Home Assistant : Q&A, Tips & Tricks, Your Configs

[Speedster]

I have mainly Sonoff devices on my HA. After some deliberation, I decided to keep the ewelink app active as a backup for if / when my local server may be offline for whatever reason. It costs nothing (tangible) and may just save some heartache one day.

PS: if you don't mind me asking, what are you getting from bangood? I have bought most of my ha stuff from them.

I guess one could keep ewelink as a backup. I've still got the app, just deactivated the schedules.

I ordered the following

https://banggood.app.link/5qbeNxstegb - for integrating my alarm system with HA

https://banggood.app.link/BHjWWsEtegb - power regulator for the ESP8266

https://banggood.app.link/Odt5Goytegb - unfortunately they only had non-RF version when I ordered

https://banggood.app.link/ctmgAnJtegb - apparently our family likes sodastream

 

[Speedster]

Is banggood a reliable and good source of HA items? Are the stuff there much cheaper?

I see a lot of people ordering from there

They're reliable yes. Whether they're cheaper depends on the product. It's worth having a look when you order. I bought from them this round as I couldn't find local stock of the inching 12v switch, so I tossed in some other goodies as I was paying shipping anyway

 

[deesef]

Is banggood a reliable and good source of HA items? Are the stuff there much cheaper?

I see a lot of people ordering from there

As always, some things are cheaper and others not. It pays to compare prices before ordering. When buying from bangood, I always use the Express mail tax free options, to avoid potential surprises.

I have found them to be reliable, after purchasing a number of times.

 

[Veroland]

I have mainly Sonoff devices on my HA. After some deliberation, I decided to keep the ewelink app active as a backup for if / when my local server may be offline for whatever reason. It costs nothing (tangible) and may just save some heartache one day.

PS: if you don't mind me asking, what are you getting from bangood? I have bought most of my ha stuff from them.

I've oredered most of my sonoff devices from there, the motion sensors, temp sensors, ZBR3's etc.

 

[ItherNiT]

I'm preparing for stage2 of my home automation. Just placed my order for 15 shelly1's, 8 shelly1PM and 4 temp addons

 

[MidnightZA]

When doing a zigbee network for sensors etc, do I need to get the dongle or the bridge? Or both?

Zigbee CC2531 USB Dongle

The Zigbee CC2531 USB dongle is a fully operational USB device which provides a PC interface to IEEE802.15.4 / ZigBee applications. The USB dongle comes with a CC2531ZNP-Prod firmware and can be plugged directly into your PC/Raspberry etc and used as a Zigbee packet sniffer

www.robofactory.co.za

Sonoff Smart Zigbee Bridge

The Sonoff ZigBee Bridge is the heart of the smart home that enables you to remotely manage a variety of ZigBee devices and sensors for monitoring and control purposes

www.robofactory.co.za

 

[Veroland]

When doing a zigbee network for sensors etc, do I need to get the dongle or the bridge? Or both?

Zigbee CC2531 USB Dongle

The Zigbee CC2531 USB dongle is a fully operational USB device which provides a PC interface to IEEE802.15.4 / ZigBee applications. The USB dongle comes with a CC2531ZNP-Prod firmware and can be plugged directly into your PC/Raspberry etc and used as a Zigbee packet sniffer

www.robofactory.co.za

Sonoff Smart Zigbee Bridge

The Sonoff ZigBee Bridge is the heart of the smart home that enables you to remotely manage a variety of ZigBee devices and sensors for monitoring and control purposes

www.robofactory.co.za

Interesting question, I am using zigbee2mqtt which does not support the bridge but I would interested in what other deployment options the people are using.

 

[Tinuva]

When doing a zigbee network for sensors etc, do I need to get the dongle or the bridge? Or both?

Zigbee CC2531 USB Dongle

The Zigbee CC2531 USB dongle is a fully operational USB device which provides a PC interface to IEEE802.15.4 / ZigBee applications. The USB dongle comes with a CC2531ZNP-Prod firmware and can be plugged directly into your PC/Raspberry etc and used as a Zigbee packet sniffer

www.robofactory.co.za

Sonoff Smart Zigbee Bridge

The Sonoff ZigBee Bridge is the heart of the smart home that enables you to remotely manage a variety of ZigBee devices and sensors for monitoring and control purposes

www.robofactory.co.za

Choose one of them.

The dongle I think can do zigbee2mqtt.

The Bridge can be flashed with Tasmota (difficult), then with Tasmota you get zigbee2tasmota (not so great as zigbee2mqtt) or you can use the ZHA built-in mode from Home Assistant with it.

So really depends on how you want to do it.

 

[MidnightZA]

Choose one of them.

The dongle I think can do zigbee2mqtt.

The Bridge can be flashed with Tasmota (difficult), then with Tasmota you get zigbee2tasmota (not so great as zigbee2mqtt) or you can use the ZHA built-in mode from Home Assistant with it.

So really depends on how you want to do it.

I know little to nothing about Zigbee.

Which is better (not sure if better is the right word, maybe faster?) between zigbee2mqtt on the dongle and the ZHA built-in mode on the bridge?

 

[Tinuva]

I know little to nothing about Zigbee.

Which is better (not sure if better is the right word, maybe faster?) between zigbee2mqtt on the dongle and the ZHA built-in mode on the bridge?

