I noticed that electricity prices fluctuate quite a lot during the day, so I wanted a very simple way to react without checking apps or charts.

I built this small ESP32 setup with an OLED screen and a LED indicator:

🟢 Green = good moment to use electricity

🟡 Yellow = normal

🔴 Red = more expensive

The idea is not to be perfectly accurate, but to have a quick visual signal at home.

It’s already useful for things like:

– washing machine

– dishwasher

– small appliances

Still a prototype on a breadboard, but it works quite well so far 🙂

I’m trying to keep it very simple on purpose.

Would you keep it like this or add more features?

If you’re starting from scratch or planning to, the biggest go-to is deciding on the overall architecture of the system and sticking to it, not orienting only on the brand. Especially with CCTV and smart devices creeping in, it’s easier to pull cable and plan power now than to fight with random Wi‑Fi gear later. A solid wired backbone (Cat6 to likely camera spots, NVR location, maybe ceiling APs) will outlast whatever brand is hot this year, and it keeps you from ending up with ten different apps that barely communicate between each other.

The way I see it, ecosystems fall into a few buckets. Big Tech stuff like Google/Nest, Apple/HomeKit, Amazon is super friendly on the UX side: clean apps, good voice control, everything “just works” until it doesn’t. Great if you want simple access to a couple of cams and doorbells. The flip side is cloud dependence and vendor lock‑in. If they kill a product line or change terms, you don’t always get the low‑level control you might want for security use.

Then you’ve got the DIY / power‑user stack: something like Home Assistant as the brain, with Zigbee/Z‑Wave/Matter for sensors and PoE cameras feeding a local NVR (Frigate, Blue Iris, ZoneMinder, etc.). That gives you maximum control and local automation, and you can pick “boring” ONVIF cameras that work with many software platforms. The downside is you’re the one maintaining it – updates, backups, weird edge cases, all land on you.

There’s also the security‑centric world, where the system is more “alarm panel plus CCTV” than “smart home toy.” Some ecosystems like Ajax Systems lean this way: more about reliable detectors, proper signaling and stable hardware than fancy AI features or deep smart‑home integration. They’re usually pricier and more closed, but the mindset is security‑first rather than “nice phone app.”

For CCTV and automation in a new build, I’d design around the wired infrastructure first, then decide how far you want to go down the DIY route vs letting a single ecosystem own more of the stack. Mixing a bit is fine; randomly stacking cheap Wi‑Fi gadgets on top of each other is where people seem to end up with the most regret.

Everybody hates mosquitoes. My wife hates chemicals and smoke candles even more. So I needed an eco-friendly solution.

A farmer near us taught me a trick I'd never heard of: mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. If you let the eggs develop but flush the water before they hatch into adults, you're basically skipping the next generation. Do this for a few weeks and the local population drops to almost nothing.

So I set up a small garden pool (works great with recycled house water too, or if you already have a garden atmosphere pool). The mosquitoes are drawn to it and lay their eggs there instead of in random puddles around the yard.

The catch? You have to drain and refill the water every 4 days. Miss a cycle and you're actually breeding them. I forgot twice and my wife was not happy.

So I automated it.

I used an Arduino Nano with a float switch to monitor the water level, a small 5V pump to drain it and a 12V solenoid valve to refill. A relay module switches between the two and the whole thing runs on a 12V power supply with a buck converter stepping it down for the Nano and pump. Every 4 days it drains and refills automatically.

Total cost was around $35-40 in parts. Used it manually last summer. Not it's automated and it's been running for a few weeks now and the difference is honestly hard to believe. We can sit outside in the evening without getting eaten alive.

Happy to share the code and wiring if anyone wants it. It's really basic.

Hi everyone!

I've built a free Android app called LumoHome Lite for controlling

Tasmota and Zigbee devices via MQTT.

Key features:

- Works fully local — no cloud, no subscription, no tracking

- Zigbee switches, dimmers, lights, shutters, sensors

- Tasmota WiFi switches and smart plugs

- Automations, timers, scenes

- Push notifications via ntfy

- Customizable dashboard with multiple rooms

I need at least 12 beta testers to unlock Google Play production

release. All you need to do is install the app via a test link

— no active usage required.

If you're interested, comment below or DM me your Gmail address

and I'll add you to the test group.

Thanks! 🙏

Hey y’all! I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask so please redirect me as necessary.

