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The battery level of my Bluetooth headphones was not displayed by default. To correct this, a simple change is all that is needed:

Adjust configuration file

In the file /etc/bluetooth/main.conf, an

must be inserted in the section “[General]“. You can then restart either the entire computer or only the Bluetooth service with

and the battery status is displayed in the settings under “Energy”, for example:

Show battery status in the top bar

So that I don’t have to take the diversions via the settings, I display the battery status of the headphones directly in the top bar next to the time. I use the following Gnome extension for this:

https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/5615/battery-indicator-upower/

This morning, I set to work on a problem I’ve had for a while: How do I get the data from “Solaranzeige” into Homeassistant? Or does it perhaps make more sense to use the Homeassistant SolarEdge Modbus integration and then send the data from Homeassistant to InfluxDB?

I decided on the first option. This resulted in a small PHP program. You enter an MQTT “block” and the result is a ready-made Homeassistant configuration that you only have to copy. A more detailed instruction on how it works is also included. (It’s in German, so use a translator)

Link: https://jojokorpi.ddns.net/solaranzeigetohomeassistant
Source Code: https://github.com/jjk4/solaranzeigetohomeassistant

My Bluetooth speaker (Tribit Maxsound Plus) would no longer charge after a more than 3 years. So I opened it with a screwdriver and soldering iron… Maybe there is a spare part.

After watching a few videos, I realized how easy it actually is. The protective grille can be opened with a screwdriver:

And then you can open the box with eight screws. (Yes, it got wet a few times. The white dirt is chalk).

You may then have to leverage a little with the screwdriver.

And already you can see the insides.

What was broken in my case?

Since the Tribit no longer charged, I first suspected the battery. After a few measurements on the battery and the circuit board, it turned out that the charging electronics must be defective. I could charge the battery with a 7.5V power supply and then everything worked again.

Except for the charging electronics. I still could not charge it via the USB socket. So I bought an 8V power supply and put the connectors of the battery and the connector on the PCB to the outside (At the place where the holding loop was). So I can run the speaker either in battery mode or in mains mode. I can also charge the battery in this way (ALWAYS measure the voltage to avoid overcharging the battery) without having to screw the box back on.

The loop just fit in:

Of course, the Tribit is no longer waterproof. But that’s better than throwing it away or leaving it in the drawer for years.

Links:

• Tribit Maxsound Plus: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07LGKLFFW/
• Power supply 8V 3A: The power supply I use is unfortunately no longer available.