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Hello my dears. .
Today on Elektroda we're doing fries. In this topic, I'm going to test a 'smart' fat-free fryer, the BH-AF2 by BlitzWolf. I will try to pair it on the iPhone with two different mobile apps: BlitzWolf and Tuya, and then I'll take a look inside to assess whether it can be converted for Tasmota, for example. Will there be a WiFi module with ESP8266 inside, or maybe some other? Let's find out!
Purchasing the BH-AF2 .
I purchased the BH-AF2 from one of the websites periodically offering fairly convenient and fast shipping from the Czech Republic. I also bought the product during the period of its price reduction (as a preorder), below is a screenshot of the offer already after the purchase:
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At the time of my purchase, the price was around £325 for me.
This is a greaseless fryer - no oil is used, baking is done by hot air. A healthier and cleaner solution. There is a blower heater inside. .
BlitzWolf offers at least four fryers - two in the Smart version (i.e. with WiFi, controlled via a mobile app available on iOS and Android platforms or touch buttons) and two in the Classic version (without WiFi, with knobs).
This fryer offers a 5L capacity, its power is 1500W.
Below are the promotional graphics:
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This 'knobs' version is the one without WiFi and without the mobile app. Here we discuss, of course, the 'smart' version, i.e. without knobs, with a touch panel.
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That "other brand design - easy to cause misoperation" comment with the picture of the drawer falling out of the strainer is rather odd, given that Blitzwolf's other smart fryer (not the one with the knobs, just a different model) has exactly the same drawer and strainer design!
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Postage, kit, instructions .
I received the parcel 3 working days after ordering (but there was still a weekend on the way). Hand delivery of course, although the courier did not take any signature from me.
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Drawer with tray (it has these heat-resistant elastics on the four edges so that you can more or less align it with the middle of the drawer):
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Rec:
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Instructions (includes information on how to start pairing with the app):
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Of course, you don't need to pair this fryer with a WiFi/app to use it.
Below is a photo of the buttons - but PLEASE NOTE, the fryer has a safety feature and will not turn on without a drawer being inserted!
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When the fryer is in operation, do not obstruct the hot air outlet on the rear of the fryer.
steaming with the BlitzWolf app .
I first tested the product with its manufacturer's app, BlitzWolf.
I already had it downloaded from the Appstore (on iOS; on Android, on the other hand, we download it from Google Play).
Pairing is initiated by pressing the Power button until the WiFi icon starts flashing.
Then, in the app, we add the device from the Kitchen -> Fryer list, enter the SSID/password of our WiFi and confirm the connection.
Unless the app searches for the device beforehand on its own - this happened to me too.
Below are the screenshots:
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Once paired, we can remotely switch the appliance on and off, select one of the pre-defined programmes, change the temperature and operating time as we wish (also during operation) and start and stop baking. We also have a preview of the current baking time:
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In operation:
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And here I have my first objection. Why is 10 minutes displayed as 00:10? It should be 10 seconds. Why is there no preview of the seconds? In the other fryer in the series (BW-AF1) there is, and here there isn't.... .
Automations .
The appliance supports automations/scenarios, so you can create your own baking programmes, even ones triggered, for example, by an external button or voice (Alexa, etc.).
Create automations - setting temperature (for example 145 degrees), time (for example 60 minutes):
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Execution of automation:
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It works - 60 minutes at 145 degrees!
Pairing with Tuya application .
It is generally known that Tuya/SmartLife/eWeLink/BlitzWolf are all clones of one and the same ecosystem, but it is still worth checking.
Is everything the same in the Tuya app?
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In the Tuya app, everything works and looks the same as in BlitzWolf.
Bake fries (zero oil!) .
In this non-fat fryer you can prepare many dishes very well (and healthily), including Chips, but in my opinion only the frozen ones (from the shop) come out good. The only thing you need to do is to time the amount of fries properly and to stir them during baking. Those made from scratch at home from potatoes turn out very poorly.
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Some people advise adding a little oil, but I don't use that at all. We have also tested other foods on this type of fryer (such as frozen fried cheese from the shop) and it is also sensational. In addition, zero dirt, no oil smell, no stains....
Interior of BH-AF2 .
