Tour the BEST Home Assistant Dashboards EVER (in a van)

[@tomkulzer]

Brilliant setup! As a techie, and someone who spent the last summer in a Mercedes van with my family traveling cross country, I can appreciate the incredible number of hours you put into thinking about each of these systems, but also in the actual integration and reliability tuning that comes along with someone this complex. Already plotting van build 2.0 and love what you've done here. Would love to see more of the specific hardware pieces and how you've integrated them, where you mounted things, etc.

[@Aimtjie]

I just love this video! 2 of my fav things, van life and home assistant!!

[@patmoran3105]

Awesome. Can't wait 'till all these details get elaborated. Your van is a whole channel worth of content!!

[@SmartyVan]

Thanks! 👍

[@zanycam]

Can you make a video to show how you connected and integrated your MaxxAir fan? That would be great! 👍🏻

[@SmartyVan]

I'll put it on the list!!

[@samgendler]

if you watch the video on ESPHome integration, there are a lot of clues as to how to go about integrating arbitrary hardware. I have some experience using ESP32 to control LED lights and I know home assistant pretty well, so maybe I was able to infer a lot from the video but, between the magnetic lock video and the esphome video, there's a lot of really good general-purpose information already there. But don't let me discourage @Smarty Van from making more content like this. This is perfect timing for me. I have a custom trailer being built for full-timing, but I'm having them leave a lot of the interior systems unfinished in order to customize things to my liking after delivery, so the timing couldn't be better. Well, ok, you could be a little further along in this channel than you are right now, but I'm already getting great ideas and useful knowledge from the few videos on this channel.

[@samgendler]

if you watch the video on ESPHome integration, there are a lot of clues as to how to go about integrating arbitrary hardware. I have some experience using ESP32 to control LED lights and I know home assistant pretty well, so maybe I was able to infer a lot from the video but, between the magnetic lock video and the esphome video, there's a lot of really good general-purpose information already there. But don't let me discourage ​@@SmartyVan ​ from making more content like this. This is perfect timing for me. I have a custom trailer being built for full-timing, but I'm having them leave a lot of the interior systems unfinished in order to customize things to my liking after delivery, so the timing couldn't be better. Well, ok, you could be a little further along in this channel than you are right now, but I'm already getting great ideas and useful knowledge from the few videos on this channel.

[@ScenicCityAdventures]

Man, this is unbelievable! I feel like even my home automations are lacking compared to this. It’s given me some great ideas as always. Thanks for continuing to share your buildout, it’s so impressive and well thought out.

[@SmartyVan]

Thanks so much!!!

[@drewviersen4793]

I would really love to see some of the code itself used , and components like you did in the mag lock video. Your system is almost exactly what I’m trying to do, and I’d love to see a lot more of the details on this if you have a GitHub etc like with the automations and the esphome code! It’d give some of us beginners an amazing jump off point!

[@SmartyVan]

Thanks for tuning in! I'll certainly get to some more YAML. Every install is going to be fairly unique, so I don't plan on doing a mass dump of my config and automations. But I will do more videos like the mag lock video that work through YAML and ESPHome configs! I will also talk about how to build your own automations in a future video!

[@remixk]

it's amazing, great job

[@Rjhaack]

I just got my Home Assistant Green for my home and have been thinking about the dash boards and I was thinking I would like to separate out my normal home stuff from my heating and internet and it was nice to see that seems to flow with what you guys have done. You gave me some other ideas as well. I really love what you guys have done. I have even started wondering about creating a secret hidden space that is controlled by a magnet lock. Thanks for doing these, I'm loving them and look forward to each episode.

[@Justin3DArt]

Hi Mike!! very cool setup

[@aaronag7876]

Just WOW and Outstanding set up.

[@SmartyVan]

Thanks so much!!

[@shankyjs]

Love this!

[@RealRobWright]

Another awesome video thanks!

[@daricefrost664]

Wow, wow all you need now to be able to stick your finger in and will tell your body functions. Lol 🤔 I hope you're still around when we get our van, I love this.....

[@SmartyVan]

haha - I'll get to work on that ;)

[@ochjoo77]

Cool stuff!

