Let me know what devices or automations you’d like to learn more about. 👉 Click here to see my smart home gear: tinyurl.com/fvn5rna8

There are some alternative options to detect wether the TV is on/off. For example: Using the LG WebOS integration i can detect the source of the TV, and i can see if it is on / of. Using the unifi network integration, you can monitor your devices if they are connected to ethernet / wifi. Using this you get the device location "home" for on/connected "away" for off/disconnected". The unifi integration might be a bit slow to update the state of the device.

@michaelsleen

2 күн бұрын

Yes, there are other ways. That’s just the way I’m doing it. Thanks for sharing!

Nice work mate almost 1K!

@michaelsleen

19 күн бұрын

Thanks, Simon!

Great video! Couldn't find which irrigation system you use for the sprinklers, could you post the link?

@michaelsleen

15 күн бұрын

Thanks! I use the Rachio 3: 8-Zone Smart Sprinkler Controller: amzn.to/44r33Hk.

@denievankleef

15 күн бұрын

@@michaelsleen thanks, see that it is 300 euro in Europe, that's nuts...

@michaelsleen

15 күн бұрын

@denievankleef That’s a lot. It’s currently $159 in the US, and I paid even less.

Thanks for sharing! How did you use the Kasa outlet to setup automations for the washing machine? I have the same plug but having no luck in Alexa or SmartThings. I think I might need a hub.

@michaelsleen

16 күн бұрын

I created a video about how I did this here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/mpp1pLOEhMetZdY.html. You’ll need a smart hub platform that allows you to create an automation based on the watt energy readings of the smart plug. Home Assistant makes this easy to do. I believe Alexa only allows you to create a routine based on the smart plug plug being on or off.

Can you do a video on how to set up the doorbell preview on your AppleTV?

@michaelsleen

18 күн бұрын

In brief, I added my UniFi doorbell to Home Assistant, and then I used the HomeKit Bridge integration in Home Assistant to make all of my Home Assistant devices also available in the Apple Home app. Then, the doorbell previews happened automatically on my Apple TV.

@arsenioalmeida3954

11 күн бұрын

​@@michaelsleen This might be a good idea for a video.

Great video Michael. On the Philips Hue adaptive lighting, are you using the HA Adaptive Lighting integration or the Hue version?

@michaelsleen

19 күн бұрын

Thanks! I am using Adaptive Lighting in Home Assistant, which I covered in this video if helpful: kzread.info/dash/bejne/h5eklcaGaLW0YsY.html.

Great video. I have a solar edge system too and I’m very interested in how you got your inverter int Home Assistant. I don’t have any batteries for my solar but would love more info on getting all the deals you’re able to get.

@michaelsleen

15 күн бұрын

Thanks! I’m actually working on a video right now all about my home solar system. There is a SolarEdge integration with Home Assistant: www.home-assistant.io/integrations/solaredge/

@DennisWarner

15 күн бұрын

@@michaelsleen thanks

Love the Lutron switches, but that Aurora switch just does not fit the esthetics of their other switches. I use Inovelli smart switches instead. Available in Zigbee (mine), Z-Wave, or Thread (I think or coming soon).

@michaelsleen

19 күн бұрын

The Lutron Aurora is certainly a different look. I don't mind as much since I like the ease of dimming with a rotary knob, but I can see how the aesthetic may be a deal breaker for some folks. Since I made this video, I've added additional switches to my home, including an Inovelli Blue Series and a Zooz ZEN32 scene controller. More on those in upcoming videos. Thanks for watching!

I really liked the idea of the calmer game you came up with using the mmWave/Motion sensors to trigger the green/red lights. Very clever, sounds like a fun game for children. 🙂 I also would like to know how you integrated the Ring Chimes to work with the Unifi doorbell.

@michaelsleen

19 күн бұрын

Glad you liked it! I integrate the Ring Chime with the UniFi doorbell in Home Assistant. I created an automation that when a person rings the UniFi doorbell, it plays the ding sound on the Ring Chime. In the UniFi doorbell camera settings under Internal Relay Chime you can choose None, Mechanical, or Digital. For my setup, I chose None.

