10 Next Level Automations in my Smart Apartment

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks for watching! Here is my article with more details on how I set up everything: smarthomesolver.com/reviews/apartment-automations-next-level/

[@SmartHomeSolver]

@Evan Ackert yes I'm really curious to see how the follow feature works. Seems like there could be a lot of ways it might fail but if it does work well then that could be a big step forward.

[@prestonmorey8189]

@@SmartHomeSolver have you considered using a the echo flex and the motion sensor for it? It might solve your problem with your automation at your computer that you ended up turning off. I literally cant trick that thing into thinking I'm not there no matter how slow or little I move around it

[@liuesstuo9413]

I don’t know if someone else asked. Why are you not using the HA App for presence detection?

[@SpaceStrike]

@@Auroramystic kid, a bidet isn’t hard to install and you don’t need a new house to get one. And it doesn’t replace tp

[@MarkSmithMCS]

Hey, Reed (@Smart Home Solver). That Automated Doorbell suggestion is fantastic. Managed to set it up so Person Detection on a Wyzecam V3 pointing out my front window will trigger Alexa to show the feed on our living room TV. That was pretty magic using just Alexa (not yet a Home Assistant owner), but what I'm wondering is how do I get the TV to turn itself off after. I tried adding the Wait 30 Seconds and Resume actions on the end of the routine, but it insists on my custom action being the final action, from some reason. Keep up the awesome content. You & Mr Hibbert are my go-to channels

[@TheSuitedEngineer]

I'm always impressed by how your kids are always such good actors in your videos.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Chase! I have to give a lot of ice cream for the kids to help out.

[@xtremeideaz]

@@SmartHomeSolver lol

[@movableimages]

@@SmartHomeSolver That's one automation method done to you by your kids

[@shubinternet]

Don’t forget the wife! She’s good, too!

[@shawnco2006]

I always love seeing the mini skit at the end of the videos 😍😍

[@Salem324]

Gold

[@matejfoltyn]

Yup, just keep your phone 😀

[@Noneyobusiness7822]

lol this is so true for us tech guys....

[@racewiththefalcons1]

I am so thankful you put links in the description to the products you mention. Saves me a bunch of hassle trying to search for them myself. Thank you!

[@Jmcinally94]

You could use room assistant for your music controls and set up some little bluetooth nodes for each room, this can track individual phones movements between room. I've been using a combination of PIR motion sensors to turn on lights and room assistant to keep them on if someone's present. It all ties into Home Assistant via MQTT.

[@abcd124]

Paul Hibbert AND Smart Home Solver posting a video today? That's how you know it's a good day...

[@YourFriendCole]

I'm moving into an apartment soon and these will definitely come in handy! I hope you do some more renter friendly videos in the future so I can get even more ideas! :)

[@jephindavis7216]

I want these devices in my life. Love automation. Thanks for the video.👍

[@Technology4Life]

Using a power/energy monitor to tell if the TV is on is genius. Love that!

[@loganfisher3138]

I love the calendar integration. I can't believe I never thought to do that for my wake up automation I highly recommend an automation that sets your phone to DND and turns on your office's do not disturb light when you have something on your schedule that is tagged as "busy". I do this using Google Calendar, Tasker, and SmartThings.

[@SXJAYSX]

The smart calendar is crazy! Can't believe you got that figured out. Reminds me of that episode of black mirror in which a lil digital slave copy of yourself in entrapped in a computer turning on and managing your house according to your needs... Since it's you doing it for yourself 😅

[@randomtech787]

That little ending always makes me laugh 🤣

[@Humphrey181]

For those persisting with SmartThings you can use IFTTT and a Google Calendar to trigger your wake up events. I created a new calendar called Home Automation and trigger events using hashtags in the subject line of the event. #wakeup, #timeforschool, #walkthedog, etc. this is for no reason other than bogging down the main calendar. Love your work!!

[@awstott]

Thanks for your tip on the light level trigger. I have the same Hue sensor and I was trying to figure out how to turn the lights on when I got to a certain light level. Watched this video and then read your article - it's stupid easy to do once I stopped overthinking it.

[@chanda-aime6388]

This is fabulous for people with memory problems!