We're primarily interested in accessing the WiFi module and the electronics that control the unit, so we'll just remove the top cover. Simply lever it off with a flathead screwdriver. There are quite a lot of attachments, one by one we remove all of them:
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Inside we can already see the board with the WiFi module (power, ground, TX and RX go to it):
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This module is. WBR3, unfortunately. So no ESP8266, no TYWE3S, no ESP12F.
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Apparently it could be pin-compatible with TYWE3S or ESP12F but it would be a bit of fun to swap it out.
I also see an interesting trick there - LDO 3.3 (LM1117) is right next to the module, in addition there are two more transistors - could it be that they swap the logic levels of the UART signals, as the rest of the fryer is running on 5V?
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In addition to this, we can see the relay and the KP3212DP power supply controller in the depth:
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Quote:..
KP3212 family is a high performance Switch Mode Power Supply Switcher for low power off-line application with minimum components in typical buck solution. This family has built-in high break down voltage MOSFET to withstand high surge input.
Unlike conventional PWM control, there’s no fixed internal clock in KP3212 family to trigger the GATE driver, the switching frequency is changed according to the load condition. The multi mode PWM control is integrated to simplify circuit design and achieve good line and load regulation without audio noise generated. The peak current limit changes according to the real load condition for low standby power in no load.
KP3212 integrates functions and protections of Under Voltage Lockout (UVLO), Cycle-by-cycle Current Limiting (OCP), Output OVP, On-chip Thermal Shutdown, Over Load Protection (OLP), VDD OVP with Auto Recovery Mode Protection, etc.
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Let's have another look at the cover:
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On the top of the PCB we have the signals described. Indeed this section runs on 5V. I wonder why. Here we have a microcontroller (unsigned) that communicates with the WBR3 via the UART. In addition, there is a TM1668 chip which is responsible for controlling the touch buttons and LEDs (also a 7-segment display):
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Quote:..
• Using power CMOS process
• Display mode (10 segments × 7 digits)
• Key scan (10×2bit)
• Brightness adjustment circuit (8-level adjustable duty cycle)
• Serial interface (CLK, STB, DIN, DOUT)
• Oscillation mode: built-in RC oscillation (450KHz+5%)
• Built-in power-on reset circuit
I attach its catalogue note:
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Follow up on the subject - second fryer .
As luck would have it, I also tested a second fryer from this manufacturer - the BW-AF1. I'll soon give a review of it here too, and finally make a comparison as to which is better (in terms of use, and in terms of uploading Tasmota).
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I'll let the secret out now - yes, there is a module with ESP8266 in the BW-AF1. Or at least at the time I bought it I got one (in December). There's always the risk that it will change....
Summary .
I've had time to test both of BlitzWolf's WiFi-controlled fryers (the BH-AF2 from this topic and the BW-AF1), and I've decided that I'm already going to write a verdict here, even though I'm yet to write a review of the latter.
BH-AF2 from this topic has two disadvantages that BW-AF1 does not :
- it is realised on WBR3 (you can't upload Tasmota, no ESP there)
- it has this weird timer that doesn't show seconds (neither on the display of the device, nor in the mobile app, where it's extremely strange, because the timer there is made to display hours and minutes....)
The BW-AF1 has a normal timer (shows seconds, on the app too).
The strong point of the BH-AF2 is probably only the slightly smaller size than the BW-AF1 .
But overall both of these fat free fryers are a revelation, frozen fries made fat free come out great. Zero oil and the taste is better than ever. But this is hardly the forum for such culinary musings....
I will post a topic about the other BlitzWolf fryer (BW-AF1) on the forum soon, and in it I will also upload Tasmota to it and try to pair it with Home Assistant. It will be more fun, soldering cables to the module with ESP, etc... .
One might still wonder whether it makes sense to have IoT in the fryer at all - I already use the time preview myself, or the ability to pause remotely to flip the fries over, but I'm not sure it's that practical.... it's more just a gadget. Useful to a degree, but just a gadget.
I invite you to comment - do you have any experience with this type of 'smart' kitchen product with WiFi? .
Finally, an interesting fact - do you know why one of the fryers is called BW-AF1 and the other BH-AF2? That's because BW stands for BlitzWolf and BH stands for BlitzHome. The manufacturer changed the brand name in the process and so it has remained... .
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