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Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

pragprog.com

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Re: Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

#241

Post by sam345 »

joshu wrote: post #229
kkielhofner wrote: post #5

Home Assistant[1] is the best approach I've found for this. It's pretty amazing but has a pretty steep learning curve (although they're getting better and better at this). The real power of HA is the rich integration ecosystem[2], the Community Store[3], and that it runs locally (more reliable and much faster for things like motion sensors, etc). It expresses everything from every integration as an entity in various…

Do I really need to do Home Assistant Operating System? It stresses me out that this is not just some packages I can install.

No. Install Raspbian light, docker, docker compose, and HA docker container. Use an SSD drive for boot and official pi ac power.

Re: Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

#242

Post by sam345 »

iandanforth wrote: post #18
kkielhofner wrote: post #5

Home Assistant[1] is the best approach I've found for this. It's pretty amazing but has a pretty steep learning curve (although they're getting better and better at this). The real power of HA is the rich integration ecosystem[2], the Community Store[3], and that it runs locally (more reliable and much faster for things like motion sensors, etc). It expresses everything from every integration as an entity in various…

How do you handle network security? I wouldn't trust an IoT device on the same network as any of my family's computers or phones for example.

I use mikrotik router with separate vlans. Also use open firmware (usually tasmota) on 95% of devices.

Re: Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

#243

Post by sam345 »

rcarmo wrote: post #155
artificialLimbs wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> When this happens and the compressor is engaged it will freeze up, possibly destroying itself and start flooding the floor, because the condensation pump won't turn on. Do not buy Gree. Check.

Or maybe not automate destructive devices. Might be simpler and more responsible anyway, since equivalent harm can be had if your kids ask Siri to warm up the house...

Automation bugs are dangerous on any home device. I once accidentally programmed an infinite recursive loop on all the lights in the house so had on and off signals being sent nearly simultaneously. Scary and not a good thing but easy to do particularly with wifi and mqtt messaging. Had to shut main power off. Luckily only one light switch broke.

Re: Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

#244

Post by sam345 »

vladgur wrote: post #142
xxpor wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In addition to all of the "use Z-Wave/Zigbee as much as possible" comments (which I personally do), for stuff where there's no choice like Roombas, I have a separate SSID on a VLAN that can only talk to the internet, my DNS server running Adguard, and HA (which is on the main network). I also have stateful rules that allow connections to be initiated from the main network to the IOT network, but not vice versa. I als…

How do you setup a separate VLAN and SSID? None of the "pro-sumer" wifi mesh setups under $500 support VLANs

I use mikrotik hap ac2. Cost $50. But complicated imo. Extremely versatile though.

Re: Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

#245

Post by tga »

lostmsu wrote: post #195
bredren wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have your written up your implementation? What type of air quality sensors have you used and how are they integrated into the home’s behavior?

+1 for the air quality sensors question. I only found 1 for CO2 levels, and it is not connected. And even that one costed $120.

Tuya Zigbee air quality sensors on AliExpress start around $20. I can't speak to their accuracy, but they are supported by Zigbee2MQTT and provide a CO2 reading.

https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/devices/TS0601_air_quality_sensor...

Re: Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

#246

Post by rcarmo »

amelius wrote: post #203
rcarmo wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's very handy to get off work, grab a mug of barley coffee, sit on the couch, say "Siri, let's watch Movies" to your watch, and have the TV turn itself on, the audio routed to the AV system, and the Apple TV set as input. All the above is done by Siri talking to the Apple TV (which is the home hub) and homebridge nudging the TV and inputs via plugins. And _nearly_ all the above happens solely inside your LAN, excep…

Ok, how many % of the time does it work, versus how often do you have to perform admin work to fix it?

100%. I only touch it to do updates, maybe once every three months. It’s completely hands-free once you set up all of your devices, and for HomeKit, ZigBee or Tasmania devices, I don’t have to do _anything_.

Re: Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

#247

Post by sam345 »

jamil7 wrote: post #232
bmurphy1976 wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All my lights have a physical switch or button. The smarts come in subtle ways: 1. Turn lights on 45 minutes BEFORE sunset at any time of year 2. Turn lights on and off at specific times, automatically adjust for Daylight Savings Time (I'll never have to listen to my wife complain about the lights needing adjustment again) 3. Start warming up/cooling off my house BEFORE I get home from vacation 4. Double click a butt…

I’m happy it all works for you and it sounds almost like a bit of a hobby for you too which is great. But from someone less interested in it from that angle it still just sounds a lot like a bunch of work and expense for marginal levels of convenience. I also just find interiors more aesthetically pleasing and relaxing with the least amount of technology possible, maybe a side effect of working in this industry.

Legitimate point. Don't be fooled. It's a lot of work to set up and modify. But it is fun if you like to tinker.

Re: Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

#248

Post by sam345 »

kumarvvr wrote: post #221

I am a fanatic of embedded stuff and home automation. I love the RPi to death but am wary of wanting it to run its programs from an SD card. Any pointers to alternatives?

Boot pi from SSD. Give it pi specific ac power supply. It will be fine. It has for me for years. Or go with a used low power G3, g2, etc. As mentioned above.

Re: Run Your Home on a Raspberry Pi

#250

Post by mobiuscog »

bmurphy1976 wrote: post #219
tomxor wrote: post #192

Unless it magically cleans and tidies everything I really don't see the appeal of home automation. Pressing a switch is far more convenient to me when walking into a room than fishing out a smartphone - whether it be through a raspberry pi or otherwise. Same with central heating, I rarely need to adjust it and I don't see the appeal of messing around with some integrated interface, i'd rather an old fashioned radiato…

All my lights have a physical switch or button. The smarts come in subtle ways: 1. Turn lights on 45 minutes BEFORE sunset at any time of year 2. Turn lights on and off at specific times, automatically adjust for Daylight Savings Time (I'll never have to listen to my wife complain about the lights needing adjustment again) 3. Start warming up/cooling off my house BEFORE I get home from vacation 4. Double click a butt…

> All my lights have a physical switch or button.

Maybe it's just the UK, but I struggle to find any suitable physical switches that both look like a normal light switch but also function with smart devices.

I understand the benefits of some automation, but if there isn't a 'normal' switch that works completely 'as expected' for the family to use, it's not worth the trouble.

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