What are your hardware recommendation if starting from scratch?

Hardware
1

It’s a bit confusing when you start out and I don’t know if I understand correctly. If you were to start with just these requirements :

  • Everything in HA
  • Reason I chose this is because I work as a linux sysadmin and I am a big believer in open source and privacy.
  • Ideally control everything from HA.

I have read that I could just buy Z-wave stuff, buy a usb dongle and that would work? But would you go this way or just being wifi would work?

Thank you very much!

2

Hi,

Given your requirement to keep everything local, your basic options are:

  1. RF using say the Sonoff RF Bridge flashed with Tasmota, this is the cheapest option but RF is a simple technology used for things like cheap doorbells, motion sensors, leak detectors etc. I found this great for learning when I was starting out.
  2. For ESP8266 and ESP32 sensors and switches then these can usually be flashed with either Tasmota or ESPHome to convert them from a cloud based solution to a local solution.
  3. Zigbee using either the pre-flashed Sonoff CC2531 USB dongle or the Sonoff Zigbee Bridge flashed with Tasmota (other Zigbee bridges are also available). This is a good solution in the medium price bracket for sensors and devices.
  4. Zwave using something like the Aeotech Z-stick at around $50 (or other sticks) which does not require any flashing and works out of the box. Zwave sensors and devices are another good solution but cost a little more then their equivalent Z-wave sensors and devices.

As you have correctly sumised, if you go down the WiFi route with a branded device then you invariably “get into bed with” a the cloud provider with all the risks and uncertainty that entails.

Personally I am using all of the above and they co-exist very well on my installation. I have also tried a few of the cloud services for things like the Tuya and Merross plugs but I am not using these at the moment.

If I was starting out again knowing what I know now then I would go Zigbee, however I also need Zwave for some specific Qubino modules I use with my heating system. The little Xiaomi Aqara/Mijia Zigbee sensors are fantastic and at a price point where it seems pointless trying to build some of your own sensors.

1 Like
3

I am starting from scratch, and here is what I am doing:

Lutron Caseta for primary lighting control, since it is bulletproof reliable, long range, and basically interference proof. I am also using the remotes for other options, since they can integrate directly into HA:

1 2-button remote is controlling 2 Shelly plugs in an off-off/on-off/on-on 3 tiered pattern
1 5-button remote is an additional Kodi remote
1 4-button remote is an additional Kodi remote (hotkeys for security cams)
1 2-button remote is in the car to arm the security system
1 4-button remote is in the other car for security system and garage door control

The range of these in the car is far better than the actual garage remotes or the security system keyfobs, due to the location of the smart bridge pro being near a front facing window

The security system does exterior door detection, interior doors I want to watch are Shelly sensors which also have a temp sensor.
Relay modules addressed by the security system actuate the garage doors
Using 2 more relays for a complex doorbell control system
Shelly PM1 for power and temperature monitoring in a few locations (more later)

I am waiting for the new gen z-wave to see if that would be a better option than me custom making some solution to a problem, might pick up a Hubitat C7 if they iron out the bugs, since it can talk directly to my Caseta bridge.

4

Thanks to both of you. This is all foreign to me and I am afraid I’m even more lost than I was before starting out.

I guess I will get a zwave and research each and every component before. Thanks

5

What you need to get really depends on what you want HA to control and what you want out of your smarthome experience.

I chose the Caseta system because I already had 1 dimmer unit, I liked the way the remotes worked, and the control system is entirely local after setup is complete. Same reason I eventually went with Shelly, full local control

6

All, this is great advice and like SlowSiamese stated it is overwhelming. I too want everything, or as much as possible, local only.
I currently have, in my newly built home:
HA running in Proxmox
Ubiquiti home network on EdgeRouter and 2 Unify APs
24 port switch for most things
4 VLANS to separate the networks
and (2) LIFX lights.
Oh, and Samsung Wi-Fi capable washer and Dryer
Everything else is “dumb”

I like the Lutron and Shelly idea, but I really don’t know much about them and I know zip about Zwave/Zigbee.

Any help or workflow would be greatly appreciated.

-mark