Recently, I’ve been diving into the world of smart home devices, and it’s been an exciting journey! From setting up energy-efficient solutions to integrating various gadgets, I’ve learned a lot and wanted to share some of my experiences with the community.
One of the highlights has been experimenting with the Govee Coffee Mug. I was curious about its dishwasher safety, and after some research and testing, I’m happy to say it holds up beautifully. The convenience of having a smart mug that tracks my caffeine intake has been a game-changer for my morning routine!
Another interesting project I’ve been working on is optimizing energy usage with a TP-Link Smart Plug. I’ve been using it to monitor a boiling water tap, which has sporadic high-power usage. To get accurate average wattage readings, I set up a SQL query to calculate the energy consumption over 24 hours. It’s a bit technical, but it’s been surprisingly effective. Here’s the setup I used:
sql
sensor:
- platform: sql
queries:- name: ‘plug_boiling_water_tap_watts_24h’
query: |
SELECT ROUND((kwh_new - kwh_old) * 1000 / ((JulianDay(date_new) - JulianDay(date_old)) * 24), 2) AS watts
FROM (
SELECT state AS kwh_old, MIN(created) AS date_old
FROM “states”
WHERE entity_id = ‘sensor.plug_boiling_water_tap_kwh_total’
AND state != ‘unknown’ AND state != ‘’
AND created > datetime(‘now’, ‘-24 hours’)
), (
SELECT state AS kwh_new, MAX(created) AS date_new
FROM “states”
WHERE entity_id = ‘sensor.plug_boiling_water_tap_kwh_total’
AND state != ‘unknown’ AND state != ‘’
);
column: ‘watts’
unit_of_measurement: ‘W’
- name: ‘plug_boiling_water_tap_watts_24h’
This setup helps me understand the energy spikes without missing any data points. It’s a neat workaround for devices with irregular usage patterns!
I’ve also been exploring ways to integrate different brands and systems. For instance, I’m working on setting up a Z-Wave relay system to control a standalone GSM house alarm. It’s a bit challenging, but the potential to automate arming and disarming the system remotely is worth the effort. I’ve considered using a garage door plugin for the relays, but I’m still researching the best approach to ensure reliability.
On the software side, I’ve been experimenting with openHAB 2.4 and its integration with InfluxDB. While there were some initial connection issues, I managed to get it working by ensuring the correct port and credentials were used. It’s amazing to see all the data visualized in real-time, and it’s been a great tool for monitoring energy consumption across the house.
I’d love to hear about others’ experiences with similar setups or any tips for optimizing smart home systems. Whether it’s energy monitoring, device integration, or automation workflows, let’s share our knowledge and continue to push the boundaries of home automation!
Cheers,
[Your Name]