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Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

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

#101

Post by beatgammit »

mabbo wrote: post #15
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 got some leg/knee issues that come and go. I like to stand, but I often can only do it for an hour or so. I've got the Skarsta at home, but I rarely crank it up because it's a lot of effort and I'll just have to crank it down again in an hour. At work I have an electrically controlled sit/stand desk. It's great.

You may want to consider getting a tall stool for the hour or so you stand and then just swap chairs. I did that for a bit because I didn't like adjusting the desk constantly, and it was nice because I could have someone sit next to me without needing to find another chair or stand. The stool didn't take up too much space either, so it was nice.

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

#102

Post by djtriptych »

imagiko wrote: post #23

Are there any desks that one has uses and really recommends? I'm not entirely sold on motorized desks, so suggestions for mechanical ones?

Been using a Fully Jarvis L-shaped desk for a few months now. Self-assembly was unpleasant (not really Fully's fault - it's a complicated build no matter what). But the desk is huge and sturdy. No complaints. I think I paid $1500 or so.

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

#103

Post by rhinoceraptor »

kev009 wrote: post #71
hardwaresofton wrote: post #48

For those who can afford it, the Uplift Desk[0] is the best desk I've ever used -- very sturdy and there's even a reclaimed wood option. Huge sizes available (if you're into lots of table space) and the resale value is pretty decent (to other nerds/people who want lots of nice looking desk space). Also never had a problem with the motor/setup. You can often order them through local office supply mom & pops IIRC -- wa…

Agreed, buy once cry once. I expect mine will last me my professional career.

If only I could convince my boss of that...

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

#104

Post by lorenzhs »

abrichr wrote: post #30

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…

No that’s the PSU block. It broke on 2/3 desks in our office within two years or so. Ikea will replace it if it breaks (10yr warranty as another commenter noted).

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

#105

Post by kerridge0 »

st3fan wrote: post #86
xenophon wrote: post #75

I'm the co-founder of an office furniture startup called Bureau (www.bureauwork.com) and thought I'd chime in here. By far the most frequent complaint that came up in our research about cheaper standing desks is their tendency to wobble, along both the front-back axis as well as the side-to-side axis. Generally, there are four reasons a standing desk will wobble: 1) Frame materials: I'd highly recommend a steel frame…

My BEKANT does not wobble at all.

Mine also does not wobble in the slightest.

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

#106

Post by radley »

hardwaresofton wrote: post #48

For those who can afford it, the Uplift Desk[0] is the best desk I've ever used -- very sturdy and there's even a reclaimed wood option. Huge sizes available (if you're into lots of table space) and the resale value is pretty decent (to other nerds/people who want lots of nice looking desk space). Also never had a problem with the motor/setup. You can often order them through local office supply mom & pops IIRC -- wa…

I'll just chime in and point out you can buy the Uplift standing desk frame separately and use your own tabletop (i.e. from Ikea). I made an awesome 2.5' x 7' pine desk this way.

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

#107

Post by rhinoceraptor »

sowbug wrote: post #68

Off-topic, but hoping this is the right group of DIY folks who can steer me in the right direction. I'd really like to automate some of the windowshades in my house. My two use cases are opening bedroom shades at sunrise, and closing living-room shades at times during the day when direct sun would heat up the room too much. Every time I've looked into it, there's a wide gap between DIY projects that are labors of lov…

Ikea is releasing a series of smart blinds[1] in a couple months, compatible with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home. They're supposed to be ~$100 per shade.

1: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/1/7/18172043/ik...

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

#108

Post by clairity »

jasode wrote: post #98
st3fan wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My BEKANT does not wobble at all.

The conflicting anecdotes of "wobble" vs "no wobble" of the BEKANT desk in this thread are fascinating. Last year, I played around with the BEKANT standing desk on display at the IKEA store and (in my perception) it wobbled. It's the same type of wobble that a youtuber demonstrated[0]. There are others in this thread that complain about wobble.[1] And yet some people say there's no wobble -- and I believe them . My a…

wait, so do you really believe that all the bekants, after assembly, are perfectly identical so that the only remaining variable is the observer's subjectivity?

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

#109

Post by [deleted] »

sowbug wrote: post #68

Off-topic, but hoping this is the right group of DIY folks who can steer me in the right direction. I'd really like to automate some of the windowshades in my house. My two use cases are opening bedroom shades at sunrise, and closing living-room shades at times during the day when direct sun would heat up the room too much. Every time I've looked into it, there's a wide gap between DIY projects that are labors of lov…

[deleted]

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

#110

Post by eropple »

Maakuth wrote: post #43
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 prefer motorized, because it allows for fast and effortless changing between postures. I know it's not that big deal to use hand crank, but it's just enough trouble that you will not be changing between sitting and standing during the day. And if you don't feel like standing the whole day, you are back to sitting the whole day.

I solved that problem by getting an old Ikea JERKER and a draft-height chair. Easier to just sit down than to adjust the desk.
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