Hi everyone! I’ve been diving into the world of smart home automation lately, and it’s been an exciting journey. I wanted to share some of my experiences and maybe get some tips from the community.
Starting off, I’ve been experimenting with Node-RED and HomeAssistant to create some custom automations. It’s incredible how much you can automate with these tools! For example, I set up a system where my kettle’s power usage triggers a sequence of actions. When it detects boiling (over 500 watts), it waits until it stops (drops to 0 watts) and then sends a notification. This was a fun project, and I’d love to hear if anyone has similar setups or tips for improving it!
One challenge I’ve encountered is dealing with internal flows in HomeAssistant. I’ve noticed some odd error messages when trying to copy certain nodes, specifically related to mobile_app_notification. It’s been a bit puzzling, and I’d appreciate any insights or workarounds others might have encountered.
On the topic of sensors, I’ve been curious about integrating devices from different HomeAssistant instances. For instance, I have a Zigbee smart plug controlling a 3D printer, and I’d like my colleague to control it from their HomeAssistant setup. I’ve been using curl commands to fetch sensor states, but I’m only interested in the state attribute. Is there a more efficient way to achieve this without parsing the entire JSON response? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Another area I’ve been exploring is automation templates. I’ve tried creating a routine where different colored lights rotate in sequence, controlled by a virtual switch. However, I’m running into some issues with the setup. It would be fantastic to hear if anyone has successfully implemented something similar or has advice on how to approach this with the current automation capabilities.
Lastly, I’ve been looking into routine creation and was blown away by the possibilities. I’d love to see more examples or tutorials on how others have crafted their routines, especially for more complex scenarios. It’s inspiring to see the creativity in this community!
Overall, I’m thoroughly enjoying the process of learning and creating with these tools. The potential for customization is immense, and I’m excited to continue exploring. If anyone has tips, tricks, or stories to share, I’d love to hear them! Thanks for being such an supportive and knowledgeable community. 
Cheers,
[Your Name]