Smart Home automations - anybody using?

[recom273]

2 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

My first sensors were Xiaomi and they are 8 years old now. I still have them in most rooms, but Xiaomi doesn’t always play nice with Home Assistant, were as Tuya has been pretty reliable for me.

 

 

So this is what I bought to replace them with.

 

 

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.q82U2
 

I have been toying with the idea of using esphome but I know that once I start down that rabbit hole I will end up buying a 3D printer, something that have been resisting strongly 

 

“‘how much did that thing cost? I have never seen you using it. You and your toys!” (Wife)

 

 

This is a good example of esphome for those unfamiliar with it and one I am seriously considering trying

 

 

 

Yes, I saw this on YouTube. its pretty cool, the sensor is still quite expensive from what I remember.

 

You don't need to own a 3D printer to use esphome, but I'm sure you would find it useful. I have a broken down ender 3, it does the job well now. I use it all the time, for instance, I want to put my construction laser level on a light stand as I'm putting up shelving all over the place - I need a 1/4" to 5/8" - I could order one from amazon, maybe take 10 days, an a few $, the shipping probably costs more than the item or print one https://www.printables.com/model/171219-tripod-adapter-14-20-fm-to-58-11-stud in an hour.

[OneMoreFarang]

8 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Thanks very much for that.

 

The full size Shelly EM is what is recommended by HA for the energy dashboard but is considerably more expensive

 

It obviously depends on what you need, how accurate it should be and how many Amps it can handle.

I bought a couple of above. Until now I installed only one of them for testing. It seems to do the job.

In the near future I plan to use four of them on my ACs. I have easily accessible wall boxes where I can put these little things inside.

 

[JBChiangRai]

I have a couple of dozen Sonoff devices, some added to Siri for voice control.

 

When I arrive home I just say "Siri Gate" and my gate opens, "Siri Garage" and the garage door opens.

 

Outside & some inside lights track dusk throughout the year.  Grid-Tied inverters are on Sonoff breakers. Roof void extractor fans, if it's useful, I've already automated it.

 

I tried to take an approach of one device per control circuit.  I won't always be here and I want it to be easily maintainable by (say) a Thai electrician with their usual level of knowledge (sic).

[OneMoreFarang]

1 minute ago, recom273 said:

 

Yes, I saw this on YouTube. its pretty cool, the sensor is still quite expensive from what I remember.

 

You don't need to own a 3D printer to use esphome, but I'm sure you would find it useful. I have a broken down ender 3, it does the job well now. I use it all the time, for instance, I want to put my construction laser level on a light stand as I'm putting up shelving all over the place - I need a 1/4" to 5/8" - I could order one from amazon, maybe take 10 days, an a few $, the shipping probably costs more than the item or print one https://www.printables.com/model/171219-tripod-adapter-14-20-fm-to-58-11-stud in an hour.

 

About 3d printers - not really about this thread.

I have an Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ which is very good. I use it from time to time to print thinks which I construct myself and which are not available to buy.

Recently my Toshiba rice cooker's closing mechanism (a plastic part) was damaged. I looked and found a 3d print. Great. So I printed it, and it fit. But unfortunately, when the rice cooker was hot id deformed. (yes, I used the recommended material).

At the end I searched the usual shopping sites and bought the original Toshiba part which works just fine.

What I learned from that: Yes, it's possible to do a lot with 3d printers. But sometimes it is best to just buy the original part - if it is available.  

 

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

I tried to take an approach of one device per control circuit.  I won't always be here and I want it to be easily maintainable by (say) a Thai electrician with their usual level of knowledge (sic).

 

That is a challenge. Just in case there will ever be a Thai electrician looking at my setup I am sure his first thought will be something like: WTF is that? 

[Bandersnatch]

4 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

When I arrive home I just say "Siri Gate" and my gate opens

My gate opener is a few years old and it came with it’s own app which offers no integrations. I see that their latest version has Siri and Google Assistant voice support but not sure I want to pay another ฿20k just for that. 
 

Alternatively is to install the app on Apple Car Play, then I can control the app on a 16 inch screen rather juggling my phone while driving.

 

Thirdly an add on that changes my dumb gate opener to a smart one. The words “works with most gate opener” fills me with confidence 

 

Forth and final option is to wait till my gate opener dies and replace it with a less dumb one.

[OneMoreFarang]

12 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

My gate opener is a few years old and it came with it’s own app which offers no integrations. I see that their latest version has Siri and Google Assistant voice support but not sure I want to pay another ฿20k just for that. 

 

Likely there will only be a small electronic board which has to be replaced. Just ask them if you can upgrade your system. Maybe you can.

But obviously it also can be that they changed "everything" and there is no easy way to upgrade it.

[JBChiangRai]

15 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

My gate opener is a few years old and it came with it’s own app which offers no integrations. I see that their latest version has Siri and Google Assistant voice support but not sure I want to pay another ฿20k just for that. 
 

