Next month the kitchen is getting remodeled and I volunteered to provide outlets and light switches for the contractors. I need like 13 of each.

My house is one foot in home assistant and one foot in google and I’m looking for both specific and general advice. I’ve done mostly Kasa HS200 switches so far in my house but I just installed my first [Enbrighten switch](Enbrighten 43080 Zigbee in-Wall… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08428GDS8) and it seems good, but it’s underutilized because either I use the switch or I have to go dig in the HA app, and it isn’t convenient yet.

Here’s the deal:

I’ve got some door sensors, I’ve got HVAC, I’ve got doorbell and deadbolt (kind of), I’ve got zigbee smart blinds, and then a butt load of kasa switches and zigbee third reality wall warts and stuff. All the automations I’ve made are hands off. I don’t have any crossover between Google and home assistant (I understand there IS an integration) but I want to do this right.

  • Should I be doing probably one zigbee switch per room in the remodel (pantry, kitchen, laundry, mudroom) and then kasa? Then eventually move over to full HA?

  • I am struggling to figure out how to help the family switch away from Google to HA, but maybe I want to mask HA with Google? We are using the hub max displays around the house and I’m not sure how to pass control without posting dashboards (which I haven’t made) to the Google displays.

Sorry this is rambling, but what should I be thinking about here and how do I take next steps to ungoogle the house? I feel like instead of gobbling random stuff together like I have been doong I have an opportunity to make a commitment, but if I choose wrong it’s like a $1k+ mistake at $50 per switch/outlet.

  • CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    3·
    14 hours ago

    Run everything through HA as the first step, and the frontend that your family uses is somewhat secondary.

    I use HomePods and the home app as a front end. I assume you can do the same idea with Google.

    There’s nothing wrong with setting up smart switches and using the physical buttons. If you don’t have an automation set up for the activity of the moment, just hit the button. That’s how it should work.

    • dream_weasel@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      1·
      13 hours ago

      Idk the front end is a sort of tough question it feels like because I think she would like to be able to say “hey Google open the blinds” but those are on timer automation and obfuscated by home assistant. I assume the integration fixes that problem, but eventually if like to set the Google displays to show home assistant dashboards when there is movement and expose those devices to Google? I’d like to keep things coherent and eventually move away from Google, but I’ll need to get to parity with HA first.

    • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      13 hours ago

      I concur. Use HA with Zigbee and/or Z-Wave. Expose to Google Home as needed. You can expose idividual devices. That said switching to HA as main iterface is pretty painless and HA Voice is better than Google’s.*