Smart Home
The sensors, switches, lights, and automation devices that power my fully automated home — all running through Home Assistant.
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Home Assistant
The brain of my smart home. Open-source, local control, no cloud dependency. Runs all automations, voice control, dashboards, and integrations.
Visit Home Assistant →
Frigate NVR
Free, open-source software that records my cameras and uses AI to tell people, cars and animals apart, and it sends alerts to Home Assistant. It runs on my own computer, so there is no subscription and nothing goes to a cloud service.
Visit Frigate →
Smekitlly Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle
20dBm output with TI CC2652P + CP2102N dual-chip coordinator. Preloaded with Z-Stack 3.x.0 firmware. Plug and play with Home Assistant — this is what connects all my Zigbee devices.
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CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD UPS
One of the two battery backups beside my Home Assistant server. Between them they've already gotten me through three real power outages this spring.
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TP-Link Archer router
The Wi-Fi router in my dining room, next to the Hue Bridge and the Home Assistant server. TP-Link's Archer line has a model for every budget.
See TP-Link Archer routers →
Philips Hue Bridge
The hub for my Philips Hue lights. It connects to Home Assistant over my network, so every Hue bulb, lamp and dimmer switch in the house works locally with my automations.
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APC Back-UPS 425VA
The second battery backup beside my Home Assistant server, a small 425VA unit of the kind that suits a router and other low-power gear. Amazon has several versions, so check that it says 425VA.
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Rheem EcoNet smart thermostat
The thermostat that runs the heating and cooling in my house. It works with Home Assistant. It's sold through Rheem and HVAC dealers rather than Amazon.
Visit Rheem EcoNet →
Airthings View Plus
Comprehensive air quality monitor — CO2, VOCs, radon, humidity, temperature, and pressure. Integrated into Home Assistant for automated ventilation.
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Aqara Motion Sensor P1 (3 Pack)
Zigbee motion detector for automations and alarm systems. 5-year battery life. I have these throughout the house for lighting automations and presence detection.
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SONOFF SNZB-01P Zigbee Button
Small Zigbee wireless button for Home Assistant automations. I use these for simple room controls with single press, double press, and long press actions.
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Aqara Door & Window Sensor (3 Pack)
Wireless Zigbee contact sensor. Triggers automations when doors or windows open — lights, notifications, alarm system. Tiny and reliable.
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Aqara Water Leak Sensor (3 Pack)
Zigbee water leak detector. Placed under sinks, washing machine, and water heater. Instant phone alerts if water is detected.
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Airthings View Radon
The radon sensor in my basement, and my best one. Since I installed the ERV, my average basement radon dropped about 40%, from 92 to 56 Bq/m³ in this sensor's readings. Wi-Fi, battery powered, with a built-in display.
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Sengled Zigbee Smart Bulb (6 Pack)
BR30 dimmable flood light, soft white 2700K. Zigbee so they run locally through Home Assistant — no cloud, no lag. My go-to for recessed lighting.
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WiZ Smart LED GU10
Full colour and tunable white, 2200-6500K. WiFi connected, works with Home Assistant. Perfect for accent and track lighting throughout the house.
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WILLED Motion Sensor Light (10 Pack)
Wireless rechargeable motion-activated night lights. Warm white, perfect for hallways, stairs, bathrooms, and closets. No smart home integration needed — just stick them up.
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intelamp Solar Motion Sensor Light
Two of these light up my driveway: one on the side of the house halfway down the driveway, and one on a 10 ft post in the middle of the fence at the end of the driveway, aimed back at the driveway. There is no wiring: the panel on top charges the battery and the built-in motion sensor switches the light on. They are not smart-home devices, they just work on their own.
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Philips Hue White A19 bulbs
The Hue white bulbs in my lamps and fixtures. They all run through the Hue Bridge, so Home Assistant controls them locally.
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Philips Hue White GU10 spotlights
The Hue spotlights I use in the attic and the den. Same Hue Bridge, same local control as the rest of my Hue lights.
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Kasa KL125 multicolor Wi-Fi bulb
A color-changing Wi-Fi bulb I use in the attic and a few other spots. It works, but it's Wi-Fi, and some of my older Wi-Fi bulbs have given up, so anything new I buy is Zigbee.
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Philips Hue Dimmer Switch
A small wireless dimmer that works with the Hue Bridge. Mine sits by my daughter's door and controls the ceiling light.
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Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200
Single pole WiFi switch. No hub required, works with Home Assistant, Alexa, and Google. Reliable and easy to install — needs neutral wire.
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Smart WiFi Double Light Switch (2 Gang)
Two switches in one box. WiFi, no hub needed. Controls two separate lights from one switch plate. Great for rooms with multiple light circuits.
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4 Button Zigbee Smart Scene Switch
Battery-powered 4-button Zigbee scene switch for Home Assistant automations. I use this style for quick room controls without opening a dashboard.
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THIRDREALITY Zigbee Smart Plug (4 Pack)
15A Zigbee plugs with real-time energy monitoring. I use these to track power consumption on workshop tools and automate devices through Home Assistant.
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Kasa KP303 power strip
A Wi-Fi power strip with three individually controlled outlets. Mine sits on the kitchen counter and one outlet powers the kitchen tablet.