[@williameduardo7020]

You are awesome, I love your videos. In the smartthings app menu > labs you can create virtual switches, this was very handy to create a dishwasher "dirty/clean" routine that will announce in the speakers without any custom code. I can set the virtual switch on and off based on the status of the dishwasher, and create announcements when open and switch on or open and switch off. Very handy.

[@SmartLifeEnthusiast]

A small thing that I like a lot: When I open the attic, the light turns on but with a 2 second delay. This makes it feel more natural. But more importantly, this also confirms that the light was actually off while the attic was closed. Otherwise you end up with a light-in-the-fridge situation.

[@banana4725]

hehe

[@gianniskotsakiachidis733]

Hi Reed! I may have a solution for you for the motion sensor automation when inside the office. You could install pressure sensor pads under your office chair similar to the ones used for matress, so if the pressure sensor detects that somebody is sitting in the office chair, even if the motion sensor will not detect any motion, the lights won't switch off. And of course, if the lights are on and the pressure and motion sensors are not activated for more than 30mins for example, you can have your lights switched off. Let me know if that works for you :P

[@rhysdavies8947]

Reed, you need some donation links set up bud. You’re one of the few channels that put a lot of work in and you don’t actively run Patreon or some other active donation channel and think that needs to change. Do it bud!

[@dnoland77]

Custom actions really deserve their own video. I'm the one that found it for Brian @ AYL and it truly has been a game changer. While ring doorbell presses now have auto display on shows, motion does not. Now with a custom routine motion can be automatically displayed on any show, fire tablet or fire tv. I'm using a contact sensor on my garage door to disable guard. When my bathroom motion sensor senses no motion it now sets a timer for 30 minutes so the bathroom fan switches off. Custom actions have really opened up automation for those of us using alexa only without any other hubs.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I agree that custom actions probably deserve their own video. There’s a lot you can do with them and you listed some good ideas.

[@Geothy]

It is really good that you say in the description that it are affiliate links

[@geetmadan1991]

You should put a vibration sensor under your chair and add it to motion sensor light control automation in your office. The vibration sensor will make sure the light stays on

[@matejfoltyn]

Tip for your thermostat since you're using Home Assistant now. If you replace your thermostat with a cheapo esp8266 based relay, and have a thermometer somewhere in the apartment, you can use Generic Thermostat integration. That's what I did and it works like a charm! No more dumb heating for me.

[@Ailasor]

"touch me and i will scream" made me laugh way to loud....

[@robincobb8611]

Your daughter is becoming quite the actress...if she’s acting. It’s hard to tell. I love your videos, man. Keep them coming.

[@twobluestripes]

I really want a lot of these so I am very excited by this. Especially since I am trying to learn HA!

[@projectrunwaywatcher]

I have been using the Smart Life app to do most of my more complicated automation. You can set up IFTTT type scenarios and use phones and presence sensors.

[@michaelrusso5438]

For you presence detection I would look into room assistant using a couple raspberry pi zeros. It can use LE Bluetooth from your phone got not only detection but proximity. You can mesh multiple together in didn't rooms and it will use distance from sensor to determine room location

[@NilsdeRooij]

Hey man! For my office lights, I use a motion override switch combined with a working from home switch, when Work from home goes on, motion overwrite for my office as well, including music in my entire house. The work from home automatically goes on if there’s motion in my office between 08:30 and 09:30. It also switches off automatically when I leave the house or if after 17:00 there hasn’t been any motion in the office for 30 minutes Oh... And since work from home overrides the motion sensor with the override mode, it also turns the lights on in my office, but only if the main lights in my house are on. I have a dashboard for my office, but it’s the most automized room in my house, i never touch a button. Thought it would be good to share, seems like you can use it to get rod of having to press a button on your dashboard to turn on your office lights :)

[@adventurehapa]

I have the same internal debate every time: NodeRed or built in automation. 😀

[@MatSmithLondon]

I think the good thing about Node-RED is that you can choose devices that have built-in automation but can also be used in Node-RED. My solution to your question is to do both :)

[@matejfoltyn]

For me, Node red is always the way. Not necessarily because HA automations cannot do something specific, but rather for the visual aspect of it all. That's why I keep struggling with the built in automations.

