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    Home Unlabelled Home Automation Custom-made Lutron Caséta Pico Remotes: Single, Double, Triple and Quads

    Home Automation Custom-made Lutron Caséta Pico Remotes: Single, Double, Triple and Quads

    January 13, 2021

    Home Automation Custom-made Lutron Caséta Pico Remotes: Single, Double, Triple and Quads

    Custom-made Lutron Caséta Pico Remotes: Single, Double, Triple and Quads

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 04:14 PM PST

    I added such a remote control to my home automation, now I can control some devices not only from my phone, which is quite convenient.

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 07:41 AM PST

    Successfully installed almost all my Tuya wifi smart wall switches with NO neutral wiring (line only). They work great!

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 10:06 AM PST

    Just swapped my GE Enlighten switches for Lutron Caseta, highly recommend it!

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:51 PM PST

    I've been on the hunt for some smart light switches for my house. I already have a few miscellaneous Z-Wave devices and I use home assistant so I was looking for something that was z-wave to fit into the same system, and I wanted just a simple paddle shaped switch rather than anything too crazy looking. GE Enlighten switches seemed to fit the bill perfectly, but unfortunately I can't recommend them as a product.

    First off, installing them was a huge pain. It got a little easier by the 3rd one but still difficult. The screws on the sides are loose when unscrewed if that makes sense, so they flop back into the housing and you can't get the wire underneath them. You have to tip it upside down in each direction that a screw sticks out and then very gently try to slip the wire under and try that multiple times until you manage to slip it under. I swear it took me like 15 minutes per screw for the first few screws. They require a neutral too so that's one extra wire to hook up as well.

    But the real issue is that they really just don't work with LED bulbs. I have two types of light fixtures that I tried them on, and ceiling pot lights and a chandelier type light with GE LED bulbs. The pot lights worked horribly, they blinked like crazy and not even just when dimming but also somehow at full power they were still strobing. Even the GE bulbs still had a bit of flickering, and a really loud buzz to them.

    I just swapped them out for Caseta, which were super easy to install - it comes with wires pre-attached, so you just screw the ends into a nut for each wire, no hooking up wires into the switch at all. No neutral wire. And no need to install 3-way circuits since you can just use a pico remote mounted into the wallplate, which looks and feels exactly like the real switches. And they work beautifully so far, they dim my lights perfectly with no flickering at all.

    The reason I didn't just do this from the beginning is I think the Caseta switches are kind of ugly. I'm not a fan of such a busy look on the wall with 4 split buttons and an icon on each one, rather than just a simple intuitive paddle. However, once they're on the wall you really don't notice them after a while, I'm getting used to the look. Part of me is wondering if I should try to figure out the Radio Ra2 system, maybe I'll consider it for a few days and make sure the look doesn't bother me, but that seems like a huge hassle since they're not even really a consumer product and you need special training to be able to program them or whatever.

    Anyway, just thought I'd post my experience in case anyone else is on the fence about these. Just listen to what everyone says and go with Lutron from the beginning!

    submitted by /u/poolontheroof
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    Activate my Lutron Caseta lights when the Eve Door & Window Sensor is triggered?

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 10:03 PM PST

    I have several Lutron Caseta switches at home that power lights in different rooms. I also have the Lutron SmartBridge, and every light switch appears in HomeKit without issue.

    I've recently acquired a few of the Eve Door & Window sensors and the Eve app is great. Setup was a breeze and I see the sensor in HomeKit. Very responsive.

    What I'd like to do now is set up an automation so that when the sensor is OPEN, the hallway lights are turned ON. This is for a door that leads from the garage into a hallway.

    The HomeKit app would not let me automate anything for the Eve Sensor, so I went to the Eve app to create the automation. I had previously defined the Scene "Hallway lights on" in the HomeKit app first, with the Lutron Caseta set to 100% as the action. This scene appears in the Eve app.

    I create the rule in the Eve app. Everything looks OK.

    When I press the "Test" button back in HomeKit for the scene, the hallway lights turn on.

    When I open the door for real, the lights do not react at all.

    Any tips?

    submitted by /u/eaglebtc
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    KaithemAutomation V0.65.50: More SCADA Tagpoint-y, with less code and config, than ever!