Alternatively is to install the app on Apple Car Play, then I can control the app on a 16 inch screen rather juggling my phone while driving.

 

Thirdly an add on that changes my dumb gate opener to a smart one. The words “works with most gate opener” fills me with confidence 

 

Forth and final option is to wait till my gate opener dies and replace it with a less dumb one.

There is usually 12v DC available in the openers electronics and a pair of contacts for a push button to open the gate. If you find this, just add the device below and connect it to your WiFi, download the eWeLink app and configure it for 1 second inching and away you go.

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

Smart lights:

 

Probably the easiest entry point into starting your smart home.

 

Lie in bed and say to your smart assistant “turn the brightness down to 20% and change the color to candle light” 

 

They can be combined with motion sensors or even better presence sensors to switch on when someone walks into a room and switch off when everybody leaves.

 

I started off with Philips Hue, the rolls-Royce of smart bulbs. I have 20 in my house from when I started my smart home several years ago and never had a problem with any.

 

 

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.qPtEz
 

A few years later I moved to Xiaomi Yeelight which were considerably cheaper but a bit more of a fiddle to use and I have few die over the years

 

 

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.qPG4q

 

Now I am gradually replacing the remaining bulbs in my house with Tuya compatible WiFi bulbs- the newest of which is about a year old - no problems so far.

 

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.qPH3s
 

You can also buy smart LED light strips, they work well if you have dropped ceilings. I have used them in my Cinema

 

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

“turn the brightness down to 20% and change the color to candle light” 

 

 

I read that hearing my wife's voice.

[OneMoreFarang]

This guy, why has many good Home Assistant videos, just added another one.

In my experience it is always difficult for beginners to start, because maybe "starter" videos are old. And many additional videos are too complicated for people who just start with this.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

On 9/21/2024 at 12:40 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

This guy, why has many good Home Assistant videos, just added another one.

In my experience it is always difficult for beginners to start, because maybe "starter" videos are old. And many additional videos are too complicated for people who just start with this.

 

I follow this guy as well and I agree the videos are very accessible.

 

The only programming I want to do is the copy and paste kind 😳

 

I also watch Paul Hibbert 

 

 

[JBChiangRai]

I think it can be too easy to jump in and automate everything, some things are better left out.

 

I have a friend with a younger Thai wife who has automated everything and has an electric room full of 4 port IoT switches, every light switch, practically everything you can think of and voice control.

 

It's unmaintainable by anyone else.  When he dies and something breaks, it's going to be a nightmare for someone else to diagnose & fix.

 

I automated the lights on corridors and staircases with PIR modules.  The PIR modules are low quality from China (I don't know how you can determine high quality) and they all failed.  Replacing them was fairly easy for all but the staircase and will need a platform assembling to reach the sensor at 6m above the floor.  I wish I had installed 2-way switches at top & bottom of the staircase or even PIR sensors in the walls there, even that is overkill, I should have just wired them to be on permanently, LED's are so cheap to run. It pays to think outside the box.

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

24 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

I think it can be too easy to jump in and automate everything, some things are better left out.

 

Good point. 

 

I have several Philips Hue programmable remotes to go with my Philips Hue lights. As they look like conventional light switches they are intuitive to use if you don’t want to use voice control

 

 

 

My other smart lights are currently switched off/on at the original light switch but I am looking to use smart switches or smart displays at some point

 

 

 

 

 

[JBChiangRai]

I buy warm white bulbs, I think older people look better in warm white 😉

 

The table lamps in my bedroom & living room are on Sonoff switches and come on before dusk and off a few hours later. 

 

But in my Kitchen/Dining room (2nd floor, 5 table lamps) and entrance foyer/bedroom corridor (ground floor, 3 table lamps) they are on 24/7 although the latter have brighter wall lights on PIR's.

[BritManToo]

30 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

Good point. 

 

I have several Philips Hue programmable remotes to go with my Philips Hue lights. As they look like conventional light switches they are intuitive to use if you don’t want to use voice control

 

 

 

My other smart lights are currently switched off/on at the original light switch but I am looking to use smart switches or smart displays at some point

 

 

 

 

 

I have loads of Tuya WiFi switches, zero problems after 2-3 years. Your post seems expensive though, 250bht Inc on Lazada (triple light switch).

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.qHeUe

[clokwise]

On 9/17/2024 at 8:02 AM, Bandersnatch said:

My first sensors were Xiaomi and they are 8 years old now. I still have them in most rooms, but Xiaomi doesn’t always play nice with Home Assistant, were as Tuya has been pretty reliable for me.

