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The Tuya Bluetooth device cannot be connected via WiFi to a router, it is usually controlled directly from the phone. This is quite inconvenient, because then we cannot create scenarios and we cannot control the equipment remotely. Fortunately, there is one way around this problem, and that is to use the Tuya gateway .
We will need a Tuya gateway supporting Bluetooth , although usually one is bundled along with Zigbee. You need to search for something with the keyword "Tuya Zigbee Hub Smart Gateway Wi-Fi Bluetooth Mesh Muti-Mode Wireless Bridge" or similar.
In our country, you can buy this for around £100. We get a box like this:
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Extract:
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A USB cable with a type C connector is included. However, there is no power supply - we need to have our own with a current capacity of at least 1A.
It's time to plug in the power supply and get the gateway up and running.
Device used for demonstration .
In order to test the gateway I will need a Tuya Bluetooth device. It could be an LED light, especially as it is easy to get confused and buy a piece with BT instead of one with WiFi. Sometimes there can also be such a product mislabelled in the sales offer.
So the topic will be based on this product:
Tuya Bluetooth colour LED light - pairing, interior analysis, construction, schematic .
I've tested it before, pairing it with my phone over Bluetooth, but it's not ideal....
Pairing with the Tuya app .
A button on the case is pressed. In the Tuya app, you don't even have to select the device type, the app finds the gateway itself straight away:
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We enter the details of our WiFi:
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We wait a moment:
We wait for a moment.
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The app is bothering us about notifications, but this is hardly relevant now:
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After a while we are already in the gate. Interestingly, the light I had paired via Bluetooth (but unplugged) already appeared by itself at the gateway. The Tuya app remembers it...
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Now I have her on the main panel and on the gateway at the same time:
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Just to be sure, I turned off Bluetooth:
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Time to test the controls:
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Sometimes the light does not respond immediately, but it is fine, it works:
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Out of curiosity, I de-energised the gate while controlling the lamp:
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The light has lost connection, the gateway appears as 'offline' and the phone asks for BT to be switched on.
How do I connect a new device to the Bluetooth gateway? .
As far as I can see, everything happens automatically. Since the gateway is paired with our app when we add a device we have the option to use it:
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In addition, there is also the option to add from within the gateway itself:
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Bluetooth devices from the gateway versus Tuya scenes .
Another issue is Tuya's scenes/automations. If we pair a Bluetooth light with a gateway, will it work in scenes?
I have prepared a simple 'tap to run' effect is called blink, which simply turns the light on, waits a second and turns it off:
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We test:
Works properly.
Summary Summary.
Pairing and configuration proved to be seamless. Everything went smoothly. The app continuously 'embraces' whether we have a gateway connected or not, if the gateway is not online it asks for Bluetooth, and when it is available it uses it. Scenarios/scenes/automations (whatever you prefer) also work through this gateway. Adding new equipment is straightforward.
The only thing I haven't tested yet is how the gateway will behave if there are, for example, 5 such LED lights, but that might be in a separate topic, I need to buy some more. Or maybe you guys know?
In any case - a useful thing. A little later I will show the interior and the change of firmware of such a gate.
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