I’ve been on a journey to automate my home using Shelly devices and Home Assistant, and I wanted to share my success story in case it can help others who might be facing similar challenges. Spoiler alert: It’s been a wild ride, but the payoff has been worth every moment of frustration!
The Goal
I wanted to set up a system where pressing the button on my intercom would trigger a notification on my phone. Sounds simple, right? Well, it turned out to be a bit more involved than I initially thought.
The Setup
- Hardware: Shelly Uni connected to my intercom system. The intercom has an input button and a GND connection, which I used to wire up the Shelly.
- Software: Using the Shelly Cloud app to configure the scene.
The Journey
Initially, everything seemed to work perfectly. I set up a scene where pressing the intercom button would send a phone notification. It worked flawlessly a few times, but then started behaving unpredictably. Sometimes I’d get the notification, other times not. I was determined to figure this out!
I spent hours tinkering with the configuration, experimenting with different “WHEN” conditions in the app. I tried:
- State Change: Monitoring when the Shelly relay turned ON/OFF.
- Input Change: Detecting changes in the input signal.
- Button Presses: Monitoring short and long presses.
The issue was that while the State Change condition worked sporadically, the other options caused the scene to stop working entirely. I reached out to the community, and it turns out I wasn’t alone in my struggles!
The Breakthrough
After some trial and error, I realized the key was sticking with the State Change condition. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the most reliable option. I also discovered that ensuring the Shelly was properly powered and grounded was crucial to consistent performance.
The Payoff
Now, my system works like a charm! Pressing the intercom button reliably sends a notification to my phone, letting me know someone’s at the door. It’s a small feature, but it’s made a big difference in how I manage my home.
Tips for Others
- Start Simple: Don’t try to configure everything at once. Test one condition at a time.
- Check Connections: Ensure all hardware connections are secure and properly grounded.
- Community Support: Don’t hesitate to ask for help. The Shelly and Home Assistant communities are incredibly supportive!
If anyone else is struggling with similar issues, please reach out. I’d be happy to share more detailed steps or troubleshoot with you!
Happy automating! 