15 hours ago, clokwise said:

Neat! I made a slightly different setup, yours is definitely the easy method.

I have a similar dumb motor on my gate. I bought a AliExpress Tuya Zigbee circuit breaker (I had the Wifi version originally but have since switched everything over to Zigbee). I connected the device onto the same two points on the circuit board where the wall push-button connects to - thus the Tuya device functions identically to the push-button. Then I added a magnetic contact sensor at each end of the gate, also zigbee.

I use Home Assistant, so with some simple logic using the contact sensors open and closed states, I could determine whether the gate is open, closed, opening, or closing. This actually got tricky because the gate doesn't always close exactly at the same spot every time, and the magnet sometimes wouldn't make contact, making it seem like the gate had not physically closed, when it actually had. So I bought one of those small magnetic spring-loaded plungers you put inside a cabinet door and attached it to the gate. This gave me nearly 3cm to play with - more than enough to cover any gate inconsistencies.

Then I made a template cover gate entity in Home Assistant so I could add the gate control to my dashboard.

Next, I used the zone feature in Home Assistant to detect when my phone (which is with me in my car) is arriving and appx 50m from home. It will begin opening the gate so that by the time I arrive home the gate has completely opened. Likewise, once I am appx 20m away from home, the gate will begin to close.

I also built a ESP32 bluetooth relay which I connected to my car USB port to determine when my car has started, and it will open the gate immediately. And when the car is turned off, the power is cut and bluetooth is no longer detected, so the gate will shut.

I did all this with the wife's car and phone too. Home Assistant knows who is coming and will make a TTS announcement on our ipod minis throughout the house.

Very nice. I was expecting to have to attach a Smart Gate Module directly to the board and I had one in my cart when I checked with the shop first and they told me it wasn't needed.

You seem to be a bit more advanced on HA than I am. I particularly like your tracking the wife via her phone 🙂 Maybe you can share some of your other projects?

I considered the gate opening when the car starts, there is a module for that now, but my EVs switch on if you walk past with a key in your pocket and my dogs would bolt out.

I am currently in the process of swapping all my dumb CCTV cameras for Unifi Protect cameras which integrate with my Ubiquiti network and HA, so I can get notifications when Unifi AI recognises my wife's car leaving or arriving.

16 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Maybe you can share some of your other projects?

I am kinda obsessive about home automation. We built a new home but did not fully plan for home automation, unfortunately. I ended up having to retrofit a lot of stuff like sockets and lights and fans with 3rd party zigbee switches. Nevertheless, our home is maybe 90% automated - I don't think anyone ever needs to turn a light or a fan on or off anymore. The fans go on or change speed when it's too hot, and rooms with not much airflow get bursts of fan every hour. Lights go on when you walk into a room (only if it's dark outside), and change temp when you sit down at the dinner table or sofa. The bathroom light turns on at 2% dim and a light blue color during the middle of the night so you don't blind yourself or wake others. Blinds go up when you open the bedroom door in the morning, go down at sunset, but only if the windows are closed. If not, a TTS announcements alerts of any open windows and unlocked doors. We have a single zigbee button near the bed which runs a automation to ensure all windows and doors are closed and locked, then sets the fan and the AC mode, then wishes you good night via TTS. If a window or door or motion sensor triggers at night, lights go on and a TTS alert is sounded. But exceptions are made if the bedroom door opened first (like getting up to get a glass of water), then certain lights are turned on as a courtesy, and turned off when you return to the bedroom. A TTS speaks in thai to tell our maid the laundry is done or if someone is ringing the doorbell. I have heaps more examples like that...

I also develop custom integrations for even more specific nerdy tasks.

This is what happens when you retire from software engineering, you sit around the house all day and think "how can i refactor this, or how can i change that to be more efficient". You never really retire actually 5ๆ

I too have 30 or so devices of home automation.

My first principle being older than my kids and partner, is that it must be simple enough for Somchai, your average (qualified) Thai Sparky to maintain it when I am gone.

It probably isn’t, but it’s not far off.

Also a retired software guy here.

1 hour ago, clokwise said:

I am kinda obsessive about home automation. We built a new home but did not fully plan for home automation, unfortunately. I ended up having to retrofit a lot of stuff like sockets and lights and fans with 3rd party zigbee switches. Nevertheless, our home is maybe 90% automated - I don't think anyone ever needs to turn a light or a fan on or off anymore. The fans go on or change speed when it's too hot, and rooms with not much airflow get bursts of fan every hour. Lights go on when you walk into a room (only if it's dark outside), and change temp when you sit down at the dinner table or sofa. The bathroom light turns on at 2% dim and a light blue color during the middle of the night so you don't blind yourself or wake others. Blinds go up when you open the bedroom door in the morning, go down at sunset, but only if the windows are closed. If not, a TTS announcements alerts of any open windows and unlocked doors. We have a single zigbee button near the bed which runs a automation to ensure all windows and doors are closed and locked, then sets the fan and the AC mode, then wishes you good night via TTS. If a window or door or motion sensor triggers at night, lights go on and a TTS alert is sounded. But exceptions are made if the bedroom door opened first (like getting up to get a glass of water), then certain lights are turned on as a courtesy, and turned off when you return to the bedroom. A TTS speaks in thai to tell our maid the laundry is done or if someone is ringing the doorbell. I have heaps more examples like that...

I also develop custom integrations for even more specific nerdy tasks.

This is what happens when you retire from software engineering, you sit around the house all day and think "how can i refactor this, or how can i change that to be more efficient". You never really retire actually 5ๆ

Impressive

32 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

My first principle being older than my kids and partner, is that it must be simple enough for Somchai, your average (qualified) Thai Sparky to maintain it when I am gone.

Very important point and one I have also given some thought to.

I still haven't planned how I will hand over all the log-in credentials for all my accounts.

Anyone have any suggestions?

4 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Very important point and one I have also given some thought to.

I still haven't planned how I will hand over all the log-in credentials for all my accounts.

Anyone have any suggestions?

I use Dead Man’s Switch

Www.deadmansswitch.net

A one off payment of 10 pounds I think it was and it’s set up for life.

17 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I use Dead Man’s Switch

Www.deadmansswitch.net

A one off payment of 10 pounds I think it was and it’s set up for life.

Thanks I'll check it out

19 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

I still haven't planned how I will hand over all the log-in credentials for all my accounts.

Anyone have any suggestions?

You can use gmail's inactivity trigger:

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3036546?hl=en