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Home Assistant
Home Assistant is the open platform for a capable, local smart home. Find fundamentals, hardware decisions, integrations, automations and projects tested in practice.
For everyone who wants to understand Home Assistant, build it sensibly and keep it maintainable.
Start here
Start here
The essential foundations, decisions and first steps in a useful order.
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What is Home Assistant and what can you do with it?
What is Home Assistant and what can you do with it? Does Home Assistant help save energy and how much does it cost?
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Which hardware should I choose for Home Assistant?
Which platform is suitable for whom and which application and what are my recommendations for the perfect home assistant hardware?
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Home Assistant: What is the difference between integrations, add-ons, HACS, HA Core and HAOS?
What do add-ons, HACS, integrations, HA Core and HA OS do? What are the differences? A brief explanation.
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Home Assistant and ZigBee – ZHA, DeConz or ZigBee2MQTT?
To integrate ZigBee devices like Philips Hue, IKEA Tradfri, Lidl Silvercrest, or Aqara sensors into Home Assistant, there are 3 systems to choose from. I’ll share my experiences with them.
Latest Home Assistant content
Latest Home Assistant content
Measure water level in cisterns and tanks with Home Assistant, ESPHome and TL-136 pressure sensor
How do you measure the fill level of a cistern or tank with little effort and good accuracy? I have a solution with ESPHome and a TL-136 pressure sensor. Including ESP32-C3 configuration, calibration and FAQ.
The 5 Biggest Home Assistant Myths – and What's Really Behind Them
Home Assistant has to contend with plenty of misconceptions. I debunk the 5 most persistent myths – from “only for tech nerds” and “cloud-dependent” to update anxiety. With facts on power consumption, backup strategies, security, and what happens when the smart home maintainer is no longer around.
The Dilemma: Home Assistant Automations, Node-RED or PyScript?
There are many ways to bring logic into the smart home. But which is the right one? A comparison between native Home Assistant automations, the visual Node-RED, and the programmatic solution via PyScript – and why the “YAML hell” has lost its horror today.
The Dilemma: Home Assistant Automations, Node-RED, or PyScript?
There are many ways to bring logic into your smart home. But which one is right for you? A comparison between native Home Assistant automations, the visual Node-RED, and the programmatic solution via PyScript — and why the “YAML hell” has lost its terror today.
Home Assistant Labels: Organize Your Smart Home Cleverly and Automate Better
Use Home Assistant labels and areas strategically to organize your smart home flexibly and create smart automations easily.
Is Homeway.io a cheaper alternative to Nabu Casa when it comes to Home Assistant?
Homeway.io is a new provider that promises simple remote access to Home Assistant, including integration with Alexa and Google, and it’s even free. What do we make of it?
Quick reference
Quick reference
Tesla in Home Assistant: Owner API vs. Fleet API
How to get your Tesla into Home Assistant – which API to use, what it costs and what you can automate.
TL-136 pressure sensor – how it works & how to use it
Hydrostatic pressure sensor with 4-20-mA current loop: how the TL-136 works and how to pick the right measuring range.