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    Home Unlabelled Home Automation Does the myQ on the side of my garage opener mean it's already smart?

    Home Automation Does the myQ on the side of my garage opener mean it's already smart?

    January 04, 2021

    Home Automation Does the myQ on the side of my garage opener mean it's already smart?

    Does the myQ on the side of my garage opener mean it's already smart?

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 11:02 AM PST

    Ultimate Smart Home Hub Comparison for 2021

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 11:22 PM PST

    YT Channel "Smart Home Solver" has done a test and review of the most popular hubs:

    https://youtu.be/NNpko9jUZo8

    What's the best smart home hub for 2021? And what's going on lately with SmartThings anyways?! I've tested many of the best smart home hubs, and will compare their pros and cons to give you all the details you need for your smart home.

    submitted by /u/RScottyL
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    Video Doorbell recommendations

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 11:32 PM PST

    Hello

    I'm struggling at bit with deciding between two Video Doorbells, my criteria is that they are battery powered. So far I've narrowed it down to the two below, I've converted the Danish local prices, I keep reading that the Eufy is cheaper, but that's not the case here in Denmark.

    Anker Eufy Video Doorbell 2K V2 Set with homebase: 269$ (no sub)

    Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus/Pro: 215$ (requires sub)

    Do you I have any recommendation and experiences with either? Any pros and cons?

    submitted by /u/FoolzRailer
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    Attach DS220j to Hikvision DS-7716NI-SP / 16

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 09:12 PM PST

    Starling Hub for an Android user?

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 11:23 PM PST

    I'm a noob and I'm trying to find a good hub so please excuse my ignorance when I ask this. Would I be able to buy a Starling hub and an old ipad, set up all my home automations (nest guard/detects/cam pick up movement, turn on X lights) with the iPad, and then not really have to mess with it til I wanted to change things?

    I ask because I'm an android user heavily invested in the Google/Nest Ecosystem. My biggest concern is better integration with the nest guard and detects (ie turning on lights at night when they sense motion, broadcasting a message to my minis, etc). I can't seem to find another hub that is able to work with nest guards and detects but if you know of any please let me know.

    submitted by /u/ojoslocos21
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    Anyone use a (wiki / issue tracker to / something else) to keep track of everything you've done or everything you need to do?

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 07:43 AM PST

    Whether it's automation-related, the network, media-related,, or something similar I tinker with something at least weekly. I learned a long time ago that taking 2 minutes to add a sentence or paragraph to a journal has literally saved me hours or days of work later.

    I've been using a simple word document for a long time to look back and see how or what I did. It consists of a simple table with three columns (date, description, and tags). I've always intended to import it into something else and am now getting around to it but I'm curious to see what other people use.

    I'd prefer to self-host it since I have access to a server, but web-based would be ok if it was private and secure. I think it would be very helpful to have an issue tracker too so i can keep track of all the loose ends.

    At some point I'd like to incorporate it as a tab in my home assistant screens so others can read it to.

    So what do you use?

    submitted by /u/MorimotoK
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    9V capable receptacle? Similar to USB ones?

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 05:35 PM PST

    Anyone know if there is such as thing like a wall receptacle that puts out 9v similar to how some have USB power outputs?

    I have a small panel that takes 9V power it's going to be placed close to where I already have a wall receptacle so hoping to just run a small cable to it. There isn't room to add a full 9V adapter.

    submitted by /u/briodan
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    If you invested in zwave, what are your regrets?

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 05:15 PM PST

    All of my wyze door/window and motion sensors are dead via 00 mac address issue and past warranty replacement period. They were integrated into home assistant and worked great until the issue came.

    Now i want to replace them with zwave but feel like I will be disappointed a little after installing them and setting up automations. What were your regrets after investing in zwave?

    submitted by /u/jM2me
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    Hide my electronics!

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 05:15 PM PST

    Hi,

    I have an Amazon gift card and hoping there exists a solution for my needs. I need to store all my hubs basically out in the open area of my dining room and essentially have a corner where it works best. I saw bookshelf facade but I think I'm looking for some type of planter box or something that I can put underneath a plant? Any creative ideas or suggestions definitely appreciated!

    submitted by /u/almosttan
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    Feit Dimmer 4-way switching (solution)

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 02:20 PM PST

    Feit Dimmer 4-way switching (solution)

    This is less a question, and more of a "What I did to solve the issue". I had done some extensive searching and was unable to find a solution here that was both clear and confirmed as working, so I thought, with them being such a popular deal at Costco, that I would add something to the mix and try and pull the things I learned from many places into just one post. Apologies if this has been well covered and just didn't show in my searches.