Speed/faster is not the issue here.

Zigbee works on 2.4Ghz range, same as your wifi. So same rules for wifi apply even though they different protocls.
So if your wifi runs on channel 1 and 6, you want the zigbee to run on channel 11 for best reception.

Zigbee range is extended different to wifi, you need bulbs or plugs or the Sonoff zbr3 to extend the range.

I would use the bridge if the bridge will be in a different spot than the HA machine. If the zigbee network can start where your HA machine is, the USB is fine. As long as you know how to pass through the USB to a container if HA is in a docker container.

 

[MidnightZA]

As always, some things are cheaper and others not. It pays to compare prices before ordering. When buying from bangood, I always use the Express mail tax free options, to avoid potential surprises.

I have found them to be reliable, after purchasing a number of times.

I dont get a Express mail tax free option when viewing the items. I get these options



On checkout I get this option only and at the bottom of the page there is an option for tariff insurance

 

[Speedster]

I dont get a Express mail tax free option when viewing the items. I get these options

View attachment 1068271

On checkout I get this option only and at the bottom of the page there is an option for tariff insurance

View attachment 1068273

I always take the Direct Mail (Tax Free) option. It's pretty cheap and is delivered to my door by Buffalo couriers.

 

[Gielie01]

How can I get rid of this false Arm>Disarm>Arm notification on telegram? It happens very randomly. Yesterday morning it happened but today it didnt. It only happens when the Arm is activated by the arm automation when I leave the house (presence detection)

I was thinking it happens because both zones are arming at once and if I add a small delay between the interior arm and exterior arm automation then I wont get the Arm>Disarm>Arm notification?


View attachment 1067575

#ARMED AND DISARMED TO TELEGRAM BOT - INTERIOR
- alias: Alarm - Interior - Armed
  trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: alarm_control_panel.indoor
    from: disarmed
    to:
    - armed_away
    - armed_home
  action:
  - service: [removed]
    data:
      title: Interior Alarm
      message: Armed
- alias: Alarm - Interior - Disarmed
  trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: alarm_control_panel.indoor
    to: disarmed
  action:
  - service: [removed]
    data:
      title: Interior Alarm
      message: Disarmed

Code for exterior alarm is the same, just tweaked for the outdoor entity

If you dont mind me asking, what do you use for presence detection to be viable to arm the alarm when you leave, I currently use ping and unify integration, but find them too slow, as i only "leave" home 10mins after ive left, so much easier to arm the alarm when i leave.

 

[deesef]

I dont get a Express mail tax free option when viewing the items. I get these options

View attachment 1068271

On checkout I get this option only and at the bottom of the page there is an option for tariff insurance

View attachment 1068273

I dont get a Express mail tax free option when viewing the items. I get these options

View attachment 1068271

On checkout I get this option only and at the bottom of the page there is an option for tariff insurance

View attachment 1068273

Sorry, it's the South Africa direct mail (tax free) option.

 

[MidnightZA]

If you dont mind me asking, what do you use for presence detection to be viable to arm the alarm when you leave, I currently use ping and unify integration, but find them too slow, as i only "leave" home 10mins after ive left, so much easier to arm the alarm when i leave.

I use nmaptracker. It's set up so that the house arms 5 min after I leave. I can shorten the delay but then I may get false arms if I'm at home and not using my phone for a while
One of the guys here helped me set it up. I was using my phone gps before but that is not very consistent.

 

[tRoN]

I guess one could keep ewelink as a backup. I've still got the app, just deactivated the schedules.

I ordered the following

https://banggood.app.link/5qbeNxstegb - for integrating my alarm system with HA

https://banggood.app.link/BHjWWsEtegb - power regulator for the ESP8266

https://banggood.app.link/Odt5Goytegb - unfortunately they only had non-RF version when I ordered

https://banggood.app.link/ctmgAnJtegb - apparently our family likes sodastream

I also got the sodastream adapter but struggling to find a supplier of a C02 cylinder to get refilled periodically.

Afrox wants to charge a monthly rental.

Any luck on your side ?

 

[Speedster]

I also got the sodastream adapter but struggling to find a supplier of a C02 cylinder to get refilled periodically.

Afrox wants to charge a monthly rental.

Any luck on your side ?

Picked up a 5kg bottle from speedies (in Pretoria) yesterday. They have 2kg too.

My "problem" is that the adapter doesn't fit my machine as mine takes the 30l option. Need to find a new machine over the weekend.

 

[dunkyd]

Picked up a 5kg bottle from speedies (in Pretoria) yesterday. They have 2kg too.

My "problem" is that the adapter doesn't fit my machine as mine takes the 30l option. Need to find a new machine over the weekend.

I have a brand new, in box , white Spirit with 60l canister here in Krugersdorp for 750 or thereabouts.
Bought one and got one as gift.

 

[Speedster]

I have a brand new, in box , white Spirit with 60l canister here in Krugersdorp for 750 or thereabouts.
Bought one and got one as gift.

Thanks for the offer! Apart from the distance issue, they're going for about R200 on marketplace so I'll probably pick up one there.

 

[xrapidx]

Random question, does anyone know if its possible to force an alarm via Pai?

Wanted to get a couple of paradox wireless smoke alarms - then saw the price... so thinking of somehow hooking up my own.