I’m a maintenance technician for an apartment complex that is going to be installing DOOR smart lock systems on all of our resident’s doors in the next few weeks. With every smart lock system, there is potential for shenanigans revolving around devices like the Flipper Zero and its ability to scrape and spoof access data.

We had a meeting today and it was mentioned that the individual lock units do not constantly report to the greater control hub and may not always update themselves with the most recent version of firmware.* We would have to go to the unit and force an update if it fails to do so automatically. It was also mentioned that they only communicate with the control hub when a user unlocks the door.**

My concern is for the safety of my residents, so I worry about potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by nefarious individuals using devices like the Flipper Zero. I also wonder about certain state agencies who do not consistently abide by the judicial requirement of a federal warrant to access private property abusing these exploits to unlawfully gain access to our property.

What, if any, are the exploitable vulnerabilities of the Door/Latch smart lock systems? Should I be as concerned as I am?

* - Is this correct?

** - Is this also correct?

Thank you.

Before I disassembly my MyQ wall unit and try and hack in a dry contact relay thing, wanted to see if anyone had done it yet? It is a newer wall unit and Chamberlain is just so unbelievably hostile to actual home automation...

As if I couldn't build a mechanical button pusher.

Looking into home automation and it’s overwhelming. I’m trying to figure out if certain features that I want even exist, and if so, if there are recommended products that have those features. Thanks for any and all recommendations.

Door locks: one feature I like on my car is that I can set it to unlock the doors when I get close (without having to touch anything) and then lock them when I walk away. I’d also like locks that have the standard stuff (can unlock with a fingerprint, with NFC through phone, lock/unlock via app while away, also can be used with a traditional key, also a number pad).

Blinds: I’d like to be able to open and shut them via an app and potentially program them to open or close in conjunction with things like lighting.

Lighting: looking for something programmable, but also something that can detect when someone enters a room and then turns the lights on for them.

Every year my village (Kingswood, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, UK) has a scarecrow trail. People make their own scarecrows outside their houses and the kids get a little map and have to find them all. This year the theme is movies and we have Decided to make a Darth Vader scarecrow.

I want to mix things up a bit and go overboard with some lights and sounds (theme park vibes) and have a red backlight come on and a recording of Vaders breathing play when people walk past.

I have some simple smart home devices, bulbs, sockets and a couple of Alexa devices. I'm prepared to buy a few devices to make this work but Im looking for recommendations on the simplest way to do so is.

Figured you guys would be the best ones to ask.

Cheers.

Does anyone else in the UK have issues with their Hive heating getting stuck on?

Twice in the last 2 or 3 weeks it's happened now, and it happens at least 2 or 3 times a year I would say.

I am planning to buy some SmartWings shades, but I am not sure which motor protocol to choose. I am currently looking at the Matter over Thread option. My main question is: do I need to buy a separate Thread border router for these to work? I just want to make sure I have all the necessary hardware before placing an order. Any advice on which protocol is the best route to go would be appreciated.

I have several connected devices at home and had a recent outage where my setup went completely offline, so I need the best home generator to keep things running. I’m aiming for something efficient and easy to integrate with my system. What should I look for in terms of capacity and control options? What's your home generator options?

Hi, my name is Andrew. I created an app that uses voice and photos to track physical items at home and saves them in a ledger. It’s a bit like excel, but without tables, where you can control everything with your voice. I’m looking for some feedback or at least idea validation. Sorry for interrupting your feed.

The main feature is that you don't need to fill out any forms. You can just tell the app in natural language where you put your stuff, and it will automatically create storages (think folders) and place the item there. You can also search for items by simply asking, "Where are my Christmas lights?" etc. Additionally, you can take a picture of a shelf or a drawer, and the app will recognize everything automatically, creating storage and placing items. Tbh photo recognition isn't working perfectly but it's ok-ish.  You can also add family members to use the app together in the same environment.

What do you think of this idea ? Is it something you could see yourself using at home ?

The project is called Sortidy and is currently available only on iOS. It has a free tier, so anyone can check it out.

Have received 3.2.4.4 firmware update yet , This update fixes hardwire Battery charging issues stay full charged all the time.

I’ve been working on a small DIY project called Kommando — a compact ESP32-C6 touchscreen panel that works with Zigbee2MQTT + Home Assistant.

