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    Home Unlabelled Home Automation Comparison chart of the 2020 best entry-level robot vacuums under $300 that might help someone to make a right decision (inspired by yougarive).

    Home Automation Comparison chart of the 2020 best entry-level robot vacuums under $300 that might help someone to make a right decision (inspired by yougarive).

    September 01, 2020

    Home Automation Comparison chart of the 2020 best entry-level robot vacuums under $300 that might help someone to make a right decision (inspired by yougarive).

    Comparison chart of the 2020 best entry-level robot vacuums under $300 that might help someone to make a right decision (inspired by yougarive).

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 04:59 AM PDT

    Help! Need a device to clean the garage

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 06:33 PM PDT

    Hey everyone, working on fixing up my garage. It got really bad (humid, water damage etc.) I have the damage and mold remediated. I would love to put something out there that would keep the humidity down AND purify the air. I was wondering if there is one device that does both? Would I have to get two? I am mostly on Google home so I guess zigbee is the main protocol (still a relative noob sorry!)

    submitted by /u/brooka0
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    Smart Wireless Signal Cloning Device?

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 09:31 PM PDT

    I'm looking potentially automate a set of cheap wireless bicycle alarms and DIY security system.

    Example bicycle alarm: https://www.amazon.ca/Fosmon-Waterproof-Vibration-Triggered-Motorcycle/dp/B07PQ92SHC

    Example DIY security system: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Top5-security-products-smart-home-yard_60750291980.html

    Does anyone know if there exists a smart wireless signal cloning device on the market (that also integrates with google home)?

    If this even possible? Are these remotes/devices usually protected by any encrpytion mechanisms?

    Note: DIY security system is deprecated by video cameras but I still use it on occasion for various reasons. Bicycle alarms simply act as a cheap deterent/alert.

    submitted by /u/dimoes
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    I Made A Smart Doorbell Camera With Facial Recognition From An Old Phone

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 09:01 PM PDT

    Is ewelink down for anyone else?

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 07:47 PM PDT

    I have two sonoff wifi relays and both stopped working at the same time. Can't control my fans. Anyone else having this issue? Are there alternatives to the sonoffs?

    submitted by /u/xxblubberguitar
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    Good quality low-power addressable LED strips for stretched ceiling

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 01:19 PM PDT

    Good quality low-power addressable LED strips for stretched ceiling

    Dear Subreddit,

    My post is not related only to HA, but I hope I could get experienced advice here.

    I am currently planning the installation of LED strips above the stretched ceiling in my living room. The print of the ceiling film will be double-sided and will look like a sky with sun and clouds during the day when natural light is reflected by the film, and like a starry sky with a Moon when illuminated by the LED strips. Something like this:

    Double-sided stretched ceiling. Source: https://www.facebook.com/Ceilings.Designs and https://k-extreme.eu/?fbclid=IwAR2-LG3ZxHOUt7UEwMVJ2JB2eL1kRU4oxgcsKDXoefoabSz4wPmA6VVvpIk

    And this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm_9W747D40

    Here is a plan with the dimensions (in centimeters) and total area (~12,5 sq. m) of the ceiling in my case:

    ​

    https://preview.redd.it/tk0rdyja4ek51.png?width=1746&format=png&auto=webp&s=ff5826b390f07d9fa0b73cf127dec2daefc55228

    The stretched ceiling will be suspended at around 12 cm from the actual ceiling. In order to obtain a nicely diffused and even lighting, I plan to install LED strips every 10 cm along the horizontal axis in the plans. This would mean around 125 meters of strip in total.

    As this will be the main light source in the living room (~28 sq. m), I was initially aiming for some dimmable warm white strip at 24 V, but then came across individually adressable LEDs like the WS2812 and decided to research more on this. It seems they could bring some additional effect to the stretched ceiling (perhaps some shooting stars or moving clouds?).

    Regarding this, I have a few questions. First, I guess a strip with a luminous flux around 300 lm/m would be fully sufficient having in mind the big length.

