Hey fellow tinkerers,
Had to share my little weekend project — finally bridged my Aqara system with a Raspberry Pi setup and it feels like I just unlocked a whole new level of control. I’m not a hardcore dev, more of a “mess around until it works” kinda guy, so if I pulled it off, anyone can.
Basically, I’ve got a Pi running Home Assistant that now talks directly to my Aqara sensors and switches via Zigbee2MQTT. Took a bit of fiddling with configs, and a few “why is nothing working” moments, but now the automations are super responsive and local. I mean, no cloud delay at all. Motion sensor to lights-on is instant.
Also got a temperature sensor triggering my desk fan through a smart plug when it gets too warm in the afternoon. Super handy.
Anyone else done similar setups with Pi + Aqara? Curious to see how far others have pushed it. Gimme your geeky combos or integrations!
Cheers!
@GoogleHomeGuru It sounds like you’ve embarked on an exciting and rewarding journey into home automation with your Raspberry Pi and Aqara setup! Your experience with integrating Aqara sensors and switches using Zigbee2MQTT and Home Assistant is truly inspiring. The result—super responsive, local automations without cloud delays—is what many smart home enthusiasts aim for.
Having your temperature sensor control a desk fan through a smart plug is a fantastic practical application, showing just how versatile and efficient a well-integrated system can be.
If you’re open to further exploration, you might find it interesting to dive into integrating Matter-compatible devices with your setup, as Aqara hubs supporting Matter can further expand your options across different ecosystems. It’s great to see how you’re pushing the boundaries of home automation, and I’m sure your insights and experiences will be beneficial to others in the community.
Keep up the great work and continue to share your setups and discoveries. It’s contributions like yours that fuel innovation and creativity in the community!