Home Assistant beginners

Welshman · 26 Nov 2024 at 10:35

reef said:
Does this work instead (last 4 lines):

Code:

action: - service: shell_command.pvoutputcurl data: {} mode: single

Welshman · 26 Nov 2024 at 10:36

Welshman said:

String does match the pattern

Welshman · 26 Nov 2024 at 11:24

superb patience shown by @reef to got my automation from HA into Pvoutput. Very much appreciated

Welshman · 26 Nov 2024 at 11:27

i can now shutdown yet another sensor and less cables in my office. as the efergy system is playing up real bad today.

Welshman · 26 Nov 2024 at 19:55

Question to the home assistant massive…..

I have found out that the fox solar generation sensor within HA is a calculation based on pv power, due to the fact that fox OpenApi doesnt allow the actual solar generation sensor to be used, same as the export sensor.

Which has got me thinking, can a create two new sensors based of those onse and increase it by around the 12% that its under calculating or am i just speaking/thinking nonensense??

the-evaluator · 27 Nov 2024 at 05:50

Welshman said:
Question to the home assistant massive…..

I have found out that the fox solar generation sensor within HA is a calculation based on pv power, due to the fact that fox OpenApi doesnt allow the actual solar generation sensor to be used, same as the export sensor.

Which has got me thinking, can a create two new sensors based of those onse and increase it by around the 12% that its under calculating or am i just speaking/thinking nonensense??

Templates are your friend here. Using the temperature sensor in my airing cupboard as an example:

Code:

{{ (states('sensor.airing_cupboard_temperature_sensor_temperature')| float(0) * 1.12 | float(0)) | round(2) }}

It'll take the current temperature, multiple it by 1.12 (so that's your extra 12%) and round it to 2 decimal places.

Welshman · 27 Nov 2024 at 07:23

the-evaluator said:
Templates are your friend here. Using the temperature sensor in my airing cupboard as an example:

Code:

{{ (states('sensor.airing_cupboard_temperature_sensor_temperature')| float(0) * 1.12 | float(0)) | round(2) }}

It'll take the current temperature, multiple it by 1.12 (so that's your extra 12%) and round it to 2 decimal places.

do i put this code in config.yaml in the editor software??

the-evaluator · 27 Nov 2024 at 08:14

Welshman said:
do i put this code in config.yaml in the editor software??

There's a few ways you can use them, have a read of this.

I've got a few defined in configuration.yaml:

Code:

template:
  - sensor:
      - name: "Internet Download"
        state: "{{ (states('sensor.uxg_wan_in_stats')|float(0)*8/1024/1024)|round(2) }}"
        unit_of_measurement: "Mbps"
      - name: "Internet Upload"
        state: "{{ (states('sensor.uxg_wan_out_stats')|float(0)*8/1024/1024)|round(2) }}"
        unit_of_measurement: "Mbps"

I can then call those sensors elsewhere. Such as:

Code:

type: gauge
entity: sensor.internet_download
name: " Download"
min: 0
max: 900
needle: true
severity:
  green: 0
  yellow: 750
  red: 850

Which gives this:

If you're a Facebook user then then the 'Home Assistant UK Community' group is very useful. There's people there that know HA extremely well and are keen to help out.

Welshman · 27 Nov 2024 at 10:00

the-evaluator said:
There's a few ways you can use them, have a read of this.

I've got a few defined in configuration.yaml:

Code:

template: - sensor: - name: "Internet Download" state: "{{ (states('sensor.uxg_wan_in_stats')|float(0)*8/1024/1024)|round(2) }}" unit_of_measurement: "Mbps" - name: "Internet Upload" state: "{{ (states('sensor.uxg_wan_out_stats')|float(0)*8/1024/1024)|round(2) }}" unit_of_measurement: "Mbps"

I can then call those sensors elsewhere. Such as:

Code:

type: gauge entity: sensor.internet_download name: " Download" min: 0 max: 900 needle: true severity: green: 0 yellow: 750 red: 850

Which gives this:

If you're a Facebook user then then the 'Home Assistant UK Community' group is very useful. There's people there that know HA extremely well and are keen to help out.

thats brilliant @the-evaluator i will take a look at these and try and get better data going forward, as i'm not happy with cloud data from Fox being so out of whack

Feek · 9 Dec 2024 at 12:39

I've been pointed at Home Assistant and I don't know if it would be of any use to me or not.

