Smart home start up

[aomar296]

Hi guys

I want to start a basic smart home and this is what I'm looking to set up:

- Garage led light tube
- Yard flood lights
- Wall lights
- Door sensors
- Outdoor camera
- Motion sensors

One of the automations would be for when I open my kitchen to garage door then it should trigger the light in the garage. This light should also be triggered if there's any motion or when garage opens.

What type/brand of sensors and wifi switches should I buy?

Thanks

 

[acidrain]

If you like tinkering, maybe look into Arduino type setups. Lots of helpful walkthroughs online regarding setting these devices up for various tasks.

 

[Mzezman]

3 possible ways for you to do this.

1. As mentioned you go full diy and build the sensors using arduino or other such technologies
2. You buy a mishmash of sensors and use home assistant to combine an be control then all
3. You buy into 1 ecosystem, e.g. sonoff/tuya or aqara or homekit (apple) that is purely plug and play

Levels of customization, cost, complexity and time effort etc all differ with each option and whichever way you go there are lots of resources to help you along

 

[aomar296]

3 possible ways for you to do this.

1. As mentioned you go full diy and build the sensors using arduino or other such technologies
2. You buy a mishmash of sensors and use home assistant to combine an be control then all
3. You buy into 1 ecosystem, e.g. sonoff/tuya or aqara or homekit (apple) that is purely plug and play

Levels of customization, cost, complexity and time effort etc all differ with each option and whichever way you go there are lots of resources to help you along

I think I'm looking at option 3 plug and play. So will a sonoff zigbee door sensor and aqara motion sensor all connect to a Sonoff zigbee hub for example as long as they all Zigbee. Will I able to use one app?

 

[Mzezman]

I think I'm looking at option 3 plug and play. So will a sonoff zigbee door sensor and aqara motion sensor all connect to a Sonoff zigbee hub for example as long as they all Zigbee. Will I able to use one app?

If you want to use 1app then stick to 1 manufacturer, either Ewelink for sonoff or smartlife for Tuya or aqara. Mixing different brands leads you to option 2 - home assistant. Unless you connect the different apps to something like Google home or alexa

Edit: zigbee is a protocol not an app. I'm not sure if sonoff zigbee devices would be available in an aqara app for example