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 03:54 PM PST

    Have you ever wanted to stream music from your phone, pass it through a reverb(Which you can edit from the web), mix in a live microphone stream, and adjust the whole thing based on your WiFi signal strength, without writing any code?

    I suspect the answer is no. But how about creating an excessively-decorated dashboard, like as if we never left 2003, with a no-code dashboard builder, as a frontend for your contrived audio setup? I'm guessing also no, but it's a little more plausible.

    But just in case you're doing some unusual interactive art stuff like me, there's Kaithem!

    What's new in this release is that the tagpoint system has been greatly enhanced. Inspired by industrial control systems, most everything exposes itself as a TagPoint. Think somewhere between a variable, and an Excel spreadsheet cell, that you can set, get, subscribe to, and override.

    Want to control your YeeLight from a dashboard? Create the YeeLight device in the device manager, and the tagpoint representing it's color shows up in the list.

    Set up the permissions for it in the tags manager, then head over to the dashboard builder(Thank you Bug Labs!), and that tag will be available in the Kaithem API datasource, which you can connect a colorpicker widget to.

    Want to make sure nobody can control it from the dashboard? Just go back to the tag manager and set up a higher priority override claim, and set it's color to a fixed value, or even a spreadsheet =expression based on some other tag value, perhaps "/sky/civilTwilight" to see if it's dark out.

    As always, it's still FOSS, pure-python, unzip-and run, and carefully designed to work with version control, and to be gentle on flash memory.

    https://github.com/EternityForest/KaithemAutomation

    submitted by /u/EternityForest
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    Two Different Smart Bulb Manufacturers Use the Same App!

    Posted: 13 Jan 2021 12:29 AM PST

    I'm using two different bulbs. One is branded Teckin and the other iTek. Problem is both bulbs run the same app! I mean, there are two separate apps to control each bulb, but the software is the same.. So when I go to link Google Assistant to Smart Life, it says 1 device connected and there's no option to add another... Google is recognizing the two separate apps as one because the program they use to link to Google Assistant is the same.

    iTek Bulb / iTek Smart Home app / Smart Life link to Google

    Teckin Bulb / Smart Life App / Smart Life link to Google

    submitted by /u/checho503
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    Looking for Beta Users in Bangalore, India for Smart Home Switches & Sockets. Any leads would be helpful. Comment or DM for more details.

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:23 AM PST

    Ecosmart Zigbee bulbs, quick thoughts.

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 04:48 PM PST

    So, I tried to post a couple times earlier, I think the spam filters prevented it from popping up cause it had the price in the title.

    So anyways, I was in Home Depot today killin some time. I ran into a two pack of EcoSmart Zigbee bulbs. Since they were only $10 bucks, I bought them to test them out.

    The quick specs:

    Price's $10 for 2

    A19 Bulbs

    60w equivalent

    800 lumens

    2700k to 6500k (so, all types of white)

    Box says compatible only with smart things and echo plus hubs, but they do pair with Hubitat, they are Zigbee v3 complaint.

    So, got them home and they work exactly as advertised. I don't think I've ever seen anything this cheap, not to mention being able to adjust the white color. I use Hue around the house, and usually I end up just getting the color bulbs vs the white ambience since they're $30. I've seen sengled 2 packs for 20, which I thought was good but those are 2700k.

    So, the Ecosmart for $5 bucks a piece is a steal for a Zigbee white adjustable 2700k-6500k bulb. In fact, they're almost just as cheap as regular LED bulbs.

    The only downside I saw, which isn't really one, is I did try to pair them with a Hue hub via the search function. Obviously it didn't find it. I wished it would because I really like the Hue smart dimmer switch functionality for multiple presses to change colors/scenes and also adjust dimness, so if anyone knows a compatible button with Hubitat that does the same thing that'd be awesome.

    I'm surprised I haven't seen these on here before, so thought I'd just post it and see what others thought.

    submitted by /u/kaizokudave
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    Automating water circulation pump

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:09 PM PST

    I want to put in a water circulation pump. Old one died a while ago but it would be nice to have hot water for sink, shower faster without wasting water.

