General questions for a new build

Configuration
1

First jump into smart home and doing a bit of research and feel I’m ready to make a purchase but have a couple of questions and help would be great. Couple of key things, I want to be able to control everything locally, so no need for external services, or issues if servers go down outside of my home.

  1. I want to planning on setting up with Zigbee and using Conbee as the ‘Hub’. I don’t need any other hub do I if just buying zigbee devices?

  2. Can zigbee devices be flash using OTA using Tuya convert?

  3. I currently have a non-smart 1 gang light switch - Can I get a smart switch with 3 gangs and use the switches for other stuff i.e. the switch won’t control anything directly but using homeassistant trigger other items? Do these need to be wired in too or will the work with existing wiring from one gang? I’d like this so I can hit a switch that will set scenes - like movie night or turn on spotify

  4. I currently have two non-smart 1 gang 2 way switches that control the same light. Can I use two 1 way switches and control through home assistant? or do I need smart 2 way switches?

The main devices I want is a curtain track, wall sockets, light bulbs and switches. Attempting to future proof as well so I can add new devices as I go along.

Light Switch - might try and find one that has a push and hold functionality to allow for extra control

Smart Curtain

Wall Sockets- not many uk zigbee sockets so a bit of a compromise. Cant link as new user - but Wifi model from Screwfix

Are there other considerations I may be missing?

2

Correct.

Tuya is for ESP devices, not for ZigBee devices. You don’t need to flash any firmware on zigbee devices to pair them to the ConBee.

3

The curtain track linked below has WiFi and ZigBee? So only the WiFi one uses tuya?

The main thing I want to be comfortable with is knowing I can run it locally so no data being sent to other companies or need their servers alive to work home.

How would I control the ZigBee version of this

4

Has WiFi an ZigBee versions*

5

Hi,

So here’s my take on it all. (I live in the UK)

I started down the HA route 3 years ago and have tried all the different methods, there is a lot more gear available these days than 3 years ago. I can’t code and don’t work in anything IT so it’s all been a learning curve, So…

Zigbee - I run a load of Zigbee buttons and sensors (mostly Xiaomi stuff). These have worked with no issues for years BUT zigbee is just the protocol that they transmit on, if the receiver (conbee or zigbee2mqtt) has not been set up to for that specific item, it will just fail to join your zigbee network. Unless you want to learn how to do some “codeing” (I’m using that term very lightly) you are better off getting on the conbee website and picking something that has already been added to the conbee code.

I run zigbee2mqtt so always visit zigbee2mqtt devices to check what has been added, I not saying you can’t add your own devices as they do encourage it but it is easier to use something that already works.

You might want to also consider Tasmota, there are a load of devices that can be hacked with this firmware, which will change it to a MQTT client and you run a broker on HA. Once I discovered MQTT I haven’t looked back.

I don’t think you get smart 2way switches (if you find some, let me know). My kitchen had a 1way 2gang switch and my dining room had a 1way 1gang switch. I removed the wall between the rooms and now it is open plan with a large table in the middle and moved the hanging lights to suite. I did not want to have to walk through the kitchen to the dining room to turn on the hanging lights so I fitted a 1way 3gang in the kitchen, 2 of the gangs still operate the kitchen lights but the 3rd is not physically connected to anything but if I push it, HA will run an automation that tells the actual 1gang 1way switch in the dining room to turn on. Basically I could set that extra gang to do anything when pushed.

2 things I have learnt with home automation is.

1 - When you first fire up HA you will be shocked by the things that it can discover and do. OMG it’s found my printer and reports on the ink levels:) 3 years later and I have never ever needed to look in HA at this info so I have spent more time this year removing items that I don’t use that adding items. So just don’t go over board.

2 - Never ever remove existing functionality just for the sake of automation, I know the founder of HA had this as part of his mission statement (I think I read that). You never want to have to take out your phone, join the wifi, fire up HA just to do something like turn on a light. Home automation should always add to the experience.

Cheers

Simon

6

Yes.
I don’t know this product, maybe it has ZigBee AND WiFi or there are separate models for ZigBee and WiFi.

With the ConBee or any other ZigBee controller, but I don’t know if this device is supported.

7

Thanks so much for this. Zigbee2mqtt seems to be the way to go - the conbee is listed as supported - but experimental. It’s the only one available to me right now from what I can see.

If a device is unsupported, how would you start to add your own support? Not afraid to get my hands dirty. I’m sure there will be resources on here for this too.

8

Hi,

For zigbee2mqtt have a look here Documents, it’s quite well documented.

Simon