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I absolutely love HA. Using Z-Wave mesh network to control most things, especially lighting and fans. From automating your smart TV, alarm and CCTV, HVAC, garde

I absolutely love HA. Using Z-Wave mesh network to control most things, especially lighting and fans. From automating your smart TV, alarm and CCTV, HVAC, garden watering, etc.. It's pretty limitless and there seems to be an integration for everything. You can get really smart about things by tying actions to complex combinations of states. I now often 'forget' to hit the light switch when entering rooms in other homes.

lostlogin 7y ago
What are you using for the watering? I’ve got a deep distrust of automation combined with mains pressure water which I’m trying to overcome.
- BubRoss 7y ago
  If it is done with solenoids they can only let water through when there is power applied and the spring should return the stopper whenever there isn't any power.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
- abstractbarista 7y ago
  Yes so it's a Z-Wave valve which has been connected to a split off of the cold water line to my kitchen sink. Typically this valve could be used to control your mains but I'm just using it to feed some drip lines. Basically one small garden and then a few runs to individual planters with an adjustable dripper on the end. I have automations to limit watering if it has rained recently, and also to increase watering if the day has been extremely hot. Still looking to make it even smarter but this has already been a great improvement.
  - brandon 7y ago
    Do you have a make/model or link for the valve? I went all-in on Z-Wave and am similarly interested in controlling drip-lines.
- ericd 7y ago
  Depending on what you want to do, maybe you don't need to overcome it. I'm a fan of these, which are "automated", but require no electricity: https://www.blumat.com/classic/uber-classic https://www.blumat.com/classic/uber-classic I haven't tried these, but they might be more suitable for an outdoor garden, and I've heard good things: https://www.blumat.com/tropf/das-tropf-blumat-system/vorteile https://www.blumat.com/tropf/das-tropf-blumat-system/vorteil... I think there's a way to hook the latter up to mains water if you have a big install. Basically, the soil moisture determines the watering rate via diffusion through a clay cone. I was getting all ready to rig up some custom raspi sensor based watering thing when I found this and realized that my way would have been waayyyy more maintenance headache, more expensive, and probably not work as well.

lostlogin 7y ago

What are you using for the watering? I’ve got a deep distrust of automation combined with mains pressure water which I’m trying to overcome.

BubRoss 7y ago
If it is done with solenoids they can only let water through when there is power applied and the spring should return the stopper whenever there isn't any power.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
abstractbarista 7y ago
Yes so it's a Z-Wave valve which has been connected to a split off of the cold water line to my kitchen sink. Typically this valve could be used to control your mains but I'm just using it to feed some drip lines. Basically one small garden and then a few runs to individual planters with an adjustable dripper on the end. I have automations to limit watering if it has rained recently, and also to increase watering if the day has been extremely hot. Still looking to make it even smarter but this has already been a great improvement.
- brandon 7y ago
  Do you have a make/model or link for the valve? I went all-in on Z-Wave and am similarly interested in controlling drip-lines.
ericd 7y ago
Depending on what you want to do, maybe you don't need to overcome it. I'm a fan of these, which are "automated", but require no electricity: https://www.blumat.com/classic/uber-classic https://www.blumat.com/classic/uber-classic I haven't tried these, but they might be more suitable for an outdoor garden, and I've heard good things: https://www.blumat.com/tropf/das-tropf-blumat-system/vorteile https://www.blumat.com/tropf/das-tropf-blumat-system/vorteil... I think there's a way to hook the latter up to mains water if you have a big install. Basically, the soil moisture determines the watering rate via diffusion through a clay cone. I was getting all ready to rig up some custom raspi sensor based watering thing when I found this and realized that my way would have been waayyyy more maintenance headache, more expensive, and probably not work as well.