    I was thinking there might be a wifi one that could work with google assistant. Or perhaps have a smart plug to turn it on or off.

    Has anyone set something like this up?

    submitted by /u/Wassup554411
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    Smart Vents?

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:53 PM PST

    I'm looking online for vents that can be controlled by google home (or nest thermostat) that can help temperature regulate specific rooms. Is this possible? Google this issues leads to articles from years ago so not sure if anything new has happened in this space.

    P.s. I do not own the nest pucks that help determine the room temperature.

    submitted by /u/asds999
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    Confused about smartphone hubs

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 07:18 PM PST

    Can someone please help provide some perspective or personal best practices? I am somewhat new to the smart home scene but am a quick learning and have a tech background.

    We have a new house with many devices: - 4 Samsung smart TVs, with Sonos soundboard - Sonos amps for several rooms - 75 Lutron Caseta devices (light switches and pico remotes) - 10 hue lights - Amazon Alexa devices scattered in places - Hunter Douglass automated blinds - August Smart locks - myQ garage openers - Ring indoors and outdoor cameras and doorbell - UniFi network setup - Some other random crap like sprinkler system, laundry, shower, etc. Not commonly used smart features.

    Any one of these devices or services is easy to set up with their own app. Many apps have their own iPhone shortcuts, scenes, timers, automations. When I first set them up, I created some scenes (ie Lutron shortcuts to turn on several light groups). I was able to add most to Alexa to be voice controlled and set them up in "rooms". I did similar setup, though only partway with Apple Home app. This way I can control most things with Alexa, or with Siri (if outside there is no Alexa, or if wearing headphones).

    I have heard that it's much neater to use Home Assistant. I set up a Pi for it today, and am just looking to begin setting up. The things it automatically identifies so far are messy - all of my UDM router traffic? - all of my Rachio sprinkler zones? I am also confused why I want this to integrate with Alexa or Apple Home from Home Assistant. By doing so, now some devices are duplicated in Apple Home app. Is using Home Assistant going to be more convenient than just using Alexa for managing everything (despite interface sucking)? How do people deal with multiple smart home managing services, Alexa, Siri, etc?

    Sorry for the long winded comment. Can you please share your experience or best practice? Of course I will not be swapping out things like Lutron or blinds at this point though....

    Thank you!!!

    submitted by /u/dimab0
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    Innovelli or Lutron?

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:56 AM PST

    So one of my GE switches is dying. I'm in the process of deciding on what I want to do. A bit of context, I have a Hubitat hub, but don't really automate very much and primarily use Alexa to control my lights. I have a innovelli dimmer in my bedroom and also have a spare lutron switch when I previously used a Wink hub.

    If I don't automate very much, would I be better off slowly switching to Lutron (standard bridge, not SUPER interested in purchasing the pro bridge) and calling it a day, or continue to use the hubitat/z wave switches?

    submitted by /u/jhnversion1
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    Connecting LED Strips

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:56 PM PST

    So, my problem is I ran strips around my son's room and I didnt realize that after the 3rd strip, the LEDs at the end are a little dimmer than the beginning of the run.

    I ordered a small strip and was ready to go. My plan was to get a small strip and just connect them to the hub as it is only about 3 feet short. The problem is that the 12+/G/B/R markings dont match up. Because I originally had 64 feet of strips, I knew the distance around the room and up behind a dresser was just about to the max of the strips I had. If I realized this error, I would have run both of the strips from the hub and just connected the 3 feet in the middle.

    So if i connect the new strip to the hub and run up the 3 feet, cut and attach to the end of the original, the markings do not line up. I do have the connectors for going around corners. Is there anyway to correctly connect these.

    Sorry if this is confusing, but hopefully you all get the point.

    TIA

    submitted by /u/GrymReaper425
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    Help with resetting second hand smart plugs?

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:04 PM PST

    Hi all, help please! I can pick up some second hand smart plugs for a decent price (4 x plug Powerboard type) they are Arlec Grid Connect brand, a popular brand here in Australia. Question I have is when I sync them to my app on my phone will that automatically remove the ability for the previous user to control the plugs? I am 99% sure that it would its just I'm not too good with this stuff ☺️ thank you in advance!

    submitted by /u/LJNZ
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    Returning smart bulbs. Do I have to worry about my wifi and pwd being on it?

