A while ago, I wanted to try Home Assistant. Then I realised that I didn't have a single thing to use it with. The locks are mechanical, the lights are simple LEDs, the irrigation system is manual, my car has push buttons, and I live in a safe enough area (by European standards) to not need doorbell or security cameras. Nothing I own depends on any external services other than the electric transformer down the street.

Never a better time to be a modern Luddite.

[–] Retro_unlimited@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

One of my best uses for home assistant is fine tuning the fridge and freezer temperatures.

At one point the fridge was not cycling and just running the compressors nonstop. I was able to adjust it so it cycles properly and stays within proper temperatures.

I also use it to monitor temperature and humidity inside and outside, cloud patterns, sun set and sun rise times, monitor power use and all my batteries and charge status (off grid). And will keep adding more and more. Hoping to some day monitor my water tanks that will collect rain water soon.

All this and it only consumes maybe 3 watts for all the smart stuff.

Before I moved we used it to have automatic lights in some rooms, and when someone goes in front of the driveway camera all the lights in the house changed color to let us know. That alone was a life saver.

[–] qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website 6 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I can be a bit neurotic about turning off lights when I leave a room, so Home Assistant was a nice way to free up brain space for me. A few motion sensors here and there + some simple automations, and the lights mostly handle themselves. Zigbee sensors and Zigbee or Matter-over-WiFi bulbs, so everything is local. A free VPS+WireGuard setup means I can access them remotely should I need to, with TailScale as a backup.

Cloud failures mean I can't access remotely, but local control is unaffected---if my smart devices stop working it's almost certainly my fault :)

[–] MarauderIIC@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What VPS do you use?

[–] qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Oracle Free tier, amd64. Only use it because it's free---limited bandwidth, but given I have slow upload at home it's never really been a bottleneck. Hate to admit it given it's Oracle, but I've been completely happy with it.

If I switch to a paid VPS I will probably go with racknerd (suggestions welcome though if you have thoughts).

[–] piccolo@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Automating lights made sense 20+ years ago when lights were power hungry. But leaving on a 10w light bulb today is so meaniless. Especially after adding in all the power draw of the automation requires...

[–] JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

A single raspberry pi that draws maybe 3 watts, and fraction of a watt standby draw per device?

Also, 10w draw for a year is 87kWh. And you probably have more than just one light in your house.

[–] qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website 11 points 2 days ago

Especially after adding in all the power draw of the automation requires...

What exactly is the incremental power draw for automation? My network gear and server (a little nuc) are sunk power costs as I self host other services.

Idling, my home uses around 100W with the fridge off. One 10W light is an additional 10% of my power budget, and I have a lot more than one light in my house. I also pay about $0.40/kWh.

[–] itkovian@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

I am so happy to be poor.

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 9 points 2 days ago

You cannot think this song is about you, surely, surely

[–] sundray@lemmus.org 2 points 2 days ago

Got me 😔

(posted from indoors)