Govee Pressure Sensor and My Smart Home Automation Journey

Hello everyone, I wanted to share my recent experience with the Govee Pressure Sensor and how it has transformed my bedroom lighting automation. I’ve always been on the lookout for affordable and easy-to-use smart home devices, and this sensor has exceeded my expectations!

My Setup

I installed the Govee Pressure Sensor to automate my bedroom lights. The idea was simple: turn the lights on when I step on the sensor and off when I step away. The setup was incredibly straightforward, and the sensor paired seamlessly with my existing smart home ecosystem.

The Button Feature

One thing I love about this sensor is the included button. It’s perfect for creating different bedroom scenes. For instance, pressing the button once turns on a soft nightlight, while pressing it twice switches to a brighter reading light. My partner even prefers using the button over the sensor features, which shows how versatile this device is!

Customizing with Node-RED

I also wanted to share a tip for those looking to take their automation to the next level. I recently explored using Node-RED to manage an external HDD tower for backups and media storage. The goal was to turn the tower off when it’s not needed to save energy. While I initially used a simple timer, I wanted something more dynamic.

Here’s what I did:

  1. Smart Plug Integration: Connected the HDD tower to a smart plug.
  2. Automation Logic: Created a Node-RED flow that turns the tower on when my desktop PC starts and off after a period of inactivity. This ensures the tower isn’t running unnecessarily.
  3. Plex Media Server Integration: Added a check to see if anyone is actively streaming content via Plex. If so, the HDD tower stays on to ensure smooth media playback.

This setup has been a game-changer for managing energy consumption while maintaining functionality.

Looking Ahead

I’m really excited to explore more features of the Govee Pressure Sensor and see how else I can integrate it into my smart home. Whether it’s for lighting, security, or just adding a touch of convenience, this device has proven to be a fantastic addition.

If you haven’t checked out the Govee Pressure Sensor yet, I highly recommend it! It’s affordable, easy to use, and opens up a world of possibilities for home automation.

Stay tuned for more updates as I continue to explore and share my smart home journey! :blush: