how smart has your home gone?

katie279 · 3 Mar 2022 at 20:18

Yes, I get you're not alone - although search for 'iphone' or 'windows' and you'll find millions of people struggling too.....

Definitely worth waiting as sounds like you've hit frustration threshold, but highly recommend trying in future - it really is great once it 'clicks'......

Semple · 3 Mar 2022 at 20:51

SimonR said:
Hopefully with the wider adoption of Thread and Matter yours and many users frustrations will disappear as they will unify all of the IOT platforms.

I can't really see that becoming mainstream until at least the next decade though.

oggiet · 8 Mar 2022 at 17:43

All those running home assistant, what hardware do you have it installed on ? I'm looking at odroid n2+, not sure if it will be good option for long term or should I just jump straight to intel nuc.

LuckyBenski · 8 Mar 2022 at 19:02

oggiet said:
All those running home assistant, what hardware do you have it installed on ? I'm looking at odroid n2+, not sure if it will be good option for long term or should I just jump straight to intel nuc.

I tried it on a bare minimum spec (quad core Intel Atom, 2GB RAM) and it was OK, but the host system was very temperamental. Clearly at its limit.

Moved over to an HP USFF quad core and it's miles better. The entire system is running at idle so I've got tons of resources to spare for other home services. Averaging 20W power consumption over a month. This same machine can now host a Plex transcode server, proxy/VPN, etc etc as and when I have time to set them up.

oggiet · 8 Mar 2022 at 19:41

LuckyBenski said:
I tried it on a bare minimum spec (quad core Intel Atom, 2GB RAM) and it was OK, but the host system was very temperamental. Clearly at its limit.

Moved over to an HP USFF quad core and it's miles better. The entire system is running at idle so I've got tons of resources to spare for other home services. Averaging 20W power consumption over a month. This same machine can now host a Plex transcode server, proxy/VPN, etc etc as and when I have time to set them up.

Currently looking at Intel nuc i3 2c4th 2.3GHz 8GB RAM on eBay, should be enough I think :confused:

Semple · 8 Mar 2022 at 20:37

oggiet said:
All those running home assistant, what hardware do you have it installed on ? I'm looking at odroid n2+, not sure if it will be good option for long term or should I just jump straight to intel nuc.

Have mine running on a rpi4. I did need to upgrade it to boot from ssd as the frequent metrics logged to database was freezing up the SD card.

LuckyBenski · 8 Mar 2022 at 20:39

oggiet said:
Currently looking at Intel nuc i3 2c4th 2.3GHz 8GB RAM on eBay, should be enough I think

Deffo!

oggiet · 8 Mar 2022 at 20:49

LuckyBenski said:
Deffo!

Cool, have put in a bid...let's see how it goes

Semple said:
Have mine running on a rpi4. I did need to upgrade it to boot from ssd as the frequent metrics logged to database was freezing up the SD card.

Did look at raspberry but want something that's more future proof just in case.

Bluecube · 8 Mar 2022 at 20:58

You could try it on a Pi to see if it suits as it’s very easy to transfer all your settings to another device.

SimonR · 9 Mar 2022 at 08:39

oggiet said:
Currently looking at Intel nuc i3 2c4th 2.3GHz 8GB RAM on eBay, should be enough I think

Probably overkill, but you shouldn't have any problems at all. I run Homeseer on an i3 NUC and it uses less than 5% of resources - Homeseer is similar to HAss.

matt100 · 9 Mar 2022 at 12:10

I need some halp.

Just about to have the kitchen redone and I'm planning to go fully smart on the lighting but want to retain a physical switch.

Basically I will likely just use my voice or motion sensors/routines, the other half an visitors seem to prefer physical switches so I want something interchangeable.

What I want and seems almost impossible to find is a 3 gang switch that doesn't look like cheap tat that basically switches the light to whatever the opposite state is to what it is now, on or off.

I have hue, I would consider going with just alexa lights if necessary and I have smartthings and a zigbee hub if I need it.

How is this so hard?!

SimonR · 9 Mar 2022 at 12:23

Its very easy in all honesty. Ensure that your electrician brings Neutral to your switches (ask him to use triple and earth not twin and earth) and he installs a minimum of 47mm deep back boxes. This will then allow you to use smart lighting modules such as Shelly's (wifi), Aurora One (Ziggbee) Aqara (zigbee) or similar to control the lighting. This will allow you to use any switch plates you want and to use Smart assistants and / or PIRs to to control your lighting. Everyone stays happy. I would avoid smart bulbs as they require the switch to be permanently turned on. It also makes it very easy to return your switches to standard lighting, should the need arise.

matt100 · 9 Mar 2022 at 12:25

Wouldn't adding neutrals require rather more rewiring than I'm anticipating?

SimonR · 9 Mar 2022 at 12:34

If you are having the kitchen redone, I assumed that you would be looking at electrical work. It took my electrician 20 minutes to chase the old cables and drop 3 and Earth in. Plasterer made good for me as part of the renovation. You cant really make omelettes without breaking some eggs.

matt100 · 9 Mar 2022 at 12:39

Yes I just didn't know if finding a neutral to bring to the switches would be a massive job, I don't know much about big boy electrics.

So, assuming I do that and get the modules... what happens when someone switches it off at the switch? The lights go off but you can turn them back on again with voice because of the module?

dlockers · 9 Mar 2022 at 12:58

Yeah basically.

Running a neutral may be tricky depending on your house construction.

matt100 · 9 Mar 2022 at 13:00

It blows my mind that I can't buy a switch that does it tbh.

I think lightwave is pretty close but jesus christ it's expensive.

Also, the shelly thing looks decent but no 3 gang option.

BigT · 9 Mar 2022 at 13:15

I feel your pain. My visitors can't get their head around asking smart devices to turn on and off and will only use switches. As a result my entire home is basically lit by lamps with smart bulbs or sockets. When it's just the two of that's how we light our way using automation or voice control. We rarely turn a ceiling light on or off and they are all dumb and on switches. But when visitors are here they navigate their way using the ceiling lights and switches.

Ironically, when considering your situation, the one place that the wife and I still use switched and ceiling lights is in the kitchen. Don't really want ambient, softer mood lighting in there and lamps look odd so we do it old school still.

matt100 · 9 Mar 2022 at 13:26

BigT said:
I feel your pain. My visitors can't get their head around asking smart devices to turn on and off and will only use switches. As a result my entire home is basically lit by lamps with smart bulbs or sockets. When it's just the two of that's how we light our way using automation or voice control. We rarely turn a ceiling light on or off and they are all dumb and on switches. But when visitors are here they navigate their way using the ceiling lights and switches.

Ironically, when considering your situation, the one place that the wife and I still use switched and ceiling lights is in the kitchen. Don't really want ambient, softer mood lighting in there and lamps look odd so we do it old school still.

I'm starting to think a sort of hybrid may work.

I hate ceiling lighting and we'll have island lighting which can be smart and low level leds strips which can be the same.

If you want the ceiling lights then use the switch... not perfect but may be workable.

Semple · 9 Mar 2022 at 13:34

I'm going the other route where i've got Aqara opple (zigbee) switches that will sit in front of the physical switch. That way the lights can still be controlled by schedules/automation/movement, but also allows visitors to switch the light on/off by the switch.