    ---

    DISCLAIMER: I am not an electrician and, while I am electrical savvy as compares to the average homeowner, you should not take my knowledge as being that of an expert. I make no claim of having all the answers and make no warranty as to the accuracy of what comes below - it's merely my best documentation of what I've found and what worked for me within my context and laymen's knowledge of the NEC and safe practices. If you have any questions or doubts about anything in this post, I would recommend you consult a licensed electrician for your install. Most of all, be sure to use proper electrical testing tools to verify that power is off not only to the specific light switches being worked on, but everything else in the switch boxes being worked in. Do not trust that the mere fact the light is off means the box is really void of power. As an example, I had made sure every set of lights switched from every switch in every box was off, and still found a set of 3 wire nutted wires that were still hot (using a switch box as a j-box is fine), so test even after you're sure.

    ---

    First, recognize that these switches have an element of "you get what you pay for". They are super inexpensive. They are functional but have quirks, but that is a post for another time. They work with Siri (as well as Alexa and Google Assistant) but do not support Homekit. Wiring options for both single pole and 3-way are included with the packaging, but nothing for 4-way. To date, I'm aware of two options for getting a 4-way installation done, and I'll touch on both as well as why I chose the path I'm using.

    Option 1:

    Searches on the internet related to 4-way arrangements and Feit dimmers most frequently show some variation of this:

    ​

    Feit Example of 4-way Using 3 (or more) Feit Dimmers

    This is confirmed as a viable choice, but I have noted multiple instances of someone claiming that this approach caused one of their dimmers to audibly "pop" and die. Based on what I'm seeing of this design and my implementations of the switch, my guess is that they blew it (literally) by a miswire that either had hots coming from a different phase or power to into a neutral as well as AC-L, but I haven't seen enough diagnosis afterward to call my guess anything but conjecture. I have not used this particular approach due to:

    • The need for unnecessary multiple dimmers
    • The challenges that can exist getting line voltage from the same circuit into multiple locations of existing installs. Many suggest you can pull the line voltage off different circuits, but this would be an NEC violation as I understand it, and most definitely would create a hazardous scenario where someone could easily think they had shut power off and still have all or some of the switches with power to them.

    A plus to this approach is that adding additional switches to the circuit should functionally be as simple as adding additional copies of Dimmer 2 above.

    Option 2:

    My choice is to use a single smart dimmer approach as follows. My understanding is that this originally came from an engineer at Feit, but I can not confirm that source:

    ​

    Example of 4-way Using a Single Feit Dimmer and Otherwise Standard Switches

    The provided photo is a bit less clean, but it's a bit closer to a typical 4-way in a non-smart installation with a few key differences:

    • C2 is functionally unnecessary since the logic of it is handled in the smart switch.
    • Since the smart dimmer has to be on the load side, but also must have full-time power to keep the electronics available, it must also have line power directly (i.e., unswitched).

    I have used this successfully with everything working on the first try. The challenge for most is going to be how to get the line power to the dimmer which, being on the load side, may not have had unswitched power available to it in the non-smart install. For my installation, my solution was pretty straight forward:

    • Repurpose the white leg (normally used as a neutral) between the line side 3-way and the 4-way to carry line power. Note that you MUST tag that repurposed wire as hot via some form of standard marking. I used both the AC-L labels included with the Feit dimmer, but also use the single wrap of electrical tape method as an additional indication (the tape used should be black or red).
    • Wire-tie the repurposed white from the line side 3-way to the existing wire (probably black) previously attached to C2 on the 4-way switch to run line power to the Feit dimmer on the load side. Since the prior C2 was already a hot, no re-coding should be required, but be used and check for safety.

    For my installation, the primary hassle was retrieving what was sometimes a very large neutral bundle from the back of the multi-gang box to trace and remove the neutral I was repurposing, then get it all nice and tidy back in the box. Overall, it was a pretty clean install that has run flawlessly subject to known Feit dimmer quirks.

    Hopefully, this is helpful to those who, like me, were struggling to find comprehensive solutions to the 4-way Feit switch issue.

    submitted by /u/prosql
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    Water shut off valve that integrates with ring?

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 08:12 AM PST

    Reposting to clarify some things from my first post.

    I own a ring alarm system. I also already have ring water sensors. I want to get a wifi water shut off valve that integrates with ring. I see that flo works, but that seems to be the most expensive one. There are a lot of others that are much less expensive but I can't find any that integrate with ring's system.

    This is the only one that officially works: https://meetflo.com/collections/smart-water-security-kits/products/starter-kit

    My goal is to get a water shut off valve that can shut off my water if my ring water sensors detect water. I don't want to get new sensors because I already own the ring sensors and because these already send me an alert via ring that there is water. If I'm not home, however, I have no way of turning off the water.

