I’ve been working on integrating multiple smart home devices from different brands, and I’d love to share my experiences and challenges with the community. My setup includes a mix of Shelly and Fibaro devices, and while both brands offer great functionality, combining them has been an interesting journey.
Shelly Devices: I’ve been using Shelly 2.5 relays and the Shelly I4 input module for various automation tasks around my home. The Shelly app has been a lifesaver for quick setup and monitoring. However, I’ve encountered some issues when trying to integrate the Shelly I4 with my Fibaro system. Specifically, the I4 doesn’t respond to curl HTTP requests like the Shelly 2.5 does, which has made it tricky to create seamless automations. I suspect this might be due to the newer Shelly models not having full backward compatibility with older setups.
Fibaro Integration: On the Fibaro side, I’ve been using the Fibaro Yubi for QA (QuickApp) functionality. It’s been fantastic for creating custom scenes and automations, but I’ve hit a wall with the limited number of QAs and scenes I can create. This has forced me to get creative with my setup, especially since I need to control a variety of devices, including roller shutters, Hue lights, and digital inputs. I’ve also had to troubleshoot some strange behavior with the Hue plugin, which has required me to use children of Hue QAs to work around the limitations.
Challenges and Solutions: One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring that all my devices work together smoothly. For example, I’ve had to manually downgrade the firmware on my Vera Edge units to resolve issues with LED strip lighting controls. While this isn’t an ideal long-term solution, it’s kept my system functional until a proper fix is available.
Tips for Others: If you’re considering integrating multiple brands like Shelly and Fibaro, I’d recommend starting with a clear plan of what you want to achieve. Take it one step at a time, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the community for help. Also, keep an eye on firmware updates and documentation, as these can often resolve issues or introduce new features that make your setup easier.
I’d love to hear from others who have successfully integrated multiple brands or have tips for overcoming similar challenges. Let’s keep the discussion going and help each other create smarter, more connected homes!