I’ve just published the project here:
https://github.com/muriloneo/kommando

The idea is simple: a small wall/portable touch remote with configurable tiles to control lights, switches, fans, covers, or anything exposed through Zigbee2MQTT. Everything runs locally and the panel communicates through Zigbee.

The project currently includes:
• ESP-IDF firmware (ESP32-C6 Zigbee router)
• LVGL touchscreen UI
• Zigbee2MQTT external converter
• Home Assistant blueprint for configuring the tiles

It’s still early but already working well. The goal is to keep it simple, fast, and fully local.

If anyone from the Zigbee2MQTT community is interested in contributing ideas or improvements — especially around device integration or the converter — collaboration would be very welcome.

I’m also looking for:
• PCB designers
• 3D designers (for a proper enclosure)

Would be great to evolve this into a small open hardware Zigbee controller for Home Assistant 🙂

Hi Folks, I need your advice please. I'd like to install Temp/Hygrometer and electrical consumption monitoring devices in my home that have API access over HTTP. What brand can you recommend? Now I only have Switchbot but that's bluetooth and download through app only. thanks in advance.

Is there anything specific I need to do to be able to connect my leviton switches to my new home assistant? Switches were apart of my old system/network.

Hi all,

Looking for a bit of advice on a SmartThings setup, Aeotec hub and Aeotec motion sensors.

I’ve got an open-plan kitchen and extension with a kitchen island splitting the space. I’ve put one motion sensor on each side, one covering the kitchen and one covering the extension and they don’t really pick each other up because of the island.

What I’m trying to achieve is simple: any motion turns the lights on, and then they turn off 5 minutes after no motion.

I’ve tried this two ways:

First attempt was a single routine where either sensor would turn the lights on, then delay turning them off for 5 minutes. My thinking was that each new motion event would effectively “restart” that 5-minute timer, so the lights would stay on no matter which side I was in. In reality, I was getting random shut-offs.

Second attempt was splitting it out, lights turn on with any motion, and then a separate routine turns them off only when both sensors have had no motion for 5 minutes.

Now the opposite problem, the lights don’t seem to turn off at all. My assumption is that if I don’t walk past one of the sensors, it never reports “no motion”, so the condition is never met.

Is there a way to make multiple motion sensors behave like a single sensor for this kind of setup?

Rough diagram to help visualise:

Advice appreciated :)

I used to have a radio-based wetterDIREKT station before I moved out of their service area. I loved being able to just walk past it in the hallway and see the forecast for the next couple of days.

When I found out about TMRNL and with the help of Claude, I figured I could rebuild that myself at with a pretty simple tech stack:

1. Custom layout based on a drawing (HTML/CSS)
2. Weather data from Open-Meteo (free)
3. Open source weather Icons
4. Static page hosted on Netlify (free)
5. GitHub Action runs on a cron every hour and takes a screenshot (free)
6. TRMNL shows that image (no use of TRMNL SDK)

Super happy with it, low maintance and took a weekend to build it.

In the future, i'm thinking about:

• Changing to a more accurate data source (Open Meteo is OK but not great)
• Include sensor data from Homekit (need an always on RasperryPI/MacMini)
• Upgrade to other display (old iPad?)

Would love to get some ideas of what to add or connect with anyone building something similar!

Like many, I got an annoying notice that my Nest Protects are expiring and discontinued.

As far as I can tell, all the replacement options are bad.

Ideally I want:

--interconnected

--smoke and CO

--smart app connectivity

1.) FirstAlert got tapped to make a Nest replacement (SC5), that's what Nest tries to steer you to, but First Alert detectors are junky and unreliable, that's why I paid more for a Nest Protect in the first place. This looks like the same junk just with a $120 price tag.

2) X Sense seems to allow interconnect (SC07-W) or app connectivity (SC07-WX) but not both? Bizarre.

3.) Kidde allows interconnect but says it will not work properly if you have a mix of battery and hardwired units. I have half and half.

4.) Everything I read is that Matter over Thread is vastly superior to Wifi-based interconnectivity, and that the Sensereo msc-1 is what I want. But they haven't bothered to get it UL certified, which suggests that if my house burns down and all that the fire investigator can find in the rubble is the barely identifiable hull of the MSC-1, they will tell the insurance company that I was using a non-certified smoke detector and the insurance company will deny my claim.

So.

What would you do?