Cool Things To Do With HomeSeer & Node Red | Please add your cool things here!

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Question. I have node-red installed, but haven't figured how best to use it in my system yet. I am currently accessing my SolarEdge data via the Big5HS4 plugin. I'm wondering is it better to do it via node-red or really no difference? Also, I've seen a few comments that it's better to do fairly complex automations via node-red vs all in a homeseer event. Can someone please elaborate on that? I was thinking of moving a virtual switch (which turns on 6 different outdoor lights at once) to a node-red flow and just having that triggered via an event. Do you think it's worth the effort? Would I see any improvement in responsiveness? Thanks in advance for the feedback.

[ksum]

Question. I have node-red installed, but haven't figured how best to use it in my system yet. I am currently accessing my SolarEdge data via the Big5HS4 plugin. I'm wondering is it better to do it via node-red or really no difference? Also, I've seen a few comments that it's better to do fairly complex automations via node-red vs all in a homeseer event. Can someone please elaborate on that? I was thinking of moving a virtual switch (which turns on 6 different outdoor lights at once) to a node-red flow and just having that triggered via an event. Do you think it's worth the effort? Would I see any improvement in responsiveness? Thanks in advance for the feedback.

If I can do something with HomeSeer Event(s), I do. It is one less item in the chain this way. Maybe it's is the climber in me, but I avoid multiple points of failure whenever possible. As an example, I have events which turn landscaping and deck lights on at different times for dinner and winter (to allow for longer sunset/dusk periods) and off at different times for weekdays vs weekends. I could do it with one Node Red flow, but it would be just as "complicated" (it's not really).

[Horse]

I have the exact opposite experience.
I tried many things with HS events and ultimately ended up with a solution that would require scripts for anything slightly complex, which I did not want to write, debug and maintain. Easytrigger did help a great deal, but once I started in NR, it was just so much easier to shift just about everything to Node-Red and greatly simplified many events, and those more complicated, are just easier to maintain due to the visual nature.
The catalyst was wanting to control my pool heating (Electric) to coincide with peak PV generation. Which required knowing Solar Noon and working back a little.
One node (Sun Position) does this and handles all my scheduled events that are based on Sunset, Sunrise, Solar Noon and adjust every day.


More complex events I tried in HS was Bathroom fan control. I wanted 2 speed fan control, fully automatically controlled via temp/humidity sensors with Manual override based on a Switch. I needed multiple events in HS. With NR it's all in one, albeit a little more complex as it expanded to use Dew Point so it adjust with temperature and provides status.
I can set the thresholds and have a UI status screen in one. This could be simplified, however it is expanded and logical, so it's easier for me maintain as time becomes increasingly scarce. It also works around some limitations of what some of the devices can and can't do when it comes to reporting.





I'm no programmer, that was along time ago, and being able to visualize my rules, backup, restore, test and upgrade quickly and easily in a docker environment means I get to enjoy my creations and not have to spend time maintaining it.
I spent a small fortune on HS Plugin's just before HS4 released, now just about all are disabled. The Arduino Plugin is a major exception as that gives me easy access to 1-wire, analogue and Digital I/O for a number of hardware integrations in the house (Fire, Smoke, HVAC, Fresh Air, Pool, sump and sewer pumps). HS4 Pro sadly has now become a Z-Wave to Webhook gateway for about 100 devices with the Arduino Plugin for 3 Uno's doing the custom I/O work.

[Guest]

When you think about homeseer being a bul dle of small things glued together. … It doesn’t really make a diff if the logic is from nodered or hs. The only thing in the middle is http (or mqtt) api calls.

I think it is just a question of perception.

[ksum]

When you think about homeseer being a bul dle of small things glued together. … It doesn’t really make a diff if the logic is from nodered or hs. The only thing in the middle is http (or mqtt) api calls.

I think it is just a question of perception.

The difference is in the number of pints of failure. Using Node Red for all events adds another point of failure to the chain. If it is down, nothing is automated. Still, it is personal preference.

[ksum]

Horse Take a look at hte BigTimer contrib for node red. You could change your first flow to one node for On/Off and then the HomeSeer Node. the second output of BigTimer has Solarnoon as an option for the On and Off times. Add an offset and this one node takes care of turning the unit both on and off. It also has a LOT of other features you may find helpful.

