Recommendations for easy home automation??

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Recommendations for easy home automation??

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sonyxperiageek

2959 posts

Uber Geek

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#1795547 6-Jun-2017 17:59

01EG:

tieke:

opengarage garage door opener ...

Are you happy with opengarage solution, looking into something, cheers

Yes same here. How well does it sense the door is opened/closed from judging the distance between the door etc.?

Sony

tieke

674 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1795574 6-Jun-2017 18:36

Opengarage works well - took me about twenty minutes to set it up and haven't really thought about the tech side since. Someone on the homeassistant forum gave some good info on it and added the appropriate support, so it was easy to add. (As far as connectivity goes, my homeassistant stuff is separated from the WAN, so if I need to do anything remotely I just VPN in first).

As far as the open/closed reading goes, you can view the current result of the distance sensors so I just checked on what the registered distance was with the door up and down and set my open and closed parameters accordingly (it's effectively 3ft vs infinity as it's pointing at sky if there's no door there, so not much chance of false interpretations).

I didn't bother seeing where I could attach the activation wires to the actual motor unit, but instead used the spare remote button integrated into the manual pull-down release. I just popped that off and wired the opengarage unit directly to it.

Have a double-garage, but only one side has an electric door-opener on it, otherwise I would get another opengarage unit for the other side - maybe make it myself instead, as I think I did a quick costing at only about $15 worth of parts, but the amount of time it would take and who I could blame if it didn't work meant that I decided on the made-up one to start with. Pretty quick delivery as I recall - less than a week after ordering.

sonyxperiageek

2959 posts

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#1795644 6-Jun-2017 22:28

How much was it in NZD inc shipping?

Sony

plas

455 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1795683 7-Jun-2017 07:59

sonyxperiageek:

How much was it in NZD inc shipping?

I was charged $16 USD for shipping, but I also ordered an opensprinkler bee in the same order. So should be roughly $92 NZD

happyfunball

287 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1797393 9-Jun-2017 16:44

I'm using Homebridge with a broadlink RM to control heatpumps, dlink and other smartplugs, and various cameras and motion detectors for security. All works nicely through homekit and can be accessed remotely since I have an Apple TV. There are many plugins for homebridge and there seems to be more written every week. Ironically I don't have a single official Homekit device.

I've heard HomeAssistant is good too, but it seemed a lot more complex and web based rather than iphone-centric. Either system lets you unify multiple brands of equipment into one interface. Apples Homekit is simple to use with Siri once its setup, both at home and away so I recommend that as long as you have an always on computer (or Raspberry Pi) that can keep running the Homebridge software. If you have the Apple Watch you can just speak orders into your wrist which is a bit magical, such as 'Hey Siri set the heat pumps to 19 degrees'.

Ideas for automation:

Heatpumps

Cameras

Motion Detectors

TV, Amp, AV equipment that has a remote

Fish tank lights

Light bulbs, internal and external

Floor Lamps

Hot water heaters, to turn off when on holiday and on before you get back.

Door locks (I haven't done that, yet)

Automatic functions based on location, such as lock the door when you leave your house and arm security etc.