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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGeneral Recommendations: NOT Recommended: <\/p>\n\n\n\n My tested Gear: Aliexpress 3in1 sensor<\/a> $8 ca. bit of deviation in the temp\/humid sensors. std AAA batteries, not as good battery life as the Linkindlink gear, but more sensors. Recommended for bathrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Govee H5102 Bluetooth Thermometer+Hygrometer AA batteries, good battery life ~3 month-ish more info here https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=x-iD8Q7AwLE<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sonoff: their Zigbee stuff is good but their HA wifi plugin is very clunky, it makes is own dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sonoff no-neutral zigbee switch modules are 6Amp only so to be wired correctly they needed to be wired in series with a 5Amp fuse as a normal circuit is 15Amp. It’s highly unlikely that anyone is going to install a 100w incandescent bulb but we prefer fuses over fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Interesting automations & sensors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Temperature sensor turns on ceiling fan, closes blinds <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommendations from Smart Home Solver <\/a>2025 (AAA = triple A rechargeable batteries, coin cells are expensive + annoying)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bulbs Linkind, Kasa <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheap Voice control<\/p>\n\n\n\n Voice control via Andriod phone as of Mar2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lighting color for Alerts<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/share.google\/sKxRniRXA8Rn8Kdiv<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n No Neutral Conundrum: Don’t assume that since one light switch has neutral, that ALL your wiring has a neutral. Do some snooping before buying hardware in bulk. Daylight Projection Clock with HA integration | Buy Now – Frixos store https:\/\/share.google\/RiOaxKe9faNkkbmvO<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Interesting but not yet investigated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n NFC tags<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bluetooth Esp32 can make Bluetooth relays cheap. some assembly required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matter<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frigate camera ai person sensor<\/p>\n\n\n\n Android voice control<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alarmo<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A used Raspberry Pi 4 is fine to start your Adventure. MicroSD won’t last long, get an external SSD or a M.2 backpack. Used ssd is super cheap and you only need 128Gb.
Kasa\/TPLink wifi for anything mains powered. Local, app required only for setup. Check that your lightswitches have a White\/Neutral run to the box BEFORE you buy, don’t assume.
ZigBee\/matter for battery powered devices, requires a ZigBee USB stick. range is limited
If your house is large you need a Zigbee gateway SMLIGHT <\/a>$38ca Much better range than combee, if you start out with something USB choose something with an antenna, use a USB extension cable to get it up and away from metal + electronics. Zigbee relay works but more hops =more potential for unreliability.
Ikea\/Sonoff\/Tuya Zigbee sensors all work well, find ones that take standard AAA rechargeable batteries
Matter is marketed as ideal but setup can be aggravating.
Z-Wave is popular in Europe, pick zigbee or z-wave but avoid having both<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TUYA\/re-brand Wifi Smart Devices. Integration works but reaches out to China, slow and unreliable.
Sonoff Wifi again a web integration, these can have open firmware added but it’s a hassle. mini $11 and uses your existing light switch. Local integration exists but hassle + docs are outdated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LG Thinq HeatPump Dryer easy to add into HA, but is Cloud Polling, exposes these items (Ignore the items that start with Up)<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/increasec.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/image-6.png\")
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Ikea Parasol Zigbee door\/window sensor, 1.2v rechargeable AAA batteries. button x4 press to pair $
Ikea Vallhorn Zigbee Presence sensor, 1.2v AAA batteries. LARGE! Critter sensor in Garage $14
Schlage door lock; wifi + integration, reliable, strong motor, no finger print or rfid
Linknlink eMotion <\/a>presence sensors $17 ish, Paul Hibbert recommended. ++battery life!
SmLight SLZB-06M; very versatile but not easy to setup.
Working with native HA zigbee as of Jan2026 https:\/\/github.com\/zigbee2mqtt\/hassio-zigbee2mqtt<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humidity sensors turn on Bath fan
Temp sensor above the stove detects if it was left on
Temperature sensor in refrigerator?
Presence sensor in the garage\/cold cellar to detect critters and Hobbits
Vibration\/Current sensor on the washing machine & dryer
Water sensors under sink, toilet, wash machine, fridge, water heater, attic?
Door\/window sensor on the garage door, basement windows, electric car charge door
Smart outlet on anything your wife\/kids leave turned on ie ice maker, game console
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
lightstrip wiz, aquara
Doorbell Reolink
doorlock eufy e31, aquara u100
lightswitches Kasa
indoor cam Tapo home assist
outdoor cam Reolink wired cams HA
motion aquara, 3rd reality aaa batteries, (tested Ikea AA batt)
presence Aquara, Apollo
Contact 3rd reality AAA batteries, Aquara, (i use Ikea contact AAA batteries, Zigbee)
water Ikea badring AAA battery
button 3rd reality, hue, Ikea HA Z2M only
vibration 3rd reality AAA, aquara
outlet Kasa, Ikea, 3rd reality
garage Meross
thermostat Ecobee essential homekit, Honeywell T6 + zWave
air quality Apollo, Ikea
Temperature ? Zigbee 4 in 1 Motion,Temperature, Humidity, Luminance AliExpress<\/a> $8.88<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternative; smart bulb and a zigbee button, functional but messy.
Alternative; Sonoff make ZbMiniL2\/orange and yellow modules that don’t require neutral, use your existing switch, and connect via Zigbee. Caveats; these won’t work with INductive loads (read ceiling fan), rated for Max 6Amps (YOU will rememeber to only use Led bulbs but the wiring needs to be safe for EVERYONE) so you will need an inline fuse, and the load needs to be at least 6w so it can “leak” enough current to keep the Zigbee listening without blinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n