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:00 PM PST

    I bought some BroadLink Smart Bulbs so I could play around with colored lights in lamps. I didn't like them (underpowered, not very well saturated). I'm all in on the Novostella's.

    Anyhow, when I set up one of the BroadLink bulbs I had to give it my wifi and pwd. Is it flashed on the bulb somewhere now? Do I have to do something before I return them?

    Thanks!

    submitted by /u/purpledust
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    Caseta PD 6WCL to dum switch (to work with WIZ lights)

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:08 PM PST

    Hi Reddit

    Sorry this might be a noob question. So we got 12 WIZ recess lights in our basement and realized too late that these aren't compatible with LUTRON dimmers. We would use the lutron PD-6WCL switches in another location in our house so this isn't a big deal.

    I see that the previous owner somehow eliminated the ground on these lutrons as seen in this image: https://imgur.com/a/qkaMNZ1

    Are these usable in other locations now that they've modified it like this to eliminate the grouding wire?

    In the current setup, the previous installer converted a 3 way switch to single pole (Since they have a pico remote downstairs in the basement, where it would have been the other 3 way switch)

    Is it ok to just swap out these lutron switches without the ground hooked up to the new standard decora type 15A switch?

    They are side-by-side on the Lutron switch so that is also sort of adding to my apprehension about doing this swap on my own. Guess one black wire goes to top screw and one to the bottom?

    Thanks for the help!

    submitted by /u/gullyBo1z
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    Future proof smart lights/switches?

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:35 AM PST

    So I went down the rabbit hole of home automation and now I'm fully ready to commit. I love the idea of smart devices and I think I'm ready to integrate that into my house a little bit. My only question is what's the best way to go about this. Currently I live in a rental house with 2 roommates, so I think for now I will only do my bedroom. However I also see myself owning a house within the next 3 years or so, therefore I'm hoping for something I can take with me and eventually have running throughout my entire house.

    My bedroom has around 3 switches which control 1, 3, and 6 lights respectively (closet, bedroom, bathroom). Optimally, I want to have the lights in my bedroom work as a sunrise alarm and change their color temp throughout the day (more full spectrum during the day and warmer colors at night). I also would ultimately prefer to have the smart lights hook up with smart switches since sometimes turning them off that way is more convenient than having a chat with alexa. I have experience rebuilding a house so I'm more than comfortable rewiring switches if it comes to that.

    What light setup do you guys have? I see that the philips hue bulbs are popular and also have optional switches but they seem outrageously expensive compared to some of the other options. Should I just go with the smart switches instead and then get smart lights later? What are my options here? Thanks for your advice.

    EDIT: Kind of got my question answered by a friend. I think I'm going to get the philips hue starter set along with their wireless dimmer switch. Installing smart switches in my rental is not super feasible. But this way I get the best of both worlds with a wall switch and smart lights that can change color, without the hassle of installing a wall switch.

    submitted by /u/Fake_Name_2019
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    SimpleCommands

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:01 PM PST

    Is there a good tutorial out there for SimpleCommand? I just downloaded this and anything I see on YouTube shows a different version of the app than I have now. I'm having trouble setting up event triggers. I appreciate any help.

    submitted by /u/Mt11784
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    Smart devices/wifi problem

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 02:26 PM PST

    Hi, I'm having a Wifi problem with smart devices. I'm hoping it is a Verizon issue as I'll get to in a minute but want to make sure I'm not missing anything obvious.

    A few months ago I upgraded to Fios Gigabit wifi. I have a wifi6 router that uses the same ssid for 5 and 2.4 bands. I am able to set up my smart devices on it (Lenovo Display, two GH minis, TV, various bulbs, plugs, and switches).

    Every so often, every single device just loses its connection and goes offline at the same time. Sometimes they come back simultaneously (rare), sometimes a few devices come back but not others (common), sometimes few/none of the come back (also rare). What the heck is going on!?