    For having some nice whites which can be used for daily activities like reading, would a RGBW/RGBWW be sufficient? Which are some proven models?

    Having in mind that the addressable strips are usually powered by 5 V and typically consume around 60 mA, if the strip has 30 LEDs per meter (in my application even 10 LEDs per meter should be enough I think?) this would mean around 1.8 A per meter or about 225 A for the whole ceiling. I guess this can be sourced with 4 power supplies, each providing current up to 70 A. But is there a more clever way to power the LEDs with, e.g., 24 V? The nearby closet for installing the supplies is around 5 meters from the center of the ceiling so the lower the current, the better.

    Although it seems that my longest runs will be of around 3.3 m, what is the recommended distance of connecting power again?

    I plan to install aluminium sheets with a thickness of 1 mm on the whole ceiling, and then glue the strips using the provided adhesive tape, but also secure them with some plastic clips. Would this be enough for sufficient cooling?

    Finally, how could one make the effect of those stars in the first image? Install some cold white (6000 K) high-power single LEDs with some crystals which are mounted directly above the film?

    ​

    What are some recommended strips, power supplies, controllers (perhaps a Raspberry Pi-like or Arduino) and sources? I am located in Europe.

    The components I need would have to be proven of very high quality and be able to work flawlessly in the long-term. Once the ceiling is installed, the subsequent removals for fixing up the electronics are both hard and costly, and are also a limited number during the lifespan of the film.

    Sorry for the long post and thank you in advance!

    submitted by /u/ndandanov
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    Help install ecobee. No C wire. PEK

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 06:37 PM PDT

    Bigger Home Automation Goals

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 10:51 AM PDT

    I am looking to monitor my basement dehumidifier, but I feel like at that point I'm getting into bigger Hub territory... so taking a step back.

    I currently run most of my equipment just using Google Home, with simply spoken commands with wifi plugs, lights and thermostat. But I'd really like to start getting into Geofencing and monitoring my electricity usage with plugs set to routines/schedules "if my wife and I are both out, the plugs for the TV, fire stick, & ACs are all off" type things. I have nest temperature sensors (and a nest thermostat and the Nest Smoke detectors) it's just a shame they don't also have humidity built in, so I'm thinking I need a hub like Smartthings or ecobee for humidity sensors? anything else?

    Is smartthings still a good choice, I personally don't like samsung very much, and I'd still like to use all the Google Home devices I have everywhere. I dont really want to go into Hubitat I think? Smart Life app?

    Thanks! I'm getting slightly overwhelmed with all the choices and don't want to just keep getting more and more apps to download.

    submitted by /u/bmeeee
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    Motion Motorized Shades with Bond?

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 04:20 PM PDT

    Anyone have any experience with this? Remote is advertised at 433MHz, so in theory it should be compatible, just curious if there's any success stories out there. It's the Blinds.com brand of shades, but they use MOTION motors.

    Looked at Bali first as they use Somfy motors, but they won't build a motorized shade over 70" wide

    I'd much rather use the Bond than buy and add another hub, unless I really need to

    submitted by /u/Clearskyz69
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    Cheapest option for light dimmer for Harmony Elite Remote

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 03:45 PM PDT

    I've been thinking about getting the Harmony Elite for my home theater. I don't have any smart home devices and I never plan on doing much, accept for smart dimming lights in my family room. Getting smart dimming bulbs is pretty much not an option because there are 6 bulbs on the same line, so a smart dimming switch seems to be the best option.

    What is the best option? The cheapest thing I've found is this, but it is still too expensive and it has a hub. There's nothing wrong with a hub, but it'd be better to get one with no hub required because I'm not planning on expanding.

    submitted by /u/filefolder3
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    z wave sliding glass door lock

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 03:24 PM PDT

    None really look that great

    submitted by /u/theimmortalvirus
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    LORA integration into Smarthomes

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 02:40 PM PDT

    Has anyone successfully deployed a LORA integration solution to their existing smarthome solution?

    I'd like to use a longer range and lower power solution than Wi-Fi, Zigbee or Zwave flavors have to offer.

    submitted by /u/junk4all
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    First time looking into Smart Light Switches... some (newbie) questions!