Personally I group my HomeSeer events and this keeps On and Off Events for the same items in a tidy group. I see each Event as a part of a flow, or branch of a single program. Basically it comes down to a perspective thing. Do not expect a HomeSeer Event to be the complete program to run an entire automation, but a collection of branches to do parts. This perspective may help you see Events differently. That said, for a more complex decision process, such as your bathroom fans, Node Red is a great tool!

As for my bathroom fans, I have a switch on the wall which comes on based on the humidity level in the room. There is an old school small dial under the faceplate to allow me to set it. I cannot communicate with the switch, it just does it's thing. Manually controlled it runs for a set period of time based on another small dial under the switch plate. Mine are set for 30 minutes. If the humidity is still high after 30 minutes, the switch stays on. My only issue is that the humidity sensor is part of the switch. In my master bath we have a swinging glass door on the shower so the humidity takes a while to get down to that point. I live outside Baltimuggy Maryland and the summers are quite humid here but I have not had the fans come on and we open the windows in the house every chance we get.

[Horse]

ksum I did originally use Big Timer - I have sun-position installed as it serves other functions control a louvered solar roof over the deck that I'm waiting to have installed and is controlled via the same Velux skylight gateway. It will adjust the angle during the day, season and how much solar heat gain I want.
As for my fans, yes I wish it could have been that easy, unfortunately due to the design of the house, the switches are not in the areas they needed to be to sense occupancy and humidity i.e. outside the shower room, or too far away. Building code, architects and builders are not in sync. Occupancy for auto lights off for many rooms required by California Building Code was another pain. Motion switches faced the wrong way or were obscured.
Hence I had to resort to Aeotec 6 in 1 sensors in the Fan's, as they are in the right locations and can detect motion. In a couple of room that I didn't see the point of sensors, I just set a 20 minute timer when the switch was turned On, that kept the Building Inspector happy. As a bonus the sensors detect vibration from Earthquakes and contractors digging trenches for utilities :-) No idea what to do, but I can be notified.

Technology has out paced the building contractors and complying with all building codes, sometimes is almost impossible, but automation allowed me to at least work around it.

The home, as much as possible will function well even if automation is offline completely - I just have to turn stuff on and off manually like the good old days. Or install a bunch of time clocks that needed to be reset if power went out.

Living in the Bay Area and wonderful California - My single point of failure is my Electrical Utility (PG&E) - At least if I don't get the generator online before the UPS dies!

As you say, its all personal choice, with HS Webhooks, Plugin's and NR, theres very little that can't be achieved. Compared to other HA options. Others in my area have spent a medium fortune with a Specialist company doing the integrations.

[John245]

Created a solution to measure soli moisture using a Modbus module with Analog inputs and Node-RED. Will also use this Modbus module to control the speed of my pond pumps using the Analog Outputs.


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John

[ServiceXp]

can't really see the screen shot but sounds very impressive.

[devanb]

Created a solution to measure soli moisture using a Modbus module with Analog inputs and Node-RED. Will also use this Modbus module to control the speed of my pond pumps using the Analog Outputs.


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John

I too am interested but the resolution of the screen shots is too low.

Also, I couldn't find the soil moisture probe you are using. Can you provide any more into?

Thanks,

Devan

[John245]

I too am interested but the resolution of the screen shots is too low.

Also, I couldn't find the soil moisture probe you are using. Can you provide any more into?

Thanks,

Devan

Hi Devian,

I'm using the VH400 https://www.vegetronix.com/Products/VH400/gindex.phtml

In combination with the S5134 analog input module http://www.shjelectronic.com/EthernetModules.htm

The flows below shows the different blocks used:



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John

[devanb]

That VH400 looks amazing. I'm not sure how I could attach it to a controller in the middle of my yard. I think it's a project for retirement but it is very impressive nonetheless.

[kenm]

In the proof-of-concept stage of using HS4 virtual devices along with Node-RED to monitor and control a model railroad layout.

https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/ho...y-pi-gpio-pins

[CraziFuzzy]

Pretty happy with this Alexa integration to tailor which devices Alexa controls based on what room I'm in.

https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/ho...and-comes-from

[John245]

Started with the integration of our Energy Storage System.

Victron Energy Storage System (storage capacity 20 kWh):


Control panel:


HomeSeer integration:

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John