Best devices for HA to start with

Hardware
13

Personal preference but can add that I hate replacing batteries and therefore try to avoid battery-powered products whenever I can (which is something that I wish I knew before buying loads of them).

Note also that Zigbee lightbulbs (i.e. a screw-in lightbulb) are not generally recommended for multiple reasons, instead it is generally recommended to buy dumb dimmable LED lightbulbs and either install a smart switch to replace your dumb wall-switch or convert your existing switch using a smart switch-module, (also known as a smart dimmer if it is a dimmable switch), this type of smart switch / smart dimmer solution is also a cheaper solution since you can have a single smart wall).

If you live in North America then you likely get complete smart switches to replace all your dumb wall-switches, and if you live in Europe (or Asia) then you instead get a smart switch-module to convert your existing dumb wall-switch into a smart switch.

The primary reason why Zigbee lightbulbs are not recommended is by the way that if they are a “Zigbee Router Device” (i.e. also acting as Zigbee repeater/extender) then you should not power them off using a switch as they always need to be powered or else it will mess with the Zigbee network mesh. Only ways around that is to either specifically buy Zigbee lightbulbs that are not Zigbee Router (such as all the models from Sengled) or remove any switches to them and instead use a Zigbee remote/button to control them indirectly via automation.

That is, the general recommendation is only to use Zigbee lightbulbs where there is no switch, such as example for accent lighting that is fully automation or when buying a complete new smart lamp whitch comes with Zigbee out-of-the-box (such as many non-lightbulb products from Philips Hue).

Another personal preference but I prefer to build-in the smarts into the product if possible, which is also why I prefer to convert existing products if possible. My advice is also for anything with mains-power I recommend get one that has built-in energy meter (power-measurement) if possible, as it is better to have it and not need it now than to not have it and need it later (the enerty dashboard in Home Assistant also allow you to track individual devices so having it built into everything is nice).

  • Convert (or replace) cord-switches for lamps to make them all into smart switches.
  • Convert (or replace) wall-switches to make them all into smart switches.
  • Convert (or replace) power-outlets to make them all into smart power-outlets.
    • Smart plugs can be used but avoid in longterm if possible if not seen as a temporary solution.

Specific tip there is to get these kind of Zigbee rotary in-line cord dimmer switches (made by Tuya but sold under many different brand names) if you have standing-lights or floor-lights with dumb dimmable LED-light, so again not a Zigbee lightbulbs but instead a Zigbee switch, (downside to these is that they do not have built-in energy metering):

PS: Off-topic tip is to read this: 20 things I wished I knew when I started with Home Assistant:

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