[@smrven]

Thanks for your videos. If you use BLE beacons you can know who is in the room, the beacon can send Room Id to your phone and you can react according to this. Good Luck!

[@atiliolavoie5986]

Just found your channel. A lot of great content. My wife and I just bought a condo and I'm looking forward to throwing some smart home and automation things into it. Subbed and looking forward to more content!

[@amywhitaker3961]

I decided to use Hubitat when I set up my smart home, but due to unreliability have been considering switching to HA. Some automations work very inconsistently which is VERY frustrating to say the least. Great ideas and loved the skit at the end! 😊

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Amy!

[@HannesMrg]

HA has been very reliable for me on a rpi 3 for over a year now.

[@ChrisM-wd8wx]

I tried the Wifi route for iPhone and Android presence detection, it was definitely not reliable. I found that Bluetooth is much better. (Use Bluetooth the detect your device's MAC address within range. No need to actually connect etc...) Nice job with all the use cases! I really enjoyed the video.

[@WilliamNevius]

Love all of these ideas I need to look deeper into my smart home automations. Thanks for this video bro

[@brentinjapan]

Thanks for the video. Informative and entertaining. It was good, in all sincerity, to know that I don’t want to do any of those things except use a sensor for lights in the middle of the night. I’ll just do the rest manually. I’m still watching for other tips and info though so keep them coming!

[@racewiththefalcons1]

You should switch to the red light scheme for getting out of bed at night and trigger it to also play Moving Mountains by Two Steps From Hell. Would make an amazing April Fools Day prank.

[@soghacker]

For lights turning off with no motion in my home office: I don’t have Samsung at all, I’m WiFi only with Alexa and a Wyze sense kit. I only have the lights turn off with no motion during certain hours, but when I work late I have no issues cause I don’t move enough to trigger the motion sensor. But then I moved the sensor to sit right on my desk in front of my mouse. Now my subtle mouse moves are enough, and it also still catches me whenever I walk into the room which is the only other motion I’m watching for in the office.

[@DIYReid]

Node Red for sure!

[@ChrisClark4703]

Thank you so much for that 1st one, i just finished setting it up and its awesome!!!!!

[@rob-toolsandtech2521]

I wonder if you could use that thing that mounts over a dimmer switch and physically slides up and down sideways on your thermostat to change the temp, because when I caught a glimpse of your thermostat, it looked like it might be one of those that has the little arm that you slide along the top.

[@PrinceFame25]

Love how your family is into it also!!! Keep it up 👍🏽!! Had me laughing from start to end of your videos!!

[@stevez182]

You should definitely try Room Assistant as someone suggested already. You can use several Pi Zero around the house. Since you are wearing a smartwatch you always carry a bluetooth device with you which can picked up by the Pis and pin point your location inside the house.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I’ll definitely give that a try, sounds pretty cool!

[@ren.s6773]

For the music following you, you could maybe use a bluetooth sensor in each room that can see that your phone is in the room

[@SmartHomeSolver]

That's a good idea. I'll have to give that a try!

[@seapanda-117]

To have music follow you around, just use the nfc chips and the phone again.

[@JKStudios101]

I Can't Wait To See What The Future Of Smart Homes Bring. 😍

[@juli123456789123]

Nice my morning jacket reference

Quick tip: I have motion sensor aimed right at my "mouse hand" - this way, my lights dont just go off when I am working on PC :D

[@eladleviisrael]

for the following music automation, you can use room assistant, (need to have RPI in each room you want) and you can follow your device (phone / smart watch) using Bluetooth tracking. (I have few automation that are being triggered by my phone location and it work good)

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Elad I’ll try that out.

[@sygys]

I would always go with home assistant. I think its the only platform that works well with all the others. FOr example node red has a full addon for home assistant. in which you can use practically everything node red has to offer in to home assistant. Also all samsung devices i have tested can be fully integrated into HA. Also homekit has a full working integration in HA.

[@tobyjohnson3898]

I’d be really interested if you came up with a solution to only running the automation if it’s you in the room. Originally I thought of a camera but maybe you don’t want cameras watching all the time. Another thought would be to use WiFi extenders such as the tp-link ones that can be setup to be almost like a separate network which can then be used as a second presence sensor in home assistant. Both have there pros and cons and I’d be interested I’d there was an easier solution.