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Kasa KP125M Matter smart plug
A compact Wi-Fi plug with energy monitoring. One runs my 3D printer and another runs an air purifier in the attic.
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Kasa HS103 smart plug
A basic Wi-Fi smart plug. Mine run an attic fan and a purifier. It's Wi-Fi, so for anything new I'd buy Zigbee plugs instead.
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Amazon Echo Show 8
Smart display with Alexa. I use these for voice control throughout the house, viewing Home Assistant dashboards, video calls, and smart home camera feeds.
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Google Nest Speaker
Google Assistant smart speaker. Great sound quality, works with Home Assistant through the Google Home integration. In every room for voice control and music.
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Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)
The small Google speaker. I still use my Google speakers for broadcasting, for talking to Google's AI, and for playing alerts. In a big house it's really useful for talking to people in other rooms and on other floors.
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Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition
The Home Assistant voice speaker. It runs locally with Home Assistant, but for me it's hit and miss: it'll turn on a light most of the time, and the microphones aren't great. A full review is coming. It's often out of stock on Amazon, so I'm linking the official page.
Visit Home Assistant →
Google Nest Hub
A Google smart display. Mine sits on the desk in the den, next to an Airthings sensor and a Home Assistant Voice speaker.
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Levoit Classic 300S humidifier
A smart top-fill humidifier with a 6 L tank. Mine runs in my daughter's room, and it works with Home Assistant through the VeSync app.
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ERV (Broan-NuTone AI Series B210E75RS)
The reason I started all of this. Mine is a vänEE V210E75RS, a Canadian model, and the closest US equivalent is Broan-NuTone's AI Series B210E75RS, a 210 CFM energy recovery ventilator with side ports. It goes into your ductwork, so talk to an HVAC pro. It's sold through HVAC suppliers rather than Amazon.
See the Broan-NuTone ERV →
Midea 50-pint Wi-Fi dehumidifier with pump
The Midea 50-pint Wi-Fi dehumidifier with the built-in pump. Mine stands beside the utility sink in the laundry room and the pump sends the water straight into the sink, so there is never a bucket to empty. Home Assistant can see and control it.
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Midea 50-pint Wi-Fi dehumidifier (no pump)
The same Midea 50-pint Wi-Fi dehumidifier without the pump: it collects the water in a bucket that you empty. Mine runs in the craft room. Home Assistant can see and control it.
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LG ThinQ portable air conditioner
My portable air conditioners are LG ThinQ models, so Home Assistant can control them. A portable unit vents out the window, which is how it works in the den.
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Aqara Smart Pet Feeder C1
Automatic cat and dog feeder with app control and scheduling. Works with Google, Alexa, Siri, and SmartThings. Feeds the cats on schedule even when we're away.
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ChargePoint Home Flex EV charger
The hardwired Level 2 charger on the driveway side of my house. It is where I charge my Kia Soul EV at home. It connects to Wi-Fi and has an app, and the charging amps are adjustable so you can match it to your electrical panel.
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Reolink E1 Outdoor Pro
A 4K Wi-Fi 6 pan-and-tilt camera with auto tracking and color night vision. It works with Frigate, so my recordings stay on my own computer and there is no subscription. I keep my camera locations private, but this is one of the cameras watching the property.
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Eufy Floodlight Camera E340
A floodlight camera with two lenses: one wide fixed view and one that pans and tilts to follow movement, plus a very bright light that turns on with motion. It is another of the cameras on the property, and Frigate records it too.
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TP-Link Tapo C100
A small, cheap 1080p Wi-Fi camera with night vision, two-way audio and microSD recording. It also supports RTSP and ONVIF, which is what lets it work with Frigate, so it is a budget way to add cameras. I have four of them.
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eufyCam 2C battery camera
A wire-free 1080p camera rated for up to 180 days on a charge, with no monthly fee. It needs a eufy HomeBase 2, which stores the recordings locally. Cameras that run on Frigate have to be wired to power, so I use these battery cameras as extra coverage in the spots where I can't run power. I own four and three are up now. They are not connected to Frigate: I watch them in the eufy app on my phone, and that works well.
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eufyCam Solar Panel (2.6W)
eufy's own solar panel for its battery cameras, with a 13 ft cable, an IP65 weatherproof case and a mount that swivels. A few hours of direct sun a day keeps a camera charged, so nobody has to take it down to recharge. My battery cameras all run on solar power, which suits the spots where I can't run a power wire. eufy recommends only its certified panels, so this is the official one. I have also run third-party solar panels on some of my cameras for a long time with no problems, and they work just as well.
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BroadLink RM4 mini
A Wi-Fi infrared blaster. It lets Home Assistant control the TV and the receiver, which only understand an old-fashioned remote.
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onn. 4K Pro streaming box
The Google TV streaming box on the den TV. It's sold at Walmart rather than Amazon.
See it at Walmart →
Budget Android tablet (Lenovo Tab M9)
My kitchen dashboard runs on an old Android tablet, and any cheap one will do. If you're buying new, the Lenovo Tab M9 is an inexpensive pick that runs the Home Assistant dashboard fine.
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