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    Home Automation Any suggestions on how to automate at low cost?

    March 08, 2020

    Home Automation Any suggestions on how to automate at low cost?

    Any suggestions on how to automate at low cost?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 08:09 AM PST

    Less than 24 hours after it arrived, my first robotic vacuum is trying to clean up the biggest mess of all... Humanity.

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 06:17 PM PST

    Any other ideas?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 07:59 PM PST

    Rachio 3 or Hunter Pro-HC Hydrawise?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 07:01 PM PST

    I just went to an SRP expo where I could purchase either of these for $60, and I selected the Rachio 3, though a lot of people there seemed partial to the Hunter model, and strangely the Rachio people didn't bother to show up to the expo (though we could still buy it through the distributor.) I can exchange it until March 27th.

    I'm more or less an IT nerd with some software development experience to boot, but not very knowledgeable about gardening. I do like the idea that the Hunter model could work without the cloud as so far I've completely designed by home automation setup with zero cloud dependence (using a hubitat in particular,) but I'm very turned off by the idea that in order to get equivalent functionality of the Rachio model, you have to pay $60/year (total joke that I effectively have to re-buy this every year...) though at the same time it's possible I won't need that extra functionality. I really don't know.

    Any suggestions?

    submitted by /u/ArmoredDragonIMO
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    Smartifying my old robot vacuum.

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 04:59 PM PST

    Skylight Shades

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 05:32 AM PST

    Has anyone ever installed motorized roller style shades on a skylight? I have 2 in our family room that are approx 20' from the floor that I'd really like to put some kind of remote controlled window shade on. Mornings are brutal in here as the back of my house faces east.

    I know it would need some kind of track or guide to keep it alined with the slope of the window.

    Also I am ok with battery / solar powers since there is no easy way to get power to these particular windows.

    Skylights https://i.imgur.com/K6QlyvZ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/i52q8FI.jpg

    Also if anyone has any idea how to cover that middle rectangle window to match our other curtains, please let me know. I thought cut curtains to hang above the fireplace but my wife vetoed that idea.

    submitted by /u/markthefitter602
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    Cheap bObi vacuum with harmony

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 10:35 PM PST

    Hi ! My friend give me that cheap bobsweep bobi pet vacuum and i would really like to automate it ! I try to set it up in my harmony hub but it does bot recognize the device and do not want to learn the command ... is it possible that it use rf instead or something like that ?

    submitted by /u/thibe5
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    Kid-friendly daily video recording with notification?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 09:52 PM PST

    BLUF - Looking for a kid-friendly 'button press' recording device for ~30 second daily video that can send notification/email when complete.

    If anyone can answer this, it's this community.

    Need a setup for this scenario:

    Kid (12 - special needs) wakes up, goes to the kitchen counter, presses a button on the recording device (or a voice command), and records himself taking his daily medication. ~15 - 30 seconds, max. Upon completion, notification or email sent to multiple emails/devices (parents, grandparents, etc), where we can view the video.

    The point: if he doesn't take these meds, it will be a really bad day at school, potentially ending with him in a psychiatric facility. If none of the parents/grandparents get the notification by a certain time, we'll all know to call the school nurse.

    If we can get this working, my wife can return to work, and we'll be able to dig out of debt.

    Limitations:

    I currently have no home automation/surveillence in place, no alexa, no smart devices other than phones. Kid doesn't have a phone, and I can't leave a 'portable' device on the kitchen counter for him, because he can't be trusted with it yet.

    Things I currently have:

    - 1 indoor Arlo camera, unplugged for the past year.

    - 1 4-node pi cluster (k8s), used for pihole, plex, NAS, vpn, etc. with intention to incorporate more home surveillence/automation.

    - 9 empty ports on a 16 port switch

    - Room to run patch if necessary

    - Amazon fire hd 8 tablet, with kid mode/free time setup. Old amazon fire tablet (5?), still functional.

    Hesitations:

    Currently have no alexa or smart devices, mainly due to security concerns. Am willing to try, and my wife is pestering for alexa. Have been cash-strapped for a few years due to son's special needs, but willing to spend a little to get this working.

    submitted by /u/crownblack
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    Smart Lock help

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 09:13 PM PST

    I'm looking to have 2 locks - one for front door and one for side door. I want them to both Auto Unlock when I get home and auto lock when I leave. I tried two august smart locks which worked fine but august only allows one door to Auto Unlock when I get home so I had to choose. Since I want them both to unlock, I figure I have to get a different brand for the other. Any suggestions to solve this problem would be much appreciated!

    submitted by /u/maddenfan234
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    A simple sprinkler System that Can be Controlled Remotely?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 08:39 PM PST

    So my house is right by a busy road where there are a lot of drunks and homeless frequent. Unfortunately we have an entrance to the basement that is quite private, so these drunks and homeless often decide to use my little area way either as a bathroom or a bedroom. They both stink up the place by the morning.