[@Leonvolt28]

nerver used it myself, but I think something like room assistant will do the job. www.room-assistant.io/ you can use esp32 chips that scan the bluetooth connection of your phone. Thay way it knows where in the house you are. I personaly use a guest mode input boolean. This will disable unwanted automations.

[@Butzacooky]

iOS and Android both have gps tracking available in the app that logs to a local home assistant server I’m not sure of the accuracy of it, but you can set up zones for home and work that can trigger when leaving home or even arriving at another location. You could write an automation to ping and check your phone’s rough position with 2-3 keyfinders like Tile and Apple airtags ( Airtags are still unreleased but I don’t doubt it’s already wholly integrated into iOS shortcuts , Siri, and HomeKit. There’s be no need to event set up a complicated home auction in the first place )

[@HeyTechi]

Definitely going to integrate some of these ideas into my set up! I wonder if it's possible to connect an Apple Calendar to perform similar smart HomeKit functions as you have here...

[@jandixon1867]

For the music there is this think called Room Assistant. It uses Bluetooth and the new update uses BLE and works on Apple devices. Not sure how well it works, but you could check it out.

[@golden355]

FLIC now has an Alexa skill. My life is changed! We now have an Elton John button!!!

[@liminalnetworks7691]

Great vid!! Is there anyway to make the sounds repeat over and over like an alarm? I have it working and as long as I keep copy pasting, it will play, but looking for something better? Thanks!

[@batlu97]

Lights must be a central point in every home automation

[@noz3m]

For the motion lights to stay on while you are sitting at the pc: use Ping Ane create a sensor for your PC. If motion sensor = clear and PC is online do nothing. If motion sensor = clear and PC is offline - turn off the lights.

[@wasanthawimaladharm]

Changing the dog is the best and cheap solution

[@ricardoromo96]

Loved the video. Thanks for all the creative and useful ideas! What's that dashboard app you're using and whay device are you using as a hub?

[@mateuszgazdzicki4197]

For TV I'm using YeeMe plugin for KODI. Xiaomi bulbs and celling light with LAN mode turned on. Plugin allows for actions (on/off fade ) triggered by play/stop/pause.

[@TenchiMisaki45]

Just another random idea for you: It looks like SmartDry just implemented triggers/routines for their Alexa skill. I've now automated my dryer to turn off using a SwitchBot button pusher to press my "turn off" button on my dryer when my SmartDry sensor senses that my clothes are dry. This saves a little bit of energy which is nice. If anyone wants to implement this, just remember to install their new Alexa skill named "SmartDryDevice".

[@SmartHomeSolver]

That’s a great implementation! I’ll remember that and thank you so much for sharing!

[@Clem.E]

Regarding the presence detection you might want to use beacons. These are small Bluetooth devices that can be detected by your smartphone where nearby and then trigger automation. The drawbacks: you need to have your smartphone with you.

[@sergivargas7714]

Thanks for your useful videos. Just a question, why don't you ping your Samsung smart TV to know if it's on? That's what I'm doing with my LG, using node red it's very easy

[@minkthegreat]

Hey Reed Would it be easier to connect Smartthings to HA using the HA intergration instead of connecting all the devices to HA? I have 84 devices connected to ST, getting HA setup this week then import my devices to HA so hopfully should not have too many issues without making things to complicated Really enjoy your videos, please keep up the good work BIG FAN!!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Stephen! I think it will depend on what type of device is connected to SmartThings. If it’s Z-Wave and Zigbee devices then yes I’m leaving those connected to SmartThings and using the ST integration with HA. Now something like LIFX lights will be much faster to control connected directly with HA. I’m in that process myself and it’s a mess but I made a custom dashboard on HA and even though I have some duplicates between ST and HA it hasn’t been too bad. There is a little bit more too it as well and I think I’m going to make a video on that process to go into more depth. I appreciate your support!

