Hey everyone, I wanted to share a fun DIY project I recently completed to solve a recurring issue with my Wyze Cam v3. While the camera itself is a fantastic device, I’ve been dealing with a persistent problem where it would drop offline and show error code 90, sometimes multiple times a day. After some research and experimentation, I came up with a clever workaround that’s been working perfectly for the past few weeks. Here’s how I did it!
The Problem
The Wyze Cam v3 would randomly disconnect from my Wi-Fi network, usually after being idle for a while. Restarting the camera manually was a hassle, and I couldn’t find a reliable software fix. I decided to tackle the issue head-on with a hardware-based solution.
The Solution
I purchased a generic smart power plug (a Tuya-compatible Mirabella Genio) and plugged my camera’s power adapter into it. The idea was to create a system that would automatically power-cycle the camera whenever it went offline. Here’s how I set it up:
- Hardware Setup: Plug the camera into the smart power plug and ensure both devices are on the same network.
- IFTTT Integration: I created a simple IFTTT applet that triggers the power plug to turn off and back on whenever the camera goes offline. The applet uses a webhook as the trigger, which I integrated with a small script running on my home server.
- Script Automation: I wrote a bash script that pings the camera’s IP address every 5 minutes. If the ping fails, the script sends a request to the IFTTT webhook, which in turn triggers the power plug to cycle the camera’s power.
- Cron Job: To ensure the script runs continuously, I added it to my system’s cron job scheduler.
The Results
This setup has been a game-changer! The camera now automatically restarts when it goes offline, and I haven’t experienced any dropped connections since implementing the solution. It’s been so effective that I’m considering using the same method for other devices that occasionally experience connectivity issues.
Lessons Learned
- Automation is Key: Combining smart home devices with automation tools like IFTTT can solve problems that might seem insurmountable at first.
- DIY Solutions Can Be Affordable: This project cost me less than $20, and it saved me countless hours of frustration.
- Scripting is Powerful: Even a simple bash script can provide a robust solution to recurring issues.
Final Thoughts
I’m thrilled with how this project turned out, and I’m excited to explore more ways to automate and improve my smart home setup. If anyone has questions about the process or wants help setting something similar up, feel free to reach out! Happy tinkering! 