Disassembly and Review: RTL8710CF Meross Wi-Fi Smart Plug & Energy Monitor

Teardown of the Meross Wi-Fi Smart Plug & energy monitor.




This is Australian version, but I've seen this product in several markets.
The device runs custom Meross software, requires different app and integration.
It seems solid, works fine, advertising up to 10A switching, and has an integrated energy monitor, which I always like. It's nice to have fine resolution stats on energy consumption throughout the home!
I might complain that it's unnecessarily bulky (like all devices in this category!)

It disassembles very easily by 4 screws, no clips or anything:


Trying to remove the board, it feels like the board is soldered or fixed in place to the electrical pins sticking out the back:


I wasn't able to remove the board, making it difficult to access the processor:


Which happens to be an RTL8710CF, which seems that it's not yet supported, so I guess the journey ends here.

What can be done to support these Realtek chips? I have many of these devices...

The larger challenge might be breaking out the terminals; it's very cramped! But they did appear to helpfully label TX/RX pads.


I guess I'll just leave this here until we have some way to test on Realtek chips. I have several of these which I can experiment with.

That's a very interesting device, I might have somewhere some WR3's to play with (I must check, I am not sure I remember correctly) so I might get you a build very soon.

To be honest, there is already a 99% ready RTL port for several months already:
https://github.com/openshwprojects/OpenRTL8710BN
I just have to find time to do some final polishing.

But wait, is that a RTL8710BN on this board or a slightly different one?


By the way, is Meross App really not compatible with Tuya? So one can't pair that device with original Tuya app?

The chip clearly appears to have RTL8710CF written on it... I think it's a new chip? I noted another "CF" chip with a different number somewhere else while googling around.

This device is NOT compatible with Tuya directly; you don't pair the device with Tuya or SmartLife app, you use the Meross app, and the advertising material makes a big point of this saying it supports direct/local commands, so they respond faster and when the internet is out.

Hi p.kaczmarek2

p.kaczmarek2 wrote:

To be honest, there is already a 99% ready RTL port for several months already:
https://github.com/openshwprojects/OpenRTL8710BN
I just have to find time to do some final polishing.

how is your polishing ? Anything I could help or contribute?
I got two power switches from a German distributor which is known to sell cheap stuff, so as this good pieces.
A WR2E module from Tuya with the RTL8710BN MCU.
Do you have already a *.bin file I could test with this?

Here are some pictures of one device.



Thanks for replying

I can make it a higher priority for you, just wait until I finish Windows port (for testing) and self-test/one could say "unit test" systems for OBK

p.kaczmarek2 wrote:

I can make it a higher priority for you, just wait until I finish Windows port (for testing) and self-test/one could say "unit test" systems for OBK

Oh, thank you very much. It was not intended to push or to put you under pressure. So when you've got something, I'm willing to test on my device here. So take your time, no hurry.

I've also got a RTL8710CF module, so both platforms will be supported, sooner or later.

Anything new on this? I recently purchased a KP200 in-wall outlet from Amazon hoping that it would have one of the BK chips that I could flash with this software. Unfortunately, it has an RTL8710CF chip. Here's a picture of the purchased package:



There don't appear to be any dedicated pads like some of the chips, but there is pretty good access to the chip and, assuming I can get a pinout, I should be able to track down the correct points to solder to. The device was very easy to disassemble, and here's a picture of the chip:



Thanks,

Bob

Thank you for your patience. I'll let you know once there is a progress. This platform is not too popular. It's almost like you have, I don't know, 1% chance to get RTL instead of ESP/BK.

New guide for those chips:
WBR2, WBR3, WBRU, W701-VA2-CG pinout, datasheet, flashing for Home Assistant