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 02:35 PM PDT

    So we recently purchased a condo (built in 2005) and we are looking to add some smart light switches throughout the unit. I've heard Lutrons were the most reliable, so that's what I am currently looking into. But I have some questions...

    ​

    1.) If I install a smart light switch, that switch can only control the lights that the previous switch controlled, correct? In other words, I can't purchase one smart switch to control EVERYTHING in the unit.

    2.) Most of my current light switches are only one switch, but I do have one that has two light switches (one that controls the hall lights and one that controls the kitchen lights). Would one smart switch work here? Or do I still need two separate smart switches?

    3.) I've heard Lutron was the way to go in terms of reliability... should I be looking at other brands or is Lutron the best of the best? Also, I will be automating these through HomeKit.

    ​

    Appreciate all the help everyone!

    submitted by /u/Molson1020
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    Smartening/Dimming a dumb Constant Current LED bar

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 02:22 PM PDT

    Hi all!

    I recently got a bargain on a Nexia Infinity LED bar (similar to this one), 4.5m long in total, consisting of 4 separate elements (pictures attached represent a single element). Each element has one Tridonic constant current LED driver (tuned to deliver 350mA, 100V max or 35W max) and 4 Tridonic LED modules in series (each obviously requiring 350mA, causing a 16V-20V drop depending on temperature, so within the driver specs, 900lm).

    To make it smart I can obviously just add a 230V (Europe) Zigbee or WiFi switch (already running deCONZ, Home Assistant, Node RED, so more than enough options to integrate). However, since 900lm per module x 4 modules per element x 4 elements is more than 14000 lumen, I want to dim this LED bar as well.

    Can I just put a 230V Zigbee/WiFi dimmer in front of the setup? I don't think so since the CC LED Driver does not seem dimmable. If not, what are my alternatives?

    Thanks and happy to provide more technical info if needed!

    submitted by /u/Mooisjken
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    Recessed lighting options.

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 05:04 AM PDT

    I am redoing my basement down to the studs. The plan is to have about 15 hi-hats, spread between 2 separate zones/switches. What options of led, Dimmable, and controlled by a device do I have? Do I do regular fixtures but install smart dimming switches? Or do I install smart light fixtures themself?

    Any suggestions on products will be helpful! Thanks!

    submitted by /u/nsavy87
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    Simple automation while my mom was staying with us.

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 07:43 AM PDT

    A little big of simple guidance?

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 01:19 PM PDT

    Hey folks,

    I'm just looking for some simple Alexa -> Home Entertainment Center guidance. Not a big home automation guy. Just hoping to simplify the entertainment center for the wife and kids.

    Basic desire is the ability to integrate with Alexa to more or less get to the point of "Alexa, Play Video games" and have it turn on the TV and set the Receiver to the appropriate input. And then variations on that theme (play movie, watch netflix, etc...)

    Seemed like the Broadlink RM Mini 4 would be the ticket, but I'm reading that the Alexa capabilities with scenes are spotty at best. Hoping you all might be able to give some opinions / options.

    Gear:

    TV: Samsung UN55KU6300 - TV is typically on one source as everything feeds through the receiver. this basically just needs powered on or off.

    Receiver: Yamaha RX-V685 - This would at least need the ability to power on and move to the right input. It would be kind of cool if it could do things like change preset "Scenes" (DSP configs), but not critical.

    Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-3700 - Probably just needs powered on or off. It would be kind of cool if you could actually pause/play the thing with Alexa but not a big deal.

    I also Also have an old VCR, a turntable, and some other odds and ends. Just junk that would need the receiver set to the proper input in order for it to work properly. None of this is very important.

    Super awesome bonus would be the ability to use Alexa to tell it to turn the receiver to the SiriusXM input and tune to a specified channel, but that is fairly pie in the sky at this point.

