Pergola automation suggestions?

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1

We’re building a fixed pergola over our outdoor kitchen area. This coming week we’re meeting with the electrician to discuss lighting, power, etc. Of course I want automation to be part of the design.

For lighting we’re thinking of the following:

  • 3 zones of 6 inch cans (LED) in the main area.
  • 3 zones of 4 inch cans (LED) over the counter tops.
  • LED uplighting for the skylight.
  • Fairy lights on the perimeter.

For the can lights I’m thinking about 3 position retractive switches with Shelly Dimmer 2’s. This would give us physical control and automation, plus our own choice of switches.

Z-wave is also an option, if it’s safe to install outside but under cover. I don’t have Zigbee (and don’t want to add it at this stage).

For the skylight I’m thinking WLED and an RGBW strip. I might go with one of the new Dig2Go bundles. Sure I can make my own, but that seems to be a nice offering that would just work out of the box, and it’s not expensive.

The fairy lights will probably be just powered with switched outlets (my wife doesn’t care if they are dimmable).

For the motion sensor I already have some Everything Presence One units on hand. Hopefully it’s safe to use outside but under cover. I have a 3D printer so I can make a custom case as needed.

I’ll probably also add a hand built ESP8266 air quality sensor. So I’ll make sure that I have a non-switchable outlet nearby all the sensor positions (probably with built in USB power).

For music I’m just thinking about portable smart speakers, like the Sonos One. I don’t think I want to mount speakers in the ceiling.

We have WiFi access out there already, But I’d like a stronger signal and more range so I’ll probably add another UniFi 6 and mount it on the ceiling. Should be OK with its IP54 rating.

We have some Nest cameras that I’m not using, so I’ll add one out there.

We’ve got a switch for our pool cover, but I don’t want to automate that. Not sure that that’s even legal.

Am I missing anything? Any thoughts or suggestions?

2

IMHO, nothing beats a wire. I was fortunate enough that the previous owner ran wire to the four corners and pulled it back to our cage room. The sound throughout our house is perfect. All wired. 6 output zones – Deck/Pergola, Patio, Kitchen, Living, Foyer, Hot Tub with two additional zones in Master and Dining that have separate amps. All driven via a Dayton Audio DAX88 8 input/8 output zone controller which is fully integrated in HA.

Screenshot of da music system:

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If all zones are on say Spotify like during a party, it’s 28 speakers total covering most all the house. Walk from room to room and the sound is perfect … and changing songs is not popcorning from BT to BT device or anything. Instant.

3

Zwave is perfecly fine outside, as you put it in an outside electric junction box. Have some of these in my garden and works perfecly well.

4

Another thought but I do not know where you live. We in California and the previous owner put in ceiling mounted infrared heat lamps under our pergola. I hate them, don;t use them and have two better propane heat lamps that are hosed to the main tank but with enough line to move them around quite a bit.

My wife wants me to remove the in-ceiling lamps this summer and put in ceiling fans which is a great idea.

The other thing I noticed but again this is your family preference. Our pergola is very well protected from the elements. At the end attached to house are two Vizio TVs with DirecTV Genies. Couple that with the sound during football season and everyone is here on Sunday.