 

 

I've got half a dozen of these in and around the house. They are very reliable. The firmware can be easily flashed using this utility, making them 100% compatible with HA and also adds new and improved functionality. You just need a bluetooth proxy (no soldering required) placed near the center of the house for full coverage.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Bandersnatch said:

My other smart lights are currently switched off/on at the original light switch but I am looking to use smart switches or smart displays at some point

 

I suggest use something like this, they have several models.

 

Shelly 1 Gen3 - All products - Shop - Shelly

 

You can keep your original wall switches and they will work just like before. And additionally you can control the light remotely and/or with automation.

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

35 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I have loads of Tuya WiFi switches, zero problems after 2-3 years. Your post seems expensive though, 250bht Inc on Lazada (triple light switch).

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.qHeUe

 

Agreed, it was just an image grab from Google for illustration purposes

[Bandersnatch]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

I suggest use something like this, they have several models.

 

Shelly 1 Gen3 - All products - Shop - Shelly

 

You can keep your original wall switches and they will work just like before. And additionally you can control the light remotely and/or with automation.

 

 

 

 

I do plan to use your previous suggestion of wiring Shelly power monitors into high energy use power outlets, but I want smart light switches that do at least what my Philips Hue switches do: have different colour options; be able to alter brightness and not just switch on and off.

[Bandersnatch]

23 minutes ago, clokwise said:

 

I've got half a dozen of these in and around the house. They are very reliable. The firmware can be easily flashed using this utility, making them 100% compatible with HA and also adds new and improved functionality. You just need a bluetooth proxy (no soldering required) placed near the center of the house for full coverage.

 

 

 

Very interesting, will give it a try but…

 

30 minutes ago, clokwise said:

You just need a bluetooth proxy (no soldering required) placed near the center of the house for full coverage.

 

That might be a problem, my walls are foil lined and 30cm thick. I had to supercharge my wifi to get full coverage

 

[JBChiangRai]

52 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

Very interesting, will give it a try but…

 

 

That might be a problem, my walls are foil lined and 30cm thick. I had to supercharge my wifi to get full coverage

 

 

I have a spare US-16-150W PoE 16 port managed switch if anyone has a use for it?  I recently upgraded to a 24 port unit.

[Bandersnatch]

15 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

I have a spare US-16-150W PoE 16 port managed switch if anyone has a use for it?  I recently upgraded to a 24 port unit.

I might need a bigger rack

 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Bandersnatch said:

I do plan to use your previous suggestion of wiring Shelly power monitors into high energy use power outlets, but I want smart light switches that do at least what my Philips Hue switches do: have different colour options; be able to alter brightness and not just switch on and off.

 

If that is what you like, then do that.

 

I think the good thing about the above is that they can be used together with ordinary light switches and often without changing any wiring. That makes them easy to install and ordinary people can use the light switches like they always did, and they don't even know that there is some additional think behind it.

 

Because it seems many people are annoyed if everything is only remote controlled and they don't even have any ordinary switches anymore.

 

 

 

[clokwise]

4 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

Very interesting, will give it a try but…

 

 

That might be a problem, my walls are foil lined and 30cm thick. I had to supercharge my wifi to get full coverage

 

 

 

I hear you on the Wifi - I have 5 Wifi routers in my home, which is actually overkill, but I have tuned down their signal strength so they don't overlap and cause conflicts - if they overlap you can seriously degrade your network speed. I think Linus Tech Tips on Youtube recently did a video about just that.

 

Regardless, I only need one bluetooth proxy in my home. I had planned for needing more, but just one with an external antenna turned out to be more than enough. But if more are needed, the boards are like 50~100 baht each, so it's not a major expense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

11 minutes ago, clokwise said:

I have 5 Wifi routers in my home, which is actually overkill, but I have tuned down their signal strength so they don't overlap and cause conflicts - if they overlap you can seriously degrade your network speed.

 

That is an important point.

I remember reading a thread about WLAN problems some time ago. At the end the problem was that a guy had two WLAN stations both with the signal power turned up. After he turned the signal strength down all worked fine.

[Bandersnatch]

29 minutes ago, clokwise said:

hear you on the Wifi - I have 5 Wifi routers in my home, which is actually overkill, but I have tuned down their signal strength so they don't overlap and cause conflicts - if they overlap you can seriously degrade your network speed. I think Linus Tech Tips on Youtube recently did a video about just that.

 

That’s why I went for Ubiquity. The access points are seen as the same network 

 

[KannikaP]

Got all my LED lamps/WiFi and Air Cons connected via Tuya, linked to Google and my Amazon Firestick. Can talk into either to control them all. All can be scheduled as needed.

[OneMoreFarang]

19 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

That’s why I went for Ubiquity. The access points are seen as the same network 

 

 

I use TP Omada and I like it. 

I have to admit I didn't try any alternatives.

 

 

 

[KannikaP]

50 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

I use TP Omada and I like it. 

I have to admit I didn't try any alternatives.

 

 

 

If you did not try any alternatives, how do you know that you would not like say Tuya better?