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Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

blog.tindie.com

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Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#21

Post by Symbiote »

dbcurtis wrote: post #9

Well, on the one hand, it is great to have a replacement for the original controller. At a previous employer I had a Bekant with the stock controller, and those darn things are dreadfully unreliable. We had enough of those desks to get good reliability statistics... and the statistics are awful. So an open source replacement is great. That said: Who the heck needs a motorized desk????? When it came to spending my own…

I spent my own money on a Skarsta desk.

The additional cost for the desk (about €200) is well within what a more luxurious desk from an Ikea competitor would cost[1], and I'm much more likely to push a button and stand up than to wind a crank 20 times and lose my concentration.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#22

Post by dbcurtis »

DataInSolutions wrote: post #18
dbcurtis wrote: post #9

Well, on the one hand, it is great to have a replacement for the original controller. At a previous employer I had a Bekant with the stock controller, and those darn things are dreadfully unreliable. We had enough of those desks to get good reliability statistics... and the statistics are awful. So an open source replacement is great. That said: Who the heck needs a motorized desk????? When it came to spending my own…

I also have a Skarsta. I got tired of hand cranking it and cut the crank's shaft to approx 12" length, then attached a $10 electric drill to it. Works great but the cheap drill is a bit noisy. At some point I may upgrade that.

Well, I'm getting a lot of comments from the motorized desk lovers here. I'll hang my reply onto yours...

I think we have discovered how to sort sailors from power boaters :) For that matter, I use a French press instead of a Keurig.... now pardon me while I take the stairs as I step out for lunch :)

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#24

Post by wl »

ashayh wrote: post #17

The Bekant motorized desk is a terrible product with bad ratings on Ikeas own site. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49022538/ Does this project fix any of the underlying issues.

From the product page:

> Why are there so many negative reviews for the BEKANT sit/stand desks?

> In 2016, IKEA identified a batch of BEKANT sit/stand desk Power Supply Units and underframes that stopped working after some time. The faults were related to a production flaw. This problem has since been addressed and fixed, so all new BEKANT sit/stand desks and underframes will not have this issue.

So they claim the issue is fixed.

I'd rather just spend the money for some desk made with Linak actuators.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#25

Post by Symbiote »

ashayh wrote: post #17

The Bekant motorized desk is a terrible product with bad ratings on Ikeas own site. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49022538/ Does this project fix any of the underlying issues.

The website says there's a 10 year warranty.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#26

Post by snops »

SEJeff wrote: post #7

I wonder if this could be built with an esp8266 or esp32 instead of an arduino.

The main change would be to the power supply, as the esp8266 has a far higher (~300mA) peak current than the ATTiny814 used (~3mA). Currently, an LDO provides 3.3V from the 24-35V motor supply. This would need to be changed to a buck DC/DC regulator, as a larger LDO at this voltage would need too big a heatsink for the case.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#27

Post by peterwwillis »

SEJeff wrote: post #2

This has received the infamous HN hug of death. Any chance anyone has a working archive link?

Product link: https://www.tindie.com/products/gcormier/megadesk/

Reddit link: https://www.reddit.com/r/arduino/comments/87cqz9/megadesk_a_...

Github link: https://github.com/gcormier/megadesk

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#28

Post by whalesalad »

Ikea's standing desks aren't that great. They wobble a lot and then anything attached to it wobbles too.

Still looking for the perfect heavy-duty standing desk and heavy-duty VESA arm combo. I don't want anything on my desk moving unless I am moving it myself.

To put it this way: if a desk is $500 and wobbles slightly (meaning if I touch the desk or type, my coffee jiggles and waves are seen) or is $1000 and the desk does not transmit any energy from my keyboard into anything else ... I will pay the extra $500 without even batting an eye.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#29

Post by SkyPuncher »

dbcurtis wrote: post #9

Well, on the one hand, it is great to have a replacement for the original controller. At a previous employer I had a Bekant with the stock controller, and those darn things are dreadfully unreliable. We had enough of those desks to get good reliability statistics... and the statistics are awful. So an open source replacement is great. That said: Who the heck needs a motorized desk????? When it came to spending my own…

I've had both motorized and hand-crank. I much prefer a motorized one.

I have terrible knees because of a sports injury. I get uncomfortable both sitting and standing for extended periods of time. A handcrank is a complete pain to switch between sitting and standing. If I'm adjusting, I feel compelled to be committed to a different position.

With a motorized desk, I can switch pretty much on a whim. I can sit for a while, stand up for 5 or 10 minutes, then get right back in my chair.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#30

Post by abrichr »

Does this controller fix the design flaw that seems to make this desk break down after few months? The Bekant has an overall 2 out of 5 stars on Ikea's own website. From https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49022538/:

> We have 8 of these desk in our office. At first they were used a lot of standing, the use has lessen some, but the problem is the power source that allows them to go up and down has gone out on 6 of them. Ikea has replaced them, but not sure what will happen when the 365 days warranties expire. I would recommend a standing desk just not this brand.

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