Switchbot Dimensions
Aide Broeckel
That is the way how it is added when you setup the combined curtain in the switchbot app. I had this at first, too. Went to add a group helper in home assistant instead which contains both curtains (so I am able to control both sites separately but also at once)
My guess would be in your rail the rollers may fit inside. But as they touch on slopes, the switchbot may turn at an angle, the rollers may touch the top and get friction there in the reverse direction. If it sits right, the rollers rest on a very small corner. If you are brave, you may consider filing the rollers at an angle to match the slope and fit better (the rollers can be replaced as there are different sizes, I do not know if they can be bought separate if it fails).
Personally, my rail is too slim (and square) so I was considering the Aqara which uses native rollers from the rail, so that would always fit. It would just be a matter of small grip area for the motor roller. I read sanding the bottom could help with that, or sticking door isolation foam at the side of the rail to add grip, but that would not look very nice i.m.h.o.
Downsides of the Aqara is it seems very bulky. Upside I think it integrates better with Zigbee v.s. bluetooth. I have not seen a position slider on the Switchbot, the Aqara has a position slider so it knows about intermediate posistions and can be set to it. I doubt the Switchbot can, unless you time the stop button?
Also not the biggest fan of Zigbee/Thread because it operates on the same frequency as 2.4ghz wifi so would cause interference, and I have a lot of concrete and metal in my house, which the 868.42Mhz Z-wave frequency can penetrate much better than the 2.4ghz zigbee/thread frequency.
Currently, the code to utilize the added speed parameters in the switchbot calls in HA is missing (as per Added QuietDrift support for Curtain 3 by den-mko Pull Request #223 Danielhiversen/pySwitchbot GitHub)
I first bought the Aqara. Pairing was a breeze with ZHA and Sonoff dongle E, but calibrating was hard to figure out. It took a while to realise that once positions are set, you need 5 clicks to reset before you can tripple click to set positions again. Also during calibration, you need to drag the curtain a bit, which made me fear it lost accurate positioning.
Then I bought the Switchbot. I like them way better. I use Esp BLE proxies with active scanning for other purposes too, they immediately picked up the Switchbots. Finding the best fitting rolls for the Switchbot was easy. Switchbot uses a magnet to mark the end position for closing. Though it is visible on the rail, I like the approach because the Switchbot automatically checks calibration with them on every use.
So if I have to advise on a curtain bot, I advise to buy Switchbot. Even if it requires you to find another rail, should yours prove incompatible. The silend (snail speed) mode is an added bonus, should it make its way to HA. But it is said to use way more battery though, so I doubt I would use it on a daily basis.
I would not like to have to replace the rails because it would mean filling the holes in my wall and drilling new holes etc. possible of course but costs extra time (and money)bfor the rails and then I might as well look for motorised rails.
Sorry this is very technical, but I too am anxious to see QuietDrift capability and have been watching the code. It looks like in order for this to work the pySwitchbot library needs to be modified and maybe homeassistant/components/switchbot/cover.py need to be modified.
Smart robot vacuum cleaners have constantly improved for the past few years, with newer models getting more powerful, smarter, and bigger. A perfect example is the Dreamebot L30 Ultra, one of the most innovative robots we've reviewed, but it also comes with the bulkiest base stations we've seen for a robot vacuum cleaner.
While these bigger models are perfect for larger homes, it's hard to imagine them in a small studio apartment. There are less capable models featuring more compact docks, like the Roborock Q8 Max Series. However, the robot is still relatively large, with almost all models on the market measuring about 13 inches.
Thankfully, SwitchBot has developed the world's smallest robot vacuum cleaner, the K10+, the perfect solution for people living in smaller apartments. It's about half the size of most robot vacuums, allowing it to discreetly fit inside your house and clean in narrow spaces where other models can't go. Being so compact doesn't mean the K10+ can't do much, as it also comes with a mopping feature and can even empty itself automatically in its tiny dock.
The SwitchBot K10+ is selling on Amazon and SwitchBot's official store for $500, with only a white color option available. It was discounted at $400, so it's probably best to wait instead of paying full price.
