As I continue my journey with home automation, I wanted to share some of the exciting things I’ve been working on and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Setting up a smart home can be both incredibly rewarding and a bit challenging, but the results are always worth it!
One of my recent projects was setting up two separate Home Assistant installations—one for my business and one for my home. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed by the idea of managing two systems, but I found a great solution by using separate Chrome browsers for each installation. This approach has worked perfectly, and I can easily access both systems from my phone using the HA Android app. It’s been a great way to keep my work and personal environments separate while still enjoying all the benefits of automation.
I’ve also been experimenting with notifications for appliance usage, specifically for my washing machine. While I’ve managed to get notifications when the cycle finishes, I’d love to figure out a way to track the energy consumption and costs in real time. If anyone has any tips or suggestions on how to achieve this without using Node-RED, I’d be thrilled to hear them!
Another area I’ve been focusing on is improving the range of my outdoor cameras. I’ve tried a few different solutions, and while I haven’t found a perfect fix yet, I’ve learned a lot about signal boosters and placement strategies. It’s been a great learning experience, and I’m hopeful that I’ll find the right solution soon.
One of the most satisfying parts of this journey has been creating custom automations. For example, I recently set up a “Good Morning” scene that turns on my coffee maker, adjusts the thermostat, and starts playing my favorite playlist—all with the press of a single button. It’s these little touches that make home automation truly special.
I’d love to hear from others about their favorite automations or any tips they have for improving energy tracking or camera range. The more we share, the more we can all learn and grow together in this amazing community!