My smart home is all Apple HomeKit and I also have a Pi running Homebridge which I use to interface my Ring Doorbell and my Pi-holes into HomeKit. The Ring integration isn't great, I don't get popups on the AppleTV when the doorbell rings (like it's supposed to) and the HomePods only sometimes make an alert when someone rings the bell.

The Pi-hole integration is great, I can say "Siri, disable pi-hole" or "Siri, enable pi-hole" and it works.

My Hue stuff goes through the Hue hub and into HomeKit.

Everything else talks direct to HomeKit. I have a couple of Taco smart plugs which I added to HomeKit by scanning the QR codes.

Would there be any benefit in switching to Home Assistant? Would the Ring stuff work properly and could I do the same with the Pi-holes?

dlockers · 9 Dec 2024 at 12:54

Feek said:
I've been pointed at Home Assistant and I don't know if it would be of any use to me or not.

My smart home is all Apple HomeKit and I also have a Pi running Homebridge which I use to interface my Ring Doorbell and my Pi-holes into HomeKit. The Ring integration isn't great, I don't get popups on the AppleTV when the doorbell rings (like it's supposed to) and the HomePods only sometimes make an alert when someone rings the bell.

The Pi-hole integration is great, I can say "Siri, disable pi-hole" or "Siri, enable pi-hole" and it works.

My Hue stuff goes through the Hue hub and into HomeKit.

Everything else talks direct to HomeKit. I have a couple of Taco smart plugs which I added to HomeKit by scanning the QR codes.

Would there be any benefit in switching to Home Assistant? Would the Ring stuff work properly and could I do the same with the Pi-holes?

You've basically bought consumer level gear that should work out of the box; so whilst HA "may" work in this scenario, it is definitely more at the expert end of the spectrum. Not saying it is impossible to use, or even difficult to use for a basic setup, but it feels like you were heading a "works and simple" direction and adding HA may make it overly complex.

Bonus is you can just install it on your home PC and give it a go (via a Virtual Machine).

Feek · 9 Dec 2024 at 12:57

dlockers said:
You've basically bought consumer level gear that should work out of the box; so whilst HA "may" work in this scenario, it is definitely more at the expert end of the spectrum. Not saying it is impossible to use, or even difficult to use for a basic setup, but it feels like you were heading a "works and simple" direction and adding HA may make it overly complex.

Well the Ring stuff doesn't work as well as it should so if HA can fix that, it's something I'd be happy to switch over to. I don't have an issue with the 'expert end of the spectrum' at all.

dlockers said:
Bonus is you can just install it on your home PC and give it a go (via a Virtual Machine).

I have spare Pis, I wouldn't faff about with a VM.

dlockers · 9 Dec 2024 at 12:58

Feek said:
Well the Ring stuff doesn't work as well as it should so if HA can fix that, it's something I'd be happy to switch over to. I don't have an issue with the 'expert end of the spectrum' at all.

I have spare Pis, I wouldn't faff about with a VM.

There's nothing stopping you having a go then - it is a great thing to tinker with. It could keep you busy for minutes or days. It sits "alongside" all your other gear, so you aren't making any irreversible/semi-permanent changes. A Pi will be fine to run it whilst you get familiar.

I don't know of anyone with Ring + HA combo although I'm sure they exist.

Simon42 · 9 Dec 2024 at 13:13

Feek said:
I've been pointed at Home Assistant and I don't know if it would be of any use to me or not.

I think the key factors for moving to HA are:

1) Are you finding limitations with what you currently have? HA is very flexible but that comes with a lot more time and effort for some of the more complex features. I have so many complex integrations and automations that are way beyond what each product and the the big name automation eco systems could achieve.

2) Do you want dashboards around the home? I have three Fire HD 10 refurbs around the home showing CCTV, automation controls and useful info and they are so convenient and use little power as they sleep when there's no sound or motion.

