Rod AlcidonisPublished on January 5, 2023Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerCreating smart home automations can be challenging; however, with the right approach, you can avoid common pitfalls and make the process easier. In this article, we will explore 21 tips to help you avoid common pitfalls on your journey to creating smarter home… Continue reading 21 Tips to Avoid Common pitfalls While Programming Smart Home Automations
Category: Blog
How to Measure On-time Duration of Your Smart Home Devices in Home Assistant with a Reusable Python Utility Method
Rod AlcidonisPublished on January 4, 2023Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerCalculating time is an essential part of creating smarter automations for your smart home. Imagine you want to know how long your HVAC system has been running over a certain period of time. To do this, you need a way to calculate the… Continue reading How to Measure On-time Duration of Your Smart Home Devices in Home Assistant with a Reusable Python Utility Method
Review of the Zooz Z-Wave Plus Power Switch ZEN15
Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 27, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerThe Zooz Z-Wave Plus Power Switch ZEN15 is a smart switch that enables you to control and monitor heavy-duty 110V appliances in your home such as refrigerators, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and AC units, using Home Assistant. The switch is compatible with any certified Z-Wave… Continue reading Review of the Zooz Z-Wave Plus Power Switch ZEN15
How to Create a Home Assistant Automation to Make Your Dumb Fireplace Smart!
Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 24, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerA fireplace at home makes a cold winter night cozy and comforting. However, if left unattended for a long period of time, such as when you leave home or go to bed, it can become both an energy sucker and/or a fire hazard.… Continue reading How to Create a Home Assistant Automation to Make Your Dumb Fireplace Smart!
40 Must-Have Tips for Setting Up Your Smart Home
Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 15, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerIn this article, I want to share with you 40 tips you cannot afford to miss while setting up your smart home, starting with purchasing, security, installation, performance, integration, compatibility, and usability. Purchasing 1. Follow a plan: Before you start buying and installing… Continue reading 40 Must-Have Tips for Setting Up Your Smart Home
How to Create a Custom Sensor in Home Assistant to Show the Day
Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 15, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerIn this tutorial, I will show you how to use Appdaemon to create a custom sensor in Home Assistant that displays the day of the week. You may be interested in creating such a custom sensor if you have the need to show… Continue reading How to Create a Custom Sensor in Home Assistant to Show the Day
How to Keep Your Home Safe and Secure with Smart Security Cameras
Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 14, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerDo you often worry about the security of your home when you’re away? A smart security camera can provide the peace of mind you need. Equipped with features like remote access, real-time alerts, and two-way audio, these cameras offer an elevated level of… Continue reading How to Keep Your Home Safe and Secure with Smart Security Cameras
Ten Reasons You Should Use Home Assistant to Power Your Smart Home
Rod AlcidonisPublished on December 12, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerIn this article, I want to suggest ten reasons you should consider using Home Assistant to power your smart home. Home Assistant is an open-source platform that allows you to control and manage your smart home devices from a single user-friendly interface. It… Continue reading Ten Reasons You Should Use Home Assistant to Power Your Smart Home
Home Assistant automation to detect motion on an Arlo security camera and turn a light on and off
Rod AlcidonisPublished on October 21, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerIn this tutorial, I will be showing you how to create an automation in Home Assistant to detect motion on an Arlo Security Camera and to turn the front door light on when motion is detected and off when motion is inactive. You… Continue reading Home Assistant automation to detect motion on an Arlo security camera and turn a light on and off
Automation to Detect Person, Packages, Animal, and Vehicle on an Arlo Camera and Announce the Detection on a Sonos Speaker
Rod AlcidonisPublished on October 14, 2022Subscribe to my YouTube channelBuy me a beerIn this tutorial, I will be showing you how to create a Home Assistant automation to identify person, vehicle, animal, or package on your Arlo camera and then announce the object to your household on a Sonos speaker. I am using Appdaemon to… Continue reading Automation to Detect Person, Packages, Animal, and Vehicle on an Arlo Camera and Announce the Detection on a Sonos Speaker