By now, you've probably figured out that the K10+ is smaller than other robot vacuums, but let's look closer at its design. The K10+'s base station is particularly small, measuring only 10.28 x 8.27 x 12.72 inches, making it one of the smallest in self-emptying robot vacuums. Its rectangular design has a large LED light in the middle, separating the white top half from the black bottom.
The bottom part charges the robot and empties its dust bin automatically when it's docked, while the upper part houses the 4L dust bag. The latter is neatly housed under a liftable top panel with a pack of disposable wet wipes and the mopping module. The latter ingeniously latches onto the inner part of the dock's top cover, helping save space while being stored within the robot's station.
As for the robovac itself, it's tiny, measuring about half the size of standard models, with dimensions of 9.8 9.8 3.6 inches. This makes it easier to fit into your interior if you live in a small apartment and allows it to clean in tight spaces where other models can't go. Despite its smaller measurements, the K10+ still comes with everything you'd expect from a robot vacuum cleaner, including physical control buttons and a LiDAR dome on top, sensors around it, a bumping board at the front, and the regular wheels, sensors, and brushes at the bottom.
Like most robot vacuums, the K10+ has a top panel covering the dust bin and HEPA filter. It's maintained in place thanks to magnets, but fully detaches from the robot's body when you need to access the dust bin and pull it using its handle, which you only need to do if you're replacing the HEPA filter.
The K10+ comes with a single side brush and a rubberized and bristled brush roller, allowing it to lift and capture dirt from grouts and carpets. Sadly, the mop module needs to be clipped over the brush roller, meaning the K10+ can't vacuum and mop simultaneously. Also, whenever you want to use the robot to mop, you need to take a clean wipe and install it on the module by attaching it using plastic clips, which is quite cumbersome.
Regarding build quality, SwitchBot has done a brilliant job, and the robot and base look and feel durable. The materials are solid, well-finished, and make the overall product very premium, leaving a strong feeling of quality and reliability.
When used for the first time, the K10+ needs to map its surroundings and get acquainted with its environment. The app offers an option to start cleaning and mapping concomitantly. Still, there's a slightly hidden option to perform a quick mapping, which is often a better option as you probably don't want to wait for the cleaning cycle to complete to customize the map.
Talking about the map, the latter is generated quickly, and the K10+ does a good job of representing your home on a map and separating the rooms from each other. The map can be edited to merge or separate rooms, with the option to create virtual walls, no-go zones, and no-mop areas. A great option is also the robovac's ability to handle multiple maps, which is handy if you have a multi-floor apartment or plan to use it in different places
Regarding cleaning options, the K10+ can either mop or vacuum and automatically switches to mop mode when the mop module is installed. Otherwise, it lets you pick from four cleaning modes, from Quiet and Standard to Strong and Max. The settings menu offers a few more customization options, including enabling an automatic suction boost when sensing carpets or a Reduced collision mode.
When it comes to cleaning, the K10+ can start a full cycle or clean only specific rooms or zones according to your preferences. The robot can also be scheduled to clean the whole house or specific rooms or zones, allowing you to fully customize how you want it to run.
Regarding daily usage, the app is relatively simple to use. It offers relevant information about the robot, including its battery percentage and stats about the latest cleaning cycle, including the surface cleaned and the cycle duration. The robot's path is also shown on a map, allowing you to spot areas it may not have been able to clean due to obstacles and which rooms it may not have been able to reach.
Finally, in addition to the app, the K10+ can be operated using physical buttons on the robot and Google Assistant, Alexa, and even IFTTT. There's also an interesting tidbit, which allows you to use SwitchBot NFC tags to start or pause vacuuming, start recharging, or empty the dust bin. SwitchBot will also add Matter support in January 2024 but will require a SwitchBot Hub 2, which is sold separately.
The SwitchBot K10+ comes with a relatively modest suction power of 2,500Pa. While this may not seem like a lot, it's more than enough given its size and allows it to vacuum efficiently. Its rubber brush comes with nylon bristles, allowing it to reach deeper into grouts and crevices to clean carpets more efficiently.
The overall cleaning result is good on hard floors, especially for normally soiled floors. The robot's built-in ventilation system may blow some dirt away while it cleans, making a second pass a safer option to return to dust-free floors. The results are also convincing on thin rugs, but the K10+'s limited suction power isn't the best bet to deeply clean thick carpets.
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