[@shawnjackson]

Ok all I can think about is how to hookup the Jarvis voice. That is way cool! :)

[@SmartyVan]

I'm going to revise voice control at some point, and I'll certainly talk about voice announcements as well! Text-to-speak is great fun!

[@kord83]

Awesome! What sensors dis you use for the fres/gray water tank level?

[@SmartyVan]

For fresh water, I use resistive float sensors (like these: amzn.to/4ejUtxt) connected to the Cerbo GX and then pulled into Home Assistant with MQTT (video coming soon on Victron -> Home Assistant). I have a float in the grey tank as well, but have been relying on an ultrasonic sensor by Mopeka (amzn.to/4fyQqhN) for the grey tank as I find it a bit more accurate for grey-though it is Bluetooth.

[@alfredm99]

This is so awesome. What tablet do you use and do you run specific kiosk software on it to keep the tablet from going to sleep, doing updates, etc.

[@SmartyVan]

I've had the best luck with Amazon Fire tablets. And I use Fully Kiosk to present Home Assistant.

[@CaseySmithNashville]

Have you considered an integration for tire pressure monitoring? My van didn't come with one from the manufacturer so before I install one, I wanted to see if you had, or had a recommendation for the best set up. I love this series. Thank you for doing it! I'm preparing to transition/integrate my van systems with HA.

[@SmartyVan]

I thought all cars and light trucks from 2007 on were required to come with TPMS sensors. What make/model/year is your van? I currently use a Mercedes Me custom component for Home Assistant to import tire pressures. This requires the van has its own independent internet connection which is not ideal, so I am working on a solution that doesn't require the van to have an internet connection. I'll get to a video on that eventually! I don't have much experience with TPSM hardware itself, but if your van truly doesn't have them, I'm sure they can be added. I'm vaguely aware of external BTLE sensors that thread onto the valve stems. But traditionally they are internal.

[@CaseySmithNashville]

@@SmartyVan I have an Airstream 24X built on a 2023 MB Sprinter 3500 ext (dually). I believe Airstream installed the GFX wheels and tires. As such, no MB TPMS unfortunately so I'm looking to install the best option available (that's hopefully home assistant compatible) when I get my new set of tires.

[@SmartyVan]

There is a Home Assistant integration: github.com/bkbilly/tpms_ble?tab=readme-ov-file that works with these: amzn.to/40Fyiym at a minimum, but may work with others. I might explore an option that mounts internally in the wheel, but this seems like a viable solution.

[@agalleg83]

This an awesome project. I would suggest, maybe move your home assistant install to an ssd, as micro sd cards tend to fry with so much data constantly written on them.

[@SmartyVan]

Thanks for the input! I've been using a micro SD card for a couple of years straight with 24/7 video recording from 3 cameras and the constant database writes of Home Assistant with no issues. We do carry a spare SD card in the case of failure, but haven't needed it yet. SSD drives are a nice new ability for Home Assistant but I value the compactness of an SD card in a mobile application-I'd rather not have an SSD hanging off the Raspberry Pi. I do talk about the type of high quality SD (high endurance) card we use in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2arhH2OfdCke9U

[@agalleg83]

@@SmartyVan It just keeps getting more impressive! Keep it up

[@HiruS22]

Just FYI there are cases for the Pi that can incorporate an SSD inside and it only adds a little depth. I have one in my van as having a MicroSD fail causes a lot of work, ask me how I know.

[@markparkinson5760]

Hello so following along with these great videos and have a test system no up and running many thinks for the guide so far quick question in this dashboard vide have you interfaced to CAN BUS on the Mercedes for some of the parameter about the Van you are displaying and if so will there be a video on this many thanks Mark

[@SmartyVan]

Thanks! I am currently using a Mercedes Me custom integration in Home Assistant to pull in Sprinter info. This isn't ideal as it relies on the van having an active cellular connection. I have a more robust solution coming that will work offline and on almost any van (not just sprinter) and a video to accompany that.