Would be nice to know about two things. 1. How many sensors require batteries and is this a pain point or just minor inconvenience. 2. How robust is this setup? I know it’s difficult to quantify, but how much tinkering is needed to keep it running assuming no new requirements? Looking for an honest answer. 😊

@michaelsleen

19 күн бұрын

1. Battery-powered devices in my current setup include Ring contact and motion sensors, Aeotec multipurpose sensor, Philips Hue motion sensors, Lutron Aurora dimmer switches, Aqara wireless mini switch, and all the smart locks. The smart locks and the Aeotec multipurpose sensor require battery changes every 6-12 months, and all the rest of those devices have batteries that last years. Most have never had a battery changed in over four years. So, a minor inconvenience at worst. 2. Assuming no new requirements, the setup is super reliable. The only time things stop working as intended are i) I introduced something new and am still testing it out, or ii) a Home Assistant update introduced a new bug. The latter is more common, though such bugs are usually fixed quickly by the developers.

How do you hard wire your Poe cameras? I have a Unifi network. But to get a camera in my yard it’s really far from my Poe switch.

@michaelsleen

3 күн бұрын

I dug a trench and ran PoE cable underground. Video coming on my camera setup.

@JayMartinez

3 күн бұрын

@@michaelsleen yes please.

Hi, how do you get the ring door sensor to perform automations?

@Techlifeandmore

19 күн бұрын

By integrating it into your smart home system, how to do this will vary between smart home systems.

@kingsleymichel

19 күн бұрын

@@Techlifeandmore I’m using Apple Home and Ring for the alarm system. What app or device can integrate them together? Do you have a how to video on it?

@michaelsleen

19 күн бұрын

I integrate the Ring Chime with the UniFi doorbell using Home Assistant. I created an automation that when a person rings the UniFi doorbell, it plays the ding sound on the Ring Chime. In the UniFi doorbell camera settings under Internal Relay Chime you can choose None, Mechanical, or Digital. For my setup, I chose None. By adding the Ring Chime to Home Assistant, I can make any automation play the ding sound.

I set up an Alexa routine to start my Roomba. I say "Alexa, release the Roomba" to start it

@michaelsleen

19 күн бұрын

Nice! One of the most used voice commands in our house is, "Alexa, tell Roomba to vacuum under the kitchen counter." Super helpful!

A couple things: 1: I think like 90% of that stuff requires the Internet to work. 2: How did you get the UniFi Doorbell to ring on the Ring Chime? 3: Why are you using a Ring contact sensor on your laundry room door instead of one that can locally be integrated with Home Assistant? 4: I know in the previous video you stated that Kasa devices require the cloud, they actually don't, they do have a local API that someone wrote a Home Assistant add-on for. Overall though seems like you have a nice little setup going on.

@gerryf7015

19 күн бұрын

Ring contact sensors are actually Z-Wave and can be integrated withiut a Ring hub or cloud. Very good sensors.

@Techlifeandmore

19 күн бұрын

@@gerryf7015 I know that, but it sounded like he had the sensor connected to the Ring Alarm Base Station, which is not accessible from the local network in any way shape or form as far as I know.

@michaelsleen

19 күн бұрын

1. I began my smart home journey a couple of years before migrating to Home Assistant. When I started out, the cloud vs. local control was not as top of mind for me. Over time as I picked up new devices, I preferred local control. But, I am generally not going to replace a device that is functioning well just to get off the cloud. 2. I integrate the Ring Chime with the UniFi doorbell in Home Assistant. I created an automation that when a person rings the UniFi doorbell, it plays the ding sound on the Ring Chime. In the UniFi doorbell camera settings under Internal Relay Chime you can choose None, Mechanical, or Digital. For my setup, I chose None. 3. Simply because when I began my smart home years ago, a Ring Alarm was one of the first things I purchased, and got several Ring Contact sensors as a result, and they work great. If starting over though, yes, I also advocate for locally-controlled devices. 4. I am not familiar with this local API -- will need to check it out, thanks!

@Techlifeandmore

19 күн бұрын

@@michaelsleen oh I see. I didn't know that the ability to play the chime sound on the Ring chime is possible with anything other than a Ring doorbell. I take a relatively different stance on the cloud versus local control debate. Any cloud control device that's easy to replace has been replaced in our smart home. I'm not extremely bothered about the rest of the cloud-based devices, but I refuse to buy any device that can't be controlled locally, especially any device which cannot be easily removed from the home, so basically anything that is installed.