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Home automation/smart device recommendations
Posted on 5/2/21 at 6:18 am
Posted on 5/2/21 at 6:18 am
Is there a full ecosystem that is recommended if one was doing a full house setup? Thinking along the lines of a new build or renovation. I have added ecobee thermostats, Hue lights, alexas, smart pmugs. But im curious if there’s something out there that would work better as a whole home option. Would assume some central control unit/display and add light switches instead of just wifi bulbs and ability of water monitor and sprinkler system controller. Wasnt sure if it was easier that way or possible.
3
Posted on 5/2/21 at 8:04 am to BabySam
If you like to tinker a bit...you might look into HomeAssistant to tie everything together. Runs great on a Raspberry Pi 4... pretty much bullet proof.
Posted on 5/2/21 at 9:35 am to BabySam
I use Lutron Caseta. Never really ventured into individual bulbs. Works pretty well, easy to install.
Posted on 5/3/21 at 10:34 am to dakarx
quote:tinkerer is an understatement.........I jumped to HA from ST, and the learning curve is STEEP.
If you like to tinker a bit...you might look into HomeAssistant to tie everything together. Runs great on a Raspberry Pi 4... pretty much bullet proof.
BUT once you get it.... is it fantastic and i have barely scratched the surface of what i can make it do. I was never on board with wifi being great for home automation but with tasmota and esphome and how cheap the 8266 and esp32 chips are, it kinda makes it better than zwave and other protocols.
right now i have esp32s and 8266s running my garage door, driveway gate, monitoring bluetooth temp/humidity sensors all through out the house, i just finished my pool automation system. I have a multitude of other projects im looking into doing but the world in endless with HomeAssistant. But it isnt something you can just jump into have have it working in a day.
Posted on 5/3/21 at 10:41 am to dakarx
quote:
If you like to tinker a bit
Small cost if you value privacy.
Posted on 5/3/21 at 11:39 am to CarRamrod
quote:
the learning curve is STEEP
Agreed. It has really come a long way since the beginning and it looks like they are trying to make it more user friendly for the everyday user, but I would still consider it too advanced for a novice.
OP, it sounds like you are already going down the path of an Amazon ecosystem. I'd say just keep going and find any product that is able to work with Alexa. I haven't seen any that work better than others. I would just try to avoid any of the cheap Chinese knock-offs because most will need cloud access to servers likely hosted in China.
Then, just use the Alexa app to set up any automations and routines. They make it really easy to use for simple things that a "normal" user would want.
As you get deeper into things, you'll need to move to a private control hub. Home Assistant does seem to be the most popular choice at the moment but OpenHab and Hubitat are some other options you can look into as well. I've been running HA for quite some time now and have been steadily adding to it. I absolutely love the fact that it is 100% local (though still with remote access) and 100% private (I don't have any services that rely on cloud).
Posted on 5/3/21 at 10:53 pm to The Next
Appreciate all the inputs...i wasnt planning on any particular ecosystem...just throwing out things i’ve got experience with and potential for other devices to integrate...i know there’s plenty of reading to do but was just looking for others’ experiences and recommendations
Posted on 5/4/21 at 8:36 am to CarRamrod
I have HA, would like to dive into the esp chips. Where do you suggest getting started
Posted on 5/4/21 at 9:27 am to GreatBrandino
quote:Pick up a handful of NodeMCU's and visit https://esphome.io/ for some ideas and guides.
I have HA, would like to dive into the esp chips. Where do you suggest getting started
It's pretty easy, just follow along with the instructions to configure and flash your NodeMCU and add the esphome integration to HA. Then whenever you power up your device HA will find it, and you just click to add it as a sensor or switch or whatever you've built/configured it to do.
You might end up with a pile of breadboards, an assortment of sensors, boxes of misc resistors, etc.
Posted on 5/4/21 at 10:14 am to Korkstand
quote:might? i made a china order months ago and now have 10 or so of each nodemcu's, wemos d1 min's, esp32 nodemcu's, esp23 wemos d1mini's.
You might end up with a pile of breadboards, an assortment of sensors, boxes of misc resistors, etc.
I have had booklets of resistors and capacitors and suck from building heater meters and brewing controllers.
i do have an assortment of pir sensors, dallas probes, dth sensors. Ill post a pic of my new pool automation build i just completed this weekend.
This post was edited on 5/4/21 at 10:18 am
Posted on 5/4/21 at 10:47 am to CarRamrod
quote:
You might end up with a pile of breadboards, an assortment of sensors, boxes of misc resistors, etc.
might? i made a china order months ago and now have 10 or so of each nodemcu's, wemos d1 min's, esp32 nodemcu's, esp23 wemos d1mini's.
Surely you jest, I have a handful of all of these, plus every arduino board known to man, sensors.. I'm still collecting and experimenting.
Busy automating everything in the house, one bit at a time, combination of zwave, wifi, etc.. Even the wife is really enjoying it and encouraging more and more things to be converted.
Latest find was the KASA branded wifi wall switches, run about $10 each compared to Leviton Z-wave switches at closer to $30 each.
Posted on 5/4/21 at 11:48 am to dakarx
quote:but are the tuya convertable or are the gpoi pins easily accessible?
Latest find was the KASA branded wifi wall switches,
im trying trying to figure out if i want to tear apart my nouvelle spot lights.
Posted on 5/4/21 at 12:48 pm to CarRamrod
Haven't taken one apart..... yet.
I know they are little more than just a relay and MCU, but they have the distinct advantage of being built into a 'wife approved' package.
I should have an extra one that was waiting to be installed in the kitchen once the main light fixture was converted to LED (just finished), but can't locate it at the moment.... now I'm curious if they are built around the esp32 or 8266, so I'll tear it down as soon as I find it and check for exposed gpio pins.
I know they are little more than just a relay and MCU, but they have the distinct advantage of being built into a 'wife approved' package.
I should have an extra one that was waiting to be installed in the kitchen once the main light fixture was converted to LED (just finished), but can't locate it at the moment.... now I'm curious if they are built around the esp32 or 8266, so I'll tear it down as soon as I find it and check for exposed gpio pins.
Posted on 5/4/21 at 3:07 pm to dakarx
a quick search shows KASA (TP-LINK) are not ESPs but their own chipset. Sorry no custom firmware.
Posted on 5/4/21 at 4:13 pm to CarRamrod
i went with hubitat.
dont be like cad. everything i buy turns to shite.
dont be like cad. everything i buy turns to shite.
Posted on 5/4/21 at 6:54 pm to CarRamrod
quote:
nouvelle spot lights.
Novostella? I "bricked" one of mine trying to load wled on it, but I was able to tuya convert them. I need to try to crack it open and revive it.
Posted on 5/5/21 at 11:03 am to guedeaux
quote:yea
Novostella? I
quote:i bought a pack on amazon because someone on digiblurs discord said the once he just got were tuya convertable. mine, are not.
but I was able to tuya convert them
someone on there said they were able to get their open but it wasnt easy. I wish they crack tuya again so i can flash these.
This post was edited on 5/5/21 at 11:04 am
Posted on 5/5/21 at 1:44 pm to BabySam
If networked, keep them segregated from your devices with personal information (PCs, laptops, tablets).
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