    Currently, all of my minis, TV, and Lenovo display work, but two switches (TP-Link), two plugs (Wyze), several bulbs (Wyze/Smartlife) and a JBL speaker won't come back online. When I try to reinstall them, they just fail to connect to wifi. This happens when I try to install the speaker within the GH app, or when I try to install the bulbs/plugs in their specific apps, so I don't think it's a google issue. Obviously my wifi works because other devices (including "2.4 only" devices) work on it.

    Eventually a few resets of everything gets the job done but obviously very frustrating

    A couple of points: sometimes my phone loses its wifi connection, saying it "can't authenticate", and I have to forget and resave the wifi network. Could this have something to do?

    As I said, I hope this is a verizon issue because I have Ubiquiti hardware arriving and hopefully this weekend will set up Unifi access points for wifi throughout the home. So, do you think the switch to Ubiquiti will solve this?

    Thanks in advance!

    submitted by /u/Tnyt341
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    Smart Kitchen Appliances with Ethernet ports?

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 11:36 AM PST

    I'm running low-volt in the kitchen and was pondering adding data jacks behind appliances like the dishwasher, stove, etc to increase HA connectivity options, or it this would be a pointless endeavor. I found a Gaggenau oven with Ethernet but everything else seems to be WiFi only.

    submitted by /u/brodie7838
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    Help with frustrating skybell all

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 04:15 PM PST

    We moved to a new construction where they had skybell doorbell on it... This thing has been one frustrating piece of equipment... I can't do anything to get the finnaky app to work.

    Using android.. I get past the red/green flashing screen, then it has me put phone in airplane mode then a green button to get to the next page of setup shows up at bottom of screen.

    Here's the super annoying part. Next page has you open wifi settings and connect to the skybell network. When I do this, it never shows the green button to go to the next screen no matter what I do. I consider myself pretty tech savy so not getting past this screen is getting beyond frustrating. I've uninstalled the app and reinstalled with the same results... Stuck on the screen asking you to connect to skybell.

    Here's to hoping someone on this page has ran into a similar problem and knows the solution.

    submitted by /u/salennon07
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    Door sensors with buzzer/audio feedback?

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 04:03 AM PST

    Hey all!

    My kiddos tend to leave doors open a lot. So I'm looking to make multiple door sensors to help remind them to close them. Seems like a fun project they can help with too. Noob to Arduino. But considering ESP because of their capabilities too for future WiFi or BT connectivity.

    The plans are that when the doors open, each door will have its own unique sound. If they're left open longer, they'll get louder or make slightly different sounds... maybe up to 3 or 4 different levels on each door.

    Anyone know of any existing cheap hardware already out there that contains this type of hardware that's hackable/reprogrammable to do this?

    My goals are battery powered for months at a time--maybe using my current inventory of rechargeable NiMH AA/AAA's. I may want boards that have built in battery charging too in case I have future outdoor solar projects.

    Thanks fellow makers! -Scotty

    submitted by /u/macgyver24x7
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    Google Home - Lights - “It looks like that device hasn't been set up yet”

    Posted: 12 Jan 2021 02:50 PM PST

    I'm having an odd issue where Google has stopped accepting the commands "turn on/off the lights." (It worked until a few weeks ago; haven't made any changes in the meantime.) I've checked that I've got the Nest Minis set in the Home app to be in the same room as the lights they're supposed to be controlling.

    In the bedroom, I've got 4 Philips Hue lights. If I say "turn on the lights," I get the error "It looks like that device hasn't been set up yet". If I say "dim the lights," it works fine. So it clearly knows which lights I'm talking about. If I say "turn off the bedroom lights," it also works.

    I just set up a Geenie power strip in the living room today and it's giving me a similar issue. The device type is set to "Light (Outlet)". If I say "Turn on the lights" to the living room Nest Mini, it gives the "device hasn't been set up" error. Here, however, "turn on the living room lights" also fails. But "turn on the lights in the living room" works. ?☹️? "Turn on the lamp" (the name of the device) also works as expected.

    I know this is kind of nit picky, but it's really inconvenient for everyone in the family to all have to re-learn what we're supposed to be asking for.

    submitted by /u/spid3y
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