@wysejim wrote:
I’m a new home automation fanatic and I’m looking for advice. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long post but I realized after watching/reading content that I wasn’t sure if the information I was consuming was outdated or conflicting.
I have a very nice house with 6700 feet of un-automated canvas that needs to be painted with the best in class DIY automation techniques. I plan to blog about my entire journey to show cost, effort and results with the conceited idea that maybe I can help others wanting to make this journey but overwhelmed with all the choices.
My Goal: To create a locally controlled automated house using Home Assistant. I can code and wire and flash (Electrical Engineer with Computer Science degree as well) my way through most tasks with a good guide to lead me along. I want Voice Control and am fine with tying in Google and Alexa to outsource that job if that is the best solution. The top two floors are finished areas with Ethernet drops in all rooms but no automation, security or modern tech is installed. The basement is being finished by my son and I. It is in rough framing and in need of a great automated layout. I want addressable cove lighting, recessed lighting, speakers, cameras, TVs, media room, etc. Would love to have a nice graphical home layout with animated, interactive elements displayed. I just got my fresh copy of Home Assistant running on my 4gb Pi 4, finished watching hours of videos and realized that I should ask for some help! Any input with suggested video/web guides would be perfect!
Given this new unblemished canvas with no legacy items to deal with, what would you recommend as my software and hardware choices?
Protocols/tech? Z-Wave, wifi, MQTT, Tasmota, node red, etc? What is a good combination for a new install.
Switches? I want to be able to mostly function in the event my Hass is down. I figured I would replace the many switches with more consolidated units and use the extra gang boxes for night lights and scene switches.
Presence Detection?
Lights? I plan on having everything on LED lighting. Most lights would be controlled with automated switches. The strip lighting I would like to be individually addressable for some wow factor during entertaining. The cove lights I think will have the dedicated white channel to best light up the room. What density of LEDs is needed? Should it have a diffuser? Most importantly, how should it be controlled and powered?
Speakers? I want good sound and volume and the ability to tie them to areas and play different sound in different areas if wanted.
Video output options for TVs/Monitors? (chromecast, roku, Plex, etc… I’m a noob in this area as well as audio)
Cameras? Want local storage and remote access of course.
Window/Door sensors?
Hubs? I have a smartthings Hub still in its box if needed.
Hass Add ons? I have Samba, MQTT, Configurator installed already.
Thanks to everyone that replies. I really appreciate the help.
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