    Any suggestions welcome.

    submitted by /u/ahswp
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    Track Chores in Home Assistant with Grocy & NFC Tags - Tutorial Project

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 01:24 PM PST

    Hubitat vs Home Assistant

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 03:52 PM PST

    Just bought a new home but can't decide which one to use. I've been told hubitat is close to smart things which is what I had at my parents for a second. However, I hear that home assistant is good too. However with home assistant do you have to buy the zigbee adapter or something for it to work with it? If I put it on a PC? Thanks in advanced!

    submitted by /u/Friendlyx
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    Lutron Caseta with Shop Lights

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 01:58 PM PST

    I'm redoing my workshop and have Caseta switches everywhere else, has anyone had any luck with a brand of shop light (4ft long ones) that dim well with Caseta dimmers?

    submitted by /u/jslowick
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    Trunking /conduit for Lidl LED strips

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST

    I bought some of the 2m Lidl Zigbee led strips before Christmas and I'd like to put them behind the headboard of our bed, angled backwards and up.

    However, the strips are encased in a clear plastic(?), which makes them pretty wide, about 15mm. Has anyone managed to put these in a 45 degree angled aluminium profile? None of the ones that I see online seem to have a wide enough channel in this shape - I can only find "normal" straight ones.

    I guess I could use those and attach them in the side so that they're only pointing upwards, but I'd prefer angled.

    submitted by /u/digi-ghost
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    YoLink motion sensors turning on my LIFX lights with no motion.

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 01:16 PM PST

    Recently purchased a motion sensor for my garage and bedroom so when I walk in the lights go on. I have the YoLink hub/motion sensors and I'm using IFTTT to turn on my LIFX lights when they sense motion.

    They work great. I walk in, the lights go on and I get a notification that motion has been sensed.

    Problem is the lights are now randomly turning on with no motion being sensed. I look through the history of the motion sensors and they are not being activated to trigger the lights. They just randomly pop on. This doesn't and hasn't happened with any of the other LIFX lights in my home.

    Anyone have this issue before or can maybe point me in the right direction?

    submitted by /u/akfromla
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    Connect zigbee button to VeraPlus

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 01:14 PM PST

    Hi everyone. I have a zigbee Aqara mini switch button. I'm able to pair it successfully as a generic device to my VeraPlus hub, but it's not recognised as a button.

    Anyone have advice or experience? Thanks.

    submitted by /u/feedibox
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    Is the blink outdoor camera good? Is the battery life legit ?

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 04:52 PM PST

    I'm debating between this camera or wyze camera through my window and some sort of outdoor motion light.

    The blink seems more straight forward, but I don't want the subscription. I'm wondering if anyone uses it local storage only and how the battery life is so far?

    Thanks !

    submitted by /u/Nochinnn
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    HomeKit vs Alexa stability

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 08:08 PM PST

    I'm exploring some options for HA in preparation of the home we are building over the next few months, and am still unsure what platform I want to use. We're an Apple household, so Homekit was my initial plan. I bought a few Tuya compatible lights and connected them with homebridge. However, they've been a little unstable and quickly losing the support of my wife in this project. Internet is strong (although I'll be moving to a mesh system in the new house), and running HB on an always-on Pi. Also using an Apple TV as my hub.

    Twice in the past week, I've had to re-add the bulbs in my office, and my wife has had issues making our bedroom lights function properly. But when Home works, it works.

    I'm thinking of testing out my Echo with my office lights tomorrow, but I'm curious of there's an issue on my end (bulbs, homebridge) or if it's HomeKit that's causing the issue.

    TIA

    submitted by /u/Intellektual01
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    Sonoff Zigbee vs Aqara?

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 12:34 PM PST

    Does anyone have any experience with how the Sonoff Zigbee temperature/motion sensors compare to their Aqara equivalents?

    The Sonoff sensors look to be a a little easier/cheaper to get hold of the in the UK. I currently run a network which is mostly Aqara sensors and Tradfri bulbs controlled by zigbee2mqtt.

    submitted by /u/intrinseca
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    Moving up from ST for my new home. What is the best hub at start of 2021?

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 11:19 AM PST

    I got a zwave stick for Christmas and want to start fresh on the new home. What is the best service currently? I mainly will use to to voice control devices but I like the monitor energy and data so I would like to be able to graph things. I also have used an Action tables web ui on my kitchen tablet so I would love to display stuff on it with the new hub.

    submitted by /u/DumbDumbGoodbye
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    Issue with Lombex WIFI strip

    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 12:28 PM PST

    Model LLS RGB-1. Using the app I can get it to connect and then after a few mins the connection drops and then it will never reconnect. I've tried resetting the device multiple times and it always seems to happen. Any advice on how to fix this?

    submitted by /u/Liamcooke95
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