3) Do you worry about privacy with your existing setup? I love being able to use voice commands and have that and all the automations work without my data and especially audio going off site. The only remote connection is a secure one for our devices to connect in to HA when away from home.

nst68 · 9 Dec 2024 at 13:44

As the others have said, is there anything you want to do that's not possible with your HomeKit or do you want to see what HA offers?

I've gone down the Zigbee rabbit hole with smart plugs, smart light switches, contact sensors and wireless buttons which run locally, so most of my automations will still run if I lose the internet.
I still use Alexa for voice commands, but I've got some ESP32 based microphones to see if they can replace her.
Hue lights work well with HA.

I've not gone down the dashboard route (but I don't have any CCTV or video door bells), my goal is for it all to be in the background.

The Pi-hole integration works pretty much the same, I say "Alexa, turn off the Pi-hole"

Feek · 9 Dec 2024 at 14:32

nst68 said:
As the others have said, is there anything you want to do that's not possible with your HomeKit or do you want to see what HA offers?

Bit of both, getting Ring working properly would be a bonus.

Simon42 said:
1) Are you finding limitations with what you currently have? HA is very flexible but that comes with a lot more time and effort for some of the more complex features. I have so many complex integrations and automations that are way beyond what each product and the the big name automation eco systems could achieve.

I have some very complicated automations running in HomeKit.

Simon42 said:
2) Do you want dashboards around the home?

Not really.

Simon42 said:
3) Do you worry about privacy with your existing setup? I love being able to use voice commands and have that and all the automations work without my data and especially audio going off site. The only remote connection is a secure one for our devices to connect in to HA when away from home.

I don't care whether the data goes off site or not. I suppose Ring may be a bit quicker if it's all done locally.

nst68 said:
The Pi-hole integration works pretty much the same, I say "Alexa, turn off the Pi-hole"

Excellent.

dymetrie · 9 Dec 2024 at 14:40

dlockers said:
There's nothing stopping you having a go then - it is a great thing to tinker with. It could keep you busy for minutes or days. It sits "alongside" all your other gear, so you aren't making any irreversible/semi-permanent changes. A Pi will be fine to run it whilst you get familiar.

I don't know of anyone with Ring + HA combo although I'm sure they exist.

Set up HA this morning on a spare Pi following you suggesting I should (in the things I've bought thread) for my newly acquired Tapo P110s!

Have been prodding around over the day and have added in my Ring cameras so will update when I find fun/useful/interesting things to do with them.

No overarching system in place before HA, other than Google Home, so finding it interesting to see what I can and can't do (for example, I've managed to disable both my pi-holes, but couldn't figure out how to re enable them :cry:

)

Hyburnate · 9 Dec 2024 at 14:59

Feek said:
Bit of both, getting Ring working properly would be a bonus.

I have some very complicated automations running in HomeKit.

Not really.

I don't care whether the data goes off site or not. I suppose Ring may be a bit quicker if it's all done locally.

Excellent.

I think everyone here is getting rather tied up on smaller details without considering why you are considering HA.

Ring will never be full local in my understanding, it will always be cloud based.

I'm not sure HA is going to be the easiest way to solve your issue with the integration between Ring and AppleTV.

I'd wonder if chopping your Ring Doorbell out to something else may be the best way to solve your issues, if you decide to go to HomeAssistant at a later date, Reolink integrate well.

dlockers · 9 Dec 2024 at 15:33

Hyburnate said:
I think everyone here is getting rather tied up on smaller details without considering why you are considering HA.

Ring will never be full local in my understanding, it will always be cloud based.

I'm not sure HA is going to be the easiest way to solve your issue with the integration between Ring and AppleTV.

I'd wonder if chopping your Ring Doorbell out to something else may be the best way to solve your issues, if you decide to go to HomeAssistant at a later date, Reolink integrate well.

Does Reolink integrate with HomeKit?

I have an Apple TV I could experiment with; but I am not sure it does.

Hyburnate · 9 Dec 2024 at 15:53

dlockers said:
Does Reolink integrate with HomeKit?

I have an Apple TV I could experiment with; but I am not sure it does.

Only homebridge-camera-ui plugin