[@minkthegreat]

@@SmartHomeSolver Thanks Reed, really enjoy watching every one of your videos, I would really like to see a HA & Smartthings video from you, I hope your new house is going well, looking forward to more smart home videos Thank you for all your time and effort into the videos, it has really kelped me out

[@TheJohnGodino]

Hi Reed! Any suggestions on how to automate routines to enable and disable? For example, I have my bathroom lights on a motion sensor with white for day and dim red for night. The problem is that I don’t always go to bed at the same time each night. I have a routine where I tell Alexa it’s bedtime and she turns off all my devices. I would love that routine to be able to disable the white light routine and enable to the red light. Then switch back with my morning routine! Any ideas?

[@Joseph-ko2kl]

One possible way to get the system to recognize you as you enter the room would be if you had a camera that was set up using AI-Tool and deepstack. You would need to train Deepstack using a custom model that would know if it was you vs. another family member, you could also use the same concept so that when your driveway or doorbell camera sees you or you could train it to recognize your car(s) it would set off a coming home routine. You could then tie this into HA or whatever other system you were using.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll definitely take a look into that!

[@ronm6585]

Good stuff Reed, thank you.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I appreciate it Ron!

[@ygdiget4119]

Just wanted to let you know that you can trigger automations when home assistant detects wireless charging which removes the need for the nfc tag.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

That’s a good point. I have a wireless charger that I use on my desk during the day so the NFC tag makes it so I don’t accidentally trigger the automation.

[@ygdiget4119]

@@SmartHomeSolver You can add multiple conditions such as certain currently connected bluetooth devices or the time period during the day in which you want the automation to execute so as to not execute on the wrong charger. In the end it just depends on person preference of weather you would like to spend the extra time and effort patching hardware with software. Hopefully one day we will have a reliable solution to per room presence detection.

[@mattiasring9501]

On the topic of music following you, not maybe as smooth as a motion sensor, but if your smartwatch has an NFC function, you could place a tag at the door/hallway which you could "swipe" by when walking into a room to program the music to follow you into that room. Giving the option not to do it, if someone else is just walking into a room. Maybe a solution :)

[@homoerotic85]

You spoke about how some people did you should have your night stand light turn on red in the night. I totally agree with them. I am super sensitive to lights and sounds at night- especially lights. So I closed my eyes and went thru all the colors and I noticed that I couldn't see blue or red colors which is really awesome. It's interesting that both colors are linked to your circadian rhythm blue helps you wake up and red helps you fall asleep. I personally like the look of blue better but I just went with red for the circadian aspect. I have under bed lights that automatically come on at sunset and go off at sunrise and I have an essential oil diffuser (it's an Ellia Adore in Charcoal- love it) and have it set to red as well. It's crazy the lights are always on and doesn't bother me while I sleep, if it was any other color there would be no way I could sleep.

[@butchp87402]

Whoa I gotta check out this room to room thing I didn't know you could do that

[@binho3019]

Hey Reed, this is what I call a nice video. I recently got an Hubitat and will try those automations. Your daughter is so cute, we always enjoy her participation on the videos, she is the cherry of the cake.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Fabio!

[@crixi__]

More Homeassistant please!

[@next2sin]

Great videos, my cart is full! Can you provide the link to the contact sensors you use or the name?

[@tonypark8045]

Hi Reed, love these videos, very inspiring. I'm interested in setting up Withings sleep analyzers to trigger automations. Do you have 2 analyzers in a single bed? Just wondered how you automated, as we currently have 2, and when my wife goes to bed before me, both sensors show as the bed being occupied. Have you managed to isolate one for you, one for Ally?

[@mrdayz8]

Great video btw why are you using HA instead of ST? would be great a video about it and what smart plug you use for the power consumption automatizations?

[@wyx087]

With the study/office light. You can have a condition to detect if computer is on/off by checking the network (HA nmap integration). So if the computer is on, the auto light on/off automations won’t run.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

nmap is an amazing tool. That's a great idea on a way to use it!

[@TheEightshot]

Have you ever done a video where you cover local only devices for those of us that have privacy concerns? That'd be cool.

