DIY Dog Water Bowl Monitor & Tips for Old Devices Integration

Hey everyone, I’m thrilled to share my latest DIY project and some tips that might help others in the community! :paw_prints::sparkles:

I’ve been experimenting with creating a smart dog water bowl monitor using an HX711 load sensor and an ESP32. The goal was to track water levels without the sensor being knocked out by my energetic pups. After some trial and error, I managed to set it up with four sensors for better weight distribution and connected it to Home Assistant. The setup includes an automation that alerts me if the water drops below 10%, which has been a lifesaver! Here’s a quick glimpse of the setup:

Dog Bowl Sensor Setup

For those looking to integrate older devices, I’ve successfully set up Home Assistant on an old netbook. It’s been running smoothly and allows me to monitor everything from my iPhone. If anyone has tips on optimizing performance on older hardware, I’d love to hear them!

Lastly, I’d love to hear about others’ experiences with Zigbee locks. I recently paired a Schlage Camelot lock with my hub, and it’s been working flawlessly. Any tips or common issues others have encountered would be appreciated!

Looking forward to connecting with the community and learning from your amazing projects! :rocket: