[PLUG-TALK] Emporia VUE 3 boo hoo

[Keith Lofstrom]

Keith Lofstrom <keithl at keithl.com> writes:
   Keith> I spent Tuesday attempting to configure the stock Emporia VUE
   Keith> 3 that I purchased in December.

On Wed, Feb 04, 2026 at 06:12:24AM -0800, Russell Senior wrote:
> Have you found this:
> 
>   https://emporia-vue-local.github.io/docs/tutorial/intro/

Good point.

Yes I have.  The two issues for me are (1) fixturing the
contacts and (2) making a mistake and bricking the device.
I hope to learn together with others.

The contacts on the board are for manufacturing programming
and test.  That probably works with a production line
fixture with a large array of pogo pins that contact MANY
places on the circuit board.  The programming contacts are
NOT robust for separate "mechanical" attachment by us ...
or for repeated reattachment, when new hobby code emerges.

Fixturing is an opportunity for collaboration; I imagine a
small plastic 3D printed aftermarket "clip" with embedded
pogo pins, clamping securely and PERMANENTLY onto the
circuit board.  A 3D printer owner can make many those.

That fixture might connect to a small board with USB C
socket pointed outside the case ... maybe through a small
edge cutout on the front cover, just in front of the line
power connector on the "left side" of the Emporia Vue box.
I can design circuit boards, but others are better at it.

That kludge would act as a cheesy "interlock", keeping
dummies like from trying to reprogram the VUE while it is
line-powered (and lethal) through the power connector. 

Also facilitating future upgrades when Emporia VUE hackers
write new versions of the code, or version reversions when
their code sucks.

----

If a few of us collaborate, we can advise each other,
discover more, and not make the same mistakes twice.  

Perhaps pool some money and subsidize a free VUE for the
owner of the 3D printer, or help other PLUG hackers install
their own VUEs in their own potentially-lethal load centers.

Another advantage of the collaboration is that we can pool
some funding for a professional electrician to advise us and
inspect our results.  The electrician will soon learn the
mistakes that bit twiddlers make when attempting hardware.

I bought way too much plenum grade Velcro for this project
(Russell has most of it) and used only a tiny length of my
big spool of CMP plenum-rated CAT6 cable ...

... that I keep around for other projects ... including
no-no's like routing CAT6 through HVAC ducts.  Note to
future electrician collaborator: I would NEVER EVER EVER
route CMP CAT6 through a home duct. :-)

Many PLUG members are renters, but there are enough current
(heh) and future "homeowners" (=mortgage payers) among us
to make a collaborative group project feasible.

Sadly, not designing a VUE hardware replacement; that
would require UL approval, necessary for home-owner
insurance coverage.  The collaborative group might also
learn about that; actual learning from experts, rather
than relying on pompous statements by blowhards like me.

Or worse, non-self-aware blowhards; PLUG has those too.

-- 
Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com