjoy the benefits of having an automated light. Not only does it make your life easy it can also be a source of stillness and calm throughout the day. 

To get the B1 bulb and the slampher, just click on the link below: 

Sonoff B1 bulb

Slampher

For more information on how to setup the devices I have attached the Youtube links as well.

To Setup a B1 Bulb:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBUtXQ8N4Cw

To Setup a Slampher:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNmQB2N0qCQ

How Sonoff Philippines began in Japan

I am Alvin Suemitsu, a happily married Filipino Japanese who grew up in the Philippines and who currently lives in Japan. I am a network engineer, systems administrator, infrastructure manager, plant capacity planner, manufacturing analyst and a serial entrepreneur. I had major IT projects from different institutions ranging from financial trading institutions, technology companies, famous fashion brands, etc. I built the first data center of Tesla in Tokyo, built the call center of Crocs in Tokyo, built and integrated Credit Suisse, Aberdeen and Nomura’s Trading System and various other projects. I believe I was born for technology and it is my mission in life to share it to society and make a dent in the world.

I saw how technology helped Japan with their daily lives and how they had utilized (Kata) and constantly improved it (Kaizen) to create an almost perfect society. Without technology, the Japanese society would not be as efficient as they are now. Japanese love technology and it is very part of their culture.

I also saw how the backbone network evolve from 10 Mbps into what it is now. As more bandwidth became available to the public, the cloud and Internet Of Things was born. As a result, local control panels are no longer required to run our automation but just host them in the cloud. Services like AWS, Google and the likes can host Sonoff almost everywhere and anywhere. As long as there is internet and the cloud services is reachable between your phone and the Sonoff devices, you will have control over your automation system.

As Social Media improved and the network technology in the Philippines became better , I thought of bringing the same technology to the Philippines. This is why I started Sonoff in the Philippines (Sonoff Philippines). Through our technology company, B2B Automations and its founders of Global IOT Experts, Automation Veterans and Security Specialist, we will help in innovating our beloved country into a modern one.

My hope is that Sonoff, with the help of our highly skilled B2B Automation Engineers will be able to innovate your life through technology and consequently allow you to live your life to the full and allow you to just do the things that really matters most. Lastly, to the people who would use Sonoff to think more of using it for further innovation, here is one of my favorite quote from Rob Siltanen. The same quote used by Steve Jobs. I hope you will find a community here and that we can help each other through Sonoff and other life innovating movements.

“Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

― Rob Siltanen

Indirectness and Conformity

Japan is a country where speaking directly and being confrontational is not a norm. Since not all people speak directly, a lot of misunderstanding could happen.

For instance, when I'm having a meeting with a Japanese group in Japanese, I sometimes get confused which is the current subject being referred to because the Japanese language can be constructed without mentioning a topic after it was conveyed once. This kind of situation creates a lot of stress, worries and unnecessary trouble that could have been avoidable if people were confrontational and direct.

Since people are non-confrontational, there is a high possibility of gossiping. People loves to talk about uncertain things and they love to talk about it with the same non-factual people. Through gossips, unconfirmed information when repeatedly discussed would lead people to believe what is not yet confirmed or false to be true. Which is most probably the same in other cultures and not only in Japan.

As a result, I had realized that there are a lot of voices running through my head on what might others think about me. Initially, this created a lot of stress and burden since people here would not want to have any bad portrayal about them. Things are tough as there is this tendency to please a non-existing figure and an atmosphere of paranoia that could cause people to just conform.

On the positive side of being indirect,  it make reprimands or statement less offensive. It can also avoid hurting other people's feelings and pride. This also creates an external-image of a peaceful and quiet environment. As I got used to it, I realized that I no longer can withstand noisy and loud places. And of course, noisy and loud people. Slowy, my preference for solitude, nature, spending quality time with the family and with real friends had developed. This kind of environment really helps in self-discovery which would yield to contentment and happiness.

Both sides, like any culture have pros and cons. Being direct and non-confrontational can lead to happiness but can also create a lot of stress. So how can we become happy? By taking out the stress of not caring what others think and just focus on who we are and what we can give to society without expecting any returns.

After living in Japan for more than a decade

It has been 11 years since I left Davao. After leaving home for so long, I started to wonder what does it really feels like to be truly back home. Recently, a desire of returning had been growing inside myself. Whenever I pay attention to this desire,  questions also arise; where is my home, is my home in Japan or in Davao?

I would define it in this expression "Home is where the heart is". Where is my heart? It is with my loved ones in Davao, and it is also in japan;  I love the environment, the character of the people, my job and the opportunity of continuous learning and improvement; Japan’s way of life.  So where is home? Until I get another definition of home, my answer is both.

Thanks to Nikkei Jin Kai for the picture