Kernel Bob Aug 13, 2025

Today we got our dishwasher fixed under warranty. To diagnose it, the tech stuck a photosensor+magnet onto the front panel over the green status LED and started reading diagnostics. It turns out the status LED is actually a serial port*, and it's continually transmitting status.

I can think of so many gadgets that could and should use this trick...

*It's probably something other than regular serial -- a UART's TX would flicker. I don't know any details.

#HidingInPlainSight

Show threadphookyAug 13, 2025
@kbob our oven has a diagnostic port (although it's IR). it's a miele; who's the manufacturer of your dishwasher?
Show threadKernel Bob Aug 13, 2025
@phooky Also Miele.
Show threadTALAug 14, 2025

@kbob @phooky the best PDF i found about this from miele was: https://www.tie.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Smart_electronics_in_home_appliances_-_MIELE_-_TIE2013.pdf#page=24

The topology seems that behind the "optical interface" we could also do TX

(Also cool to see they use Super-H for Touch, Page 13)

Show threadphookyAug 14, 2025
@tal @kbob "Miele-bus". I am absolutely losing it. Thank you for this.
Show threadphookyAug 14, 2025

@tal @kbob Also, 'Miele@home: “Con@ctivity”'. Wow wow wow

(I should take a moment to point out that the firmware on my oven is absolutely horrible, and that the touch sensing only really works when your hands are clean, dry, and grease-free, which is definitely not me when I am cooking)

Show threadphooky
@tal @kbob ok, someone's already reversing the IR
https://medusalix.github.io/posts/miele-interface/
Reverse Engineering the Miele Diagnostic Interface

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