    Is there anyway to set up a sprinkler where if I see them come down, I can turn on the sprinkler system via an app or I can schedule it to turn on when motion is detected between 2:30-5:30 am?

    submitted by /u/dzcFrench
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    What smart switch can I get to replace this to control ceiling light/fan

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 08:05 PM PST

    Tradfri remote does not work with Phillips Hue

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 07:59 PM PST

    I've found a ton of bad information. The remote will pair with a bulb, but not with the hub itself. Turned out to be a huge issue me and Home Assistant.

    submitted by /u/SauceOverflow
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    Do zigbee plugs need to be "on" to work as repeaters?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 06:03 PM PST

    Bought a couple zigbee plugs to serve as repeaters through out the house and I was wondering if they need to be "on" for the repeating functionality to work.

    Thanks !

    submitted by /u/lightning_balls
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    WiFi plugs and switches concerns?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 10:35 AM PST

    I have about 15 switches and 30 plugs I'm wanting to switch out and I was wondering if using WiFi vs zigbee would cause issues on the network with that many WiFi devices? I was looking at wyze as I love their cameras and such

    submitted by /u/whyohwhyohio
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    New Home. Which smart switch, alarm panel, and thermostat to use?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 10:33 AM PST

    I like the inovelli switches best at the moment, so I was going to request those, but I'd like to see if there are any better options?

    Also looking for recommendations on a smart thermostat and alarm panel. I've never had any before so I don't know what to expect.

    submitted by /u/koryin
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    Recommendations for zwave water shutoff and monitor?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 10:07 AM PST

    They can be the same or indepdent units. Looking to install a softener and while I was doing that was thinking of adding a monitor and automatic shutoff while I had everything apart. Anyone have any experience with any of these kinds of zwave devices? Haven't seen any recent threads on the subject, thanks!

    submitted by /u/RealityMan_
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    Is there a Smart switch, no neutral 240v that exists for use in Australia?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 03:59 PM PST

    As above... I'm struggling to find no neutral smart switches that work with 240v.

    Sorry if this has been asked already but I couldn't find it.

    Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

    submitted by /u/adray86
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    [Canada] Leviton 4-Wire Z-Wave Smart Switch Install Question

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 02:25 PM PST

    Home intercom system?

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 01:01 PM PST

    So my house has these intercoms in the bedrooms, kitchens, basement, guest room, office, etc., but they keep breaking and aren't very good. They work with PoE wired in the rooms. https://lensdump.com/i/jZimKz

    I want to replace them with something else that uses PoE and can be wall mounted to work as home intercoms. There doesn't seem to be a lot of options that I can find, I've seen the Nucleus intercoms with Alexa, but I have multiple issues with it.

    1. Company doesn't seem very stable, could go bankrupt any day
    2. They don't seem to use any open standards like SIP or have a local API or anything, so they are useless without their ecosystem if they shut down.
    3. I'm already in the Google home / Google Nest ecosystem a little bit, I don't also want Alexa.
    4. Price.

    So I want to buy something else that I can use, i already know of the Google home broadcast feature, but that isnt very good for conversations, and you have to keep saying "ok google broadcast / reply".

    I'm willing to do some DIY if there are any good options like raspberry pi or Android apps or something, as long as it is reliable.

    Thanks in advance.

    EDIT: I will look into control 4

    submitted by /u/ikingrpg
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    Have Google announce that garage door is open or closed.

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 02:17 AM PST

    Hi again. On the suggestion of some in this community I've just installed a Meross smart garage door opener that allows the door to be opened and closed and notifies me of the door condition.

    I'd like to have Google announce when the door opens or closes at home - I have a couple of Google home speakers and some Mini's. I have very basic knowledge around automation, so any further help you guys can provide will be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks again 😊

    submitted by /u/moodrdre
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    Can I incorporate this bed remote into my Alexa? I have a SmartThings hub and a harmony hub.

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 06:14 AM PST

    Setting up exterior lights question

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 10:57 AM PST

    While I'm comfortable with Wifi IOT automation, app control, and Alexa voice integration - there are those in my home who just want to flip a switch.

    I am wiring in new spot lights for the rear yard that will come off of a switch in the basement. However we want to control this with a physical switch on the main level. It is not possible to wire a standard light switch from the basement to this location. How would you approach this to allow a remote switch upstairs, still have a switch in the basement, and include as part of my automation?

    Thanks.

    submitted by /u/gallicshrug
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    How can I automate my kitchen light?!

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 10:56 AM PST

    My kitchen light switch does not have neutral wire and the bulb is a fluorescent lamp. This leaves me with no apparent options for smart switches or smart bulbs as far as I know. Any ideas? I use Homekit and/or Google Asssistant.

    Worth mentioning that because I live in a rental I cannot ask an electrician to tap a neutral into the switch box.

    submitted by /u/renanc
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    Linking a table lamp to an overhead bulb

    Posted: 07 Mar 2020 10:02 AM PST

    The overhead light in one room just doesn't do the job.Plenty of outlets, so I want to link a table lamp (or two) to come on with the overhead.No timer or dimming or colors, just on/off manually from the wall, without touching the lamp(s).

    What are my options to turn on the overhead from a dumb wall switch, not an app or device, and trigger another bulb, or a smart plug?My google-fu is failing on this topic.

    I am renting, so need to keep this clean and portable. Android/Windows ecosystem.Prefer Feit brand because I can get them cheap via work discount.

    submitted by /u/ggibby
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