How to Make a Smart Home Test Bench
Sometimes we DIY smart home people install smart devices and they don’t work. At first, we scratch our heads wondering what went wrong. Did I install it wrong? Is there a loose …
home automation
My Smart Home by Home Assistant: 3 Years Later
Three years ago I was frustrated with my home automation controller, the veralite. In search of a replacement, I stumbled upon Home Assistant. Two hours into trying Home Assistant I was sold. …
The Current State of My Smart Home
Over the years my smart home has come a long way, as I detailed in my smart home evolution article series. I laid out the state of my smart home and plans for it shortly before 2020. …
My Top 10 Home Assistant Integrations
Home Assistant is a wonderful hub that integrates all of the smart devices in your home. I’ve been using Home Assistant for a few years and already have a few dozen integrations …
4 Important DIY Smarthome Truths
There is a ton of information on the Internet about smarthomes. If you google smarthomes you’ll get lots of advice, definitions, and tutorials about building a smarthome. Here at HomeTechHacker we also …
Tips for Building a New Construction Smarthome
A little over 7 years ago, we moved into our current smarthome. It was new construction, but the build was already in progress when we purchased the home. However, I did have …
Creating a Smart Fireplace Switch With A Shelly Relay
“Ok Google, turn on my fireplace” sounds both exciting and scary. Creating a smart fireplace switch is something I have been interested in for a long time. I hesitated due to perceived …