Questions tagged [home-automation]
Questions related to automation of home elements like: heating, ventilation, air conditioning, light, audio-video systems, security, intercoms and domestic robotics. For questions related to the Internet of Things, consider asking at the IoT site (iot.stackexchange.com).
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Would two switches in parallel in the same box meet code?
For convenience, I'd like my workshop light to be controllable by the home automation.
For safety, I'd like to be able to bypass that and force the lights to stay on when unexpected sudden darkness ...
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How can I control an outlet via a lightbulb
I have an existing ceiling light, controlled by a normal light switch. Without making any wiring changes, I would like to make it so that when that light bulb is switched on and off, it also controls ...
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Replace a 3-way switches with occupancy sensor switches in a (4 way - 3 way - 3 way) setting
I have a stairwell that has one 4-way switch and two 3-way switches. I'd like to replace the 3-way switches with occupancy sensors and I need help with the wiring.
Box 1 Wiring(has neutral):
Was: 4-...
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Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency [closed]
Hello does anybody know if I can get both water heater and HVAC tax credit, $2,000 each, if I upgrade both to a heatpump version this year?
https://www.energystar.gov/about/federal-tax-credits#savings
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Low Voltage In Walls with 22ga Wire - Charging
I've tried to figure this out on my own, but it exceeds my ability.
I'm trying to replace my old DSC Security Screens with Android Tablets. My house was originally wired with 22ga solid core copper ...
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How to release multiple helium balloons simultaneously? [closed]
Not sure if this question is on-topic for this site.
I am planning a surprise and I want to have multiple helium balloons that are attached somewhere outside.
The challenge is that I want to release ...
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Troubleshooting Sonoff ZBMINIL2 installation for 2-way switch integration with Home Assistant
I purchased a Sonoff ZBMINIL2 to transform a 2-way switch setup into a smart switch for integration with Home Assistant. These two 2-way switches control a standard ceiling light.
Following a ...
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How to determine numbers and location(s) of hardwired Wifi access points?
I hope this question is "Home Improvement" enough. I would like to hardwire/install 1-3 Wifi access points in my home. From my understanding, ceiling mount is best and I got TP-Link EAP610 (...
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is it possible to turn this dumb-waiter into an elevator?
We recently acquired a house that has an elevator-like mechanism. The former owners call the thing a "dumb waiter", suggesting that it's not safe for human use. Although it's roomy ...
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Is it ok to replace a torsion coil spring without a middle bracket bearing? [closed]
Its a single door with a 1020 overhead door opener. It seems it was installed with the fixed end mounted to the side rail. The adjustable tensioner bolt assembly with the square bolts are towards ...
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Does this LED driver work with these lights?
Looking to build a small dry bar with some lights and not sure I have all compatible parts before I start installing. I have the lutron caseta ecosystem so I will be using those as the dimmer switch.
...
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Voice controlled lights
I currently have Ge Cync Bulbs with Alexa voice commands control them via my Echo Dot. they're connected to a dumb switch and are hubless smart bulbs. They have to be constantly powered so my light ...
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3 Gang smart switch over 3 Gang USA switch box
I am trying to install 3 Gang smart touch switch in the place of traditional 3 switch
eg:
the issue is, The 3 gang smart switch comes with only 12cm width 7.5cm height. But the socket box in the ...
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Can I put a water sensor in the ceiling?
I live in an apartment. My upstairs neighbour's bath drain leaked into my ceiling. It was a slow leak from a corrosion hole, so it took a long time to visibly show up. We had to replace the ceiling ...
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Shelly2 Dimmer in 3-way 4-way circuit [closed]
My first posting here. I am trying to add a Shelley2 dimmer in a 3-way or a 4-way switch to add dimming and smart switch capability because I do not have a neutral wire inside the box so I chose ...