[@fofocho71]

Alexa cannot trigger routines from Philips Hue Motion Sensor, despite it appears as a device. It only works if you remove the Hue sensor from the Hue bridge and then pair it to an Echo device with zigbee hub built in

[@RobReacts1]

I have the problem with my Samsung 7Series tv that is connected to my SmartThings hub. If it has been off for a while it will be offline on the hub and therefore i cant use my voice to turn it on. Also, i have a strip light connected directly into the TV. Works well so that it turns off all livingroom lights when the tv turns off and visversa when the tv goes on. But if i ask google to turn all lights off i always get the "cannot turn tv strip light off as its offline" :D

[@g33ry]

Ahhh, I both love and hate your videos. Love them because they are awsome and hate them because I want these too! :D Keep up the good work

[@carissam8718]

RE: the office motion sensor. Have you considered adding a vibration sensor to the bottom of the desk or chair and using that for presence detection in the office?

[@mekuhl]

I’ve also seen where a motion sensor is mounted to the underside of the desk to detect presence.

[@Joe-oj2mi]

grate vid Reed thanks for the ideas . question: Is the broadlink RM able to recive IR or RF signals ?

[@AH-gk3by]

Only the rm pro can receive 433mhz rf and ir signals, but the rm4 pro can receive 433mhz and 355 mhz

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Joe! I think Ali is right.

[@Joe-oj2mi]

@@AH-gk3by thanks

[@justinzdesign]

Look up room assistant for person based tracking to have music follow you. There is a video on it from the Home Assistant conference this year

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I'll check that out, thanks!

[@JudeToochukwuIbe]

Get a raspberry pi zero w for every room. It can also make home presences more reliable then WiFi.

[@JudeToochukwuIbe]

Also for your office motion issue. With room assistant you can keep the light on if your are in the room. I suggest use a smart watch or band.

[@ThatsFinn]

great and really entertaining video as always. keep it up reed!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Finn!

[@driesverhoeve1765]

In an apartment you can use Tado for a smart thermostat. We have this setup in our apartment.

[@noah.23]

Omg great vid! I have got the exact same iPhone as you. I’ve got the 2020 iPhone SE White. Great phone. Mine is 64gb, what is yours?

[@didactics]

I’m struggling with SmartThings compatible buttons since Samsung decided to dissolve their products. Since you got me started with smart things perhaps a video about smart things compatible items. By the way great job as always

[@pauleric195]

I love your videos, great bit with your daughter, hilarious!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Paul!

[@guywebster8018]

Boy have you come a long way.. 😂😂

[@HenningAndersen]

Why not use the buildt in position-tracking in the home assistant app? I have been toying around with settings for tracking home/away with wifi myself, but never got it reliable. The home assistant app takes care of that by actually using your phones position

[@kalylbmmi]

How is your sound system setup? I’ve been looking into ways of doing exactly that but couldn’t figure it out. Can you select where the sound come from? I.e switching from tv to pc or something else

[@MrB8boy]

I like the doorbell and Alexa trick, do you think it will work with Nest doorbell?

[@UnFormCirusprint]

In your last video you used an Amazon tablet to manage your Alexa devices. Is there any way to do this with a FireTV?

[@frog212whyd4]

I liked all the skits!

[@benjaminjones4601]

Inpx has cell phone tracking within 10 feet I believe. Maybe integrate that cell phone tracking for music in different rooms?

[@thepfleidi]

Regarding presence detection: I found the wifi detection to be lacking. To fix this, I’ve exposed two input booleans in Home Assistant for me and my wife to HomeKit. I’ve set up simple automations in HomeKit to toggle these „switches“ in HomeKit when it detects a change. This also works when we have our phones in airplane mode at night.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

That's a great idea.

[@Joe-oj2mi]

Hey Reed how old is your dog Luna ??

[@blaed011]

You are so creative, nice video! Love the lights on top of your kitchen cabinets, what kind are they?

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Ed! They are Philips Hue. Since I have the Hue Gradient light strips behind my TV I just threw those there since they are basically in the same room.

[@catalintoia]

Hi! Great video like always. Get I get more details about the dashboard please! Thank you! Well done!

[@zeroibis]

For automation for the office your computer knows if your on it or not so you should be able to feed that data to the system that the computer is in use and not to turn off the light. For example if your lights turn off when the monitor turns off due to you no longer being at the computer.