[@markparkinson5760]

@SmartyVan thanks for replying and looking forwards to next videos I have 18 year old vito xlwb that's a work in progress so will be very interested in all your videos thanks for sharing 👍

[@ClaroVAN]

Really interesting channel you have, I'm automating in our VAN myself, but haven't gotten that far at all. Are interested in what type of sensor do you use to check the presence of you in the VAN. Thank's //Roger

[@SmartyVan]

Hey Roger - we use both Bluetooth (on our phones) AND wifi (phones as well) to determine presence. Wifi is very reliable-we pull the list of clients from the router and check for any devices with the word 'phone' in them. Bluetooth is quick to register presence when arriving (quicker than wifi) but if you're outside the van or a bit far away, you can be seen as away which may undesirably trigger automations. So, I combine them to get a QUICK arrival (with bluetooth) and a more reliable continued presence (with wifi). Look into template sensors where you can combine the state of other sensors to determine the state of your template sensor. I'll do a video on this here eventually!! It's pretty simple.

[@artclosson2500]

Beautiful job, question, how are you collecting your fuel and def levels?

[@SmartyVan]

Currently via a Mercedes Home Assistant integration. It's a HACS (Home Assistant Community Store) integration. But that has drawbacks. For instance, the van has to have its own cellular connection. I've got a better solution in the works... so stay tuned for that!

[@EngineerK]

Would be interested in an overview of your energy system and breakdown of various sources of "parasitic" draws (all your esp's etc). One of the coolest HA implementations I have seen. Appreciate all the work you have done - HA is a rabbit hole. I'm 3 years in and can't keep up with the evolution of the product. I'm sure you groan with every new release and what gets broken...

[@SmartyVan]

I'll try to discuss parasitic draws at some point, but I haven't spend a ton of time measuring or worrying about them. You get to a point with a 990 Ah battery bank (that's nearly 12 KW!) that a couple of watts of baseline isn't really a nuisance. We leave Starlink on all but when we're sleeping and THOSE kinds of draws are the ones that add up (more like 100 W). As for Home Assistant, I do keep up with the updates because it's a hobby, but if it weren't, I'd just get everything working and stop updating.

[@EngineerK]

@@SmartyVan yeah, ok you are running a serious battery bank! we cruised the Caribbean for 3 years on a 41ft catamaran back in the lead acid days and our 1200 amp hour bank weight over 1200 lbs and we were constantly plagued with battery issues (mainly due to dc refrigeration). Been in work purgatory for the last 10 years and getting ready to get back out there - I'm 3 years into HA and feel like I'm only touching the tip of the iceberg. Currently playing with hardware arrangements for my homelab that I will take on the boat. Currently running a full open source stack (full rrr suite, nextcloud, pihole, wireguard, frigate, nginx, lubelogger, mealie, immich ) on proxmox hyper visor but have to keep an eye on power consumption to host this - but with this I am largely setup to local only. Starlink is proving to be a bit tricky for people travelling internationally with the 2 month rule so I am going into my setup assuming we won't have it...and of course it helps HA has been developed from the ground up to be local only if that's what you want/need. Looking forward to more videos, you're going to be a busy. I suspect your subscriber count to going to start ramping up here pretty quickly.

[@SmartyVan]

Sounds like a rad project!!! Hopefully Starlink will continue to revise their subscription polices. I find they usually get worse before they get better... but the general trend has been improvement for real-world use cases.

[@robwickham8530]

Knight Rider!?!? Don’t tease me Mike!

[@SmartyVan]

I aim to tease!

[@zanycam]

To display my water levels I‘m using the Lovelace Fluid Level Background Card by swingerman - in my opinion much nicer the the standard HA gauge. 😎

[@SmartyVan]

Cool tip! I've seen that card and it's perhaps a bit busy for my taste, but I love that there are options out there! Thanks for sharing.

[@Th31Th3Only]

What is the tablet that you're using to display the dashboard. I'm looking for one to display in my home.

[@SmartyVan]

The one we use in the van is an Amazon Fire tablet. I wanted to use a Samsung Galaxy tablet, but I found the web view they use has some weird quirks with Home Assistant. amzn.to/3Yvj3Wg

[@tomkulzer]

He mentioned further up "Amazon Fire tablets. And I use Fully Kiosk to present Home Assistant."