#Alternatives to HA for simple lighting/switches (paid or free both fine)

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

grizzled heart
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Hello,

I'm looking for a service and/or software like HA but focused on me using simple mains powered z-wave switches, some zigee plug-in bulbs and a couple z-wave plug-in outlets.

I've been trying to use HA for this for about the last 6 months and I'm very impressed with the things I read here and the seriousness of the software. However, it seems my wants don't match what I thought I would get with HA so I'm trying to figure out what solutions are out there.

I would like to stick with z-wave and zigbee as far as protocols as I already own the devices. I would like to be able to have the switches turn on/off at certain times like I've had HA complete sometimes (not for more than a few days at a time in a row). Is there any service (paid or otherwise) that is meant to RELIABLY turn on and off z-wave switches and bulbs that will then do "advanced" things like notify me when and if this process fails? After lurking on this discord over the months I've come to realize that there are really advanced projects our there and if I'm looking for turning the light on/off as a main function then HA doesn't seem like the best choice. My experience has been that HA is capable of many futuristic setups but if I'm looking for reliable security lighting action it's not the right approach.

I am willing to buy whatever hardware is necessary and I have a mini PC that was running my HA that I can dedicate if it's required to run the alternative 24/7.

Again, I don't mind having to pay, my priority is that the setup is designed with some sort of reliability in mind and it can alert me when it doesn't do the one very simple thing (turn on/off) I need it to do.

vivid patrol
prisma coral
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Honestly, if you need reliability you should not be using zwave/zigbee they are mostly reliable, but there's always going to be issues with wireless solutions. You want something like KNX as a wired solution

dull halo
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I use HA automations to turn on and off all kinds of lights throughout the house without any issue once set up... From mmwave based lights to lux based lights to sun rise/set based lights to multiple light scenes in bathroom based on number of clicks of smart switch.
All have non-HA redundancies in case something happens like WiFi AP dies and it takes. a day to replace. ZigBee grouping and switch controlled Shelley relays help with this

prisma coral
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My personal method for reliability is smart switches, dumb bulbs. If ha goes down, the microwave starts destroying the 2.4GHz spectrum, whatever - the switches are still hardwired to the bulbs and control them just fine.

grizzled heart
grizzled heart
grizzled heart
# dull halo I use HA automations to turn on and off all kinds of lights throughout the house...

That's awesome. I wish I could get mine to turn some switches on and off reliably just as a first step lol. I'm less knowledgeable than you obviously but I'm trying to make sure wifi has zero involvment in any of my system. I have the PC that was/is running my HA hard wired and the dongles are for z-wave and zigbee so no wifi involved.

Obviously I'm in over my head but one of the "perks" I thought HA offered was being able to isolate AWAY from wifi for my purposes. I wouldn't purposefully integrate anything wifi on my system if I didn't have to.

grizzled heart
prisma coral
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I am absolutely fascinated by where this idea that HA isn't reliable has come from. Your latest responses seem to say you have found it unreliable but your initial message said "it seems my wants don't match what I thought I would get with HA" which is so vague as to be completely useless
Zigbee/ZWave will work 99.9% of the time, but there are exceptions, zigbee will struggle with a bad mesh, or if it's using bulbs as routers that you're then switching on/off with hardwired power for example. Both will struggle if you live in a castle with 4 foot thick stone walls etc

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If you want help with this we're going to need a bit (a lot) more information - what hardware are you running HA on, how are you interfacing with the wireless protocols (ZHA/zigbee2mqtt + Mosquitto etc) plus what hardware and how is it installed (e.g. both of the adapters tend to prefer being on USB extension cables for noise reasons rather than plugged directly into the computer), what switches and bulbs you have, as well as what you are using in HA as automation

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It's incredibly rare than my HA automations fail because of HA. Normally it's either me restarting for updates while it's running something, or a failure of the interfacing (zigbee coordinator got disconnected by the cat etc)

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What troubleshooting steps have you taken - you say there's "zero chance to troubleshoot" - there are logs everywhere, traces for automations etc. What have you tried?

grizzled heart
# prisma coral I am absolutely fascinated by where this idea that HA isn't reliable has come fr...

You're right, I get it. Listen, I'm just a normal, non-tech guy that tried to get his home setup on HA. I'm not disparaging it. I'm giving you a look at what obstacles novices face as I depart.

There are A LOT of passionatie people here that argue for HA. However, when I meet an issues or a problem I'm told the software is free and I should change my expectations. OK. I'm willing to pay for a service that works. Then when I look for a service that's reliable and I udnerstand that may cost money I'm met with HA advocates that say HA can EASILY turn lights on or off etc.

I have been unable to get my setup to work at turning lights on or off or notfying me any of it failed.

I am NOT diparaging HA or this community. I get it, you all love the program. I want to TOO! I also appreciate that it's free.

I am looking for something that will reliably send its command and let me know if a light is or isnt on (Just to start with HA).

The bubls listed below never got into play because I couldn't get the "easier" stuff to work (turning things on/off on schedule).

Core Home Assistant System
Mini PC: Kamrui AK2PLUS (Intel N100, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
Storage (internal): M.2 SATA SSD (primary HA OS + data)

Radio / Smart Home Interfaces
Z-Wave Controller: Aeotec Z-Stick 7 Plus
Zigbee Controller: SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus-E
USB Extension Cables (for both dongles)

Smart Devices (Current Inventory)

Z-Wave
Zooz ZEN05 outdoor plugs
GE / Jasco in-wall switches (46201, UltraPro 76607, etc.)
Sensative Strips Guard (outdoor door/window sensor)

Zigbee (connected and "work" but haven't autmated yet)
Third Reality Smart Color Bulbs (ZL1)
Aqara bulbs (used for alert lighting)

prisma coral
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Hardware looks sensible. For the controllers are you running addons within HA? or do you have (e.g.) proxmox running things separately

dull halo
vivid patrol