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Need some help with wiring a Shelly Plus 1 to fireplace
Trying to figure out how to wire up a Shelly Plus for Alexa control to turn on/off a gas ventless fireplace. Been reading this guide but I can't figure out how the gas valve gets wired. Here is my ...
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Robust Home Automation without reliable internet [closed]
Currently I have a Aqara home hub with temperature sensors and TP Link Kasa smart plugs which I am using to control heating and lights. I currently use IFTTT, but it's not expressive enough for my ...
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Standard boiler wiring
My oil powered boiler's controller is terrible and commercial replacements are expensive.
So, I'm going to make my own.
Looking at the back of the existing controller, there's this wiring diagram ...
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Is it possible to motorize the raising and lowering of cordless blinds?
Backgroud
We are in the market for some cordless blinds to cover multiple windows in our home. I would love to eventually have motorized blinds (tilt AND raise / lower) that can integrate with Home ...
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How to proactively detect a clogged sewer drain pipe?
Is there a way to detect that a sewer drain pipe has clogged and is in the process of backing up? I'm not looking for a) advice like "don't put grease or tampons down the drain" or b) here ...
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Ethernet bus topology for home automation?
Typically, Ethernet uses a star topology. Which means that if you were to use a protocol based on TCP/IP —like MQTT— for wired devices, you would end up with a (number of) central node(s) and one ...
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Automatic Timer Solar Cutoff
My inverter insists on trying to get the last few rays, even when the inverter is really seeing 0A. With the lithium battery things are worse, in that the custom "back to grid" settings are ...
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What type of smart switch has neutral, up, down states? [closed]
I'm having motorised blinds installed and the vendor plans to install a wall switch to control them. The switch has three states: Middle, or the default and off position; up and down, which will roll ...
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External Ethernet wiring in a condo
Background
I live in a two-story condo that doesn't have Ethernet wiring. My goal is to retrofit and get wires to as many locations as possible. After self-inspection and consulting with contractors ...
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Building a trackless, sliding projector mount [closed]
I have a neat little motorized projector screen that disappears into the ceiling space when I'm not using it. It's mounted 50 cm from the wall, so it drops down just in front of my 47cm deep console + ...
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Smart switch and Smart bulbs compatibility
I recently bought some smart bulbs (these) and I installed them. Now every time I flip the light switch it turns them off and I can't turn them on again via the app but instead I have to flip the ...
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Smart 3-way switch with light in the middle of 2 switches
I've been installing Meross MSS550 smart 3-way switches at my house and most of them have been a breeze. However, I have an atypical setup that I have not been able to figure out. I've tried many ...
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Unfamiliar Existing Switch Wiring - Neutral Wire for Smart Switch Help Needed!
I recently become a home owner and have been looking forward to start working on making it “smart”, however, it seems like I’ve ran into a blocker just as I was getting started.
I’m replacing standard ...
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Self-toggling ZigBee switch [closed]
I'm trying to automate my home. I bought a few Ikea ZigBee bulbs, some switches and a ConBee II. I'm still figuring this out.
The Ikea switches look like this:
One thing I miss about regular rocker ...
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Is there a way to remotely control gas valve?
We have a short term rental home, and we have a grill that's connected to natural gas. As a prevention of hazard, is there a way to open and close the gas valve remotely? We want to be able to close ...
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Inserting probe into pressurized water pipe
I need to insert a temperature probe into my pool piping. I am on the pressure side of the filter, so around 10-20 psi typically. My initial idea was to use a screw in plug in the existing 1/2" ...
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What's a good way to install a threaded valve so that it can easily be replaced?
I am using a US Solid Motorized Ball Valve to control the water flow through a stream in my front yard. It works quite well when it works, though I've discovered that it seems to burn out and need to ...
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On a final project of residential automation, where should I put my Arduino?
In a final project, where should I put my Arduino board and it's relay modules cases?
Maybe should I do an electric panel only for this purpose, or have other most simple solution?
Thanks in advanced.