    ​

    Thanks!

    submitted by /u/snorkel42
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    Shelly 1 and Tasmota Problems

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 01:11 PM PDT

    I've successfully flashed tasmota on my Shelly 1. When powered by my computer using the gpio pins, the shelly can successful connect to my network, and I can see its local IP address in my router's DHCP leases. My issue is that when I disconnect the shelly from my computer and try to connect the shelly with main AC 120v power, it does not show up on my network at all. I have used a multi meter to verify that the wires are putting out 120v while connected to the shelly. I have it connected like this for testing purposes, just to verify it can connect to the network.

     

    https://i.imgur.com/vIHHLYE.jpg

     

    If it helps add context, I am trying to place the shelly 1 inline with a small 12 in extension cord, to then place between my outlet and window A/C unit to try and automate it turning on. I am not looking to use the physical switch function of the shelly like most people do with a light switch.

     

    This is one of my first forays into home automation besides setting up home assistant on a Raspberry Pi. I have googled trying to find a solution, but it seems flashing tasmota on the shelly is a less popular option. I knew shelly's app was good, but just wanted to have full on control away from any manufacturer. I'm not sure where to go from here. I'm hoping I just missed something obvious. Electrical wiring is still new to me.

     

    TLDR: Shelly w/ tasmota won't turn on/isn't detected when connected to main power.

    submitted by /u/acethebear
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    TP-Link Kasa switches + Lutron screw-less wall plate gives a clean look

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 12:39 PM PDT

    Fridge broke yesterday. Is a Smart fridge even remotely worth it? If so, which one?

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 11:02 AM PDT

    Just 2 of us in this house.

    All smart devices centered around smartthings.

    SO and I both love to cook and send a lot of time in the kitchen.

    Looking for around $2k. Major bonus if it's a labor day sale

    submitted by /u/TheRealSpaceTrout
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    Looking for HD, quality image detail cameras for my garage

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 09:40 AM PDT

    I'd like to have multiple camera angles of stuff I'm working on inside my garage, and would like to setup some PoE cameras and control them over the best camera system I can run in docker. Motion detection, audio, waterproof/outdoor, and nightvision aren't features I'm interested in (will take if economical though), as I already have other automation's for those. Basically, I'd like the cheapest good resolution and image detail quality for an 21ft x 18ft x 8ft room. I'd prefer PoE for these cameras, but I can run any cable needed, as long as it's economic.

    Thanks, list your favorite dockerized control software as well please. I'm checking out iSpy now

    submitted by /u/ROIScAsTEN
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    Looking for an outdoor motion sensor that activates a sound on my Ring alarm or Amazon Echo.

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 09:04 AM PDT

    Basically I just want to hear a sound when a car or person is in my yard.

    I contacted Ring support and they say I would need a Ring video doorbell and a Chime to make this happen. But thats like $100. Any less expensive options available?

    submitted by /u/all-the-time
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    Looking for recommendations on a smart keyless deadbolt solution

    Posted: 31 Aug 2020 08:24 AM PDT

    Hey guys I'm looking for a smart solution with some specific requirements, not sure if anything exists that will do what I want. I just moved into a new apartment with 2 detached garages and it's a pain to be constantly locking / unlocking the entry doors, having to pull out my keys and find the right one every time. I'm looking for some sort of deadbolt that ideally doesn't replace the existing lock housing (as to not alert management from the outside that I've tampered with the locks) (OR a secondary lock that I can mount completely inside the garage and leave the existing lock always unlocked) - or that mounts on the inside and physically turns the lock. Ideally this lock could be used to lock or unlock via WiFi with an app and use some sort of rfid chip or phone Bluetooth to automatically unlock / lock based on length of time the door has been unlocked or geofencing if I leave the area. Maybe that would require using IFTT ? Does anyone know if this type of lock exists or any recommendations on what I could do to make my life easier? I appreciate it. Thanks

    Or alternatively if not available does anyone know if I can swap the lock cylinders on any of these smart locks to retain the existing keys? Bare minimum I could do one of the keypad locks and just use a code. If I do change the entire lock management's primary concern will be having access to the garage for maintenance or emergency events. Again I appreciate it

    submitted by /u/nanequipo
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