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How to safely wire this non-invasive solution as a smart three-way perilex switch for a heat recovery installation?
I have been wondering about a solution to this for long so I've decided to ask it here. I'm a programmer, not an electrician but I know how to properly solder things and generally how to work safely ...
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Water resistant -absorb -last floor
I would like to have advices about my old home.It is old ,when it rains a lot because it is near the sea,the last floor (the floor that it is on the ground ,I dont know the exactly word ) ,it has ...
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Meross 3-Way Switch installation where the first box connects the power source, light, and second switch cables
I'm looking to add a Meross MSS550 3-way switch. My wiring matches this diagram. The Meross switch requires a Live, Neutral, Ground, and 2 traveler wires. It only requires the replacement of one ...
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Only one Honeywell Home thermostat visible in Google home integration
We recently installed a split system with 4 indoor units, and added 4 honeywell wifi thermostats for remote temperature control. I then wanted to connect the thermostats to Google Home app. but I ...
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How can I troubleshoot faulty motion-sensor security lights on a timer?
I have around 5 security lights with motion sensor around the house but they are not working, and I couldn't figure out where the switches are. Finally, in the garage I found this timer (attached). I ...
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How do I install a Nest Hello doorbell with no existing wires?
I bought a Nest Hello doorbell and then just realized my existing doorbell is wireless. Also, inside the house, in addition to those wireless chimes plugged on outlet, there is also one relative "...
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DSC Power 832 - Security Setup Takeover [closed]
I have a DSC 832 control panel that I see installed in a house I moved to recently.
However, I am not sure where to begin to take control of the system. Could someone point me to a starting point?
...
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New ecobee3 lite, have heat but no cool option
I recently installed a new ecobee3 lite. When I completed the setup process, I found that there was no option to enable cooling. My original setup had both heat and cool options. I believe the option ...
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Cheap system to keep mice from drowning in a pool?
Sometimes small mice end up jumping into my pool and drowning. I should install a cover, but in the meantime does anyone have an easier system? I have one of those off-ramps for small animals already, ...
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Sonoff Mini with Home Accessory Architect firmware
I am using a Sonoff Mini in DIY mode with HAA firmware and connected to a wall switch on S1 and S2 connectors. I have wired it like this:
I am also using the default configuration JSON for Mini ...
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How to calculate whether it's worth turning on a fan to bring warmer air to a heat pump hot water heater?
I have 4 new Rheem 50 gal heat pump hot water heaters being installed in the basement of my home/multiunit property that is a 4-unit building (one heater per apartment).
Generally speaking, the attic ...
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Is a distribution panel necessary when pre-wiring for internet and cable TV?
I am trying to pre-wire my house for internet and cable/satellite TV before finishing my basement. After researching, I got the idea to run CAT5e and RG6 wires from outdoor to the TV outlet.
One ...
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Occupancy sensor to turn off socket
I want to install an occupancy sensor, preferably something simple that I can just plug into the wall socket, like one of those:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Westek-Plug-In-Motion-Activated-Control-...
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Single pole or dual pole relay for switching a 3KW water heater? (UK)
I have bought a Wifi controlled device to control a 3KW, 240V water heater (immersion heater) wirelessly but despite being advertised as 15A, it actually has a 13A relay which has "push fit" contacts. ...
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Smart outlet or timer to auto shut-off after 30 seconds of use
Is there a smart outlet or some special kind of timer that can detect when current starts flowing and turn off after about 30 seconds?
This is intended for a custom hot water circulation system. I ...
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How to add smart controller to ceiling fan with single switched hot
I want a WiFi connected smart controller for my ceiling fans. They are all wired with a single switched hot, so I cannot use a replacement smart switch alone. Are there any wall mounted switches that ...
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KNX PROS & CONS about using same device for sensor&actuator and impact on electrical design
Is there any recommendation to take into account about using devices that joins the sensor and the actuator instead of placing all the actuators in the electrical control panel? What are the pros and ...
