FAQ

FAQ

Does this work without an internet connection?

No. The feeder talks to Philips' cloud, and so does this integration. There is no local control protocol to use instead. If your internet is down, the feeder still runs its own schedule, but Home Assistant will not be able to reach it.

Do I need a Tuya developer account, or API keys, or anything from a browser?

No. Older guides for this hardware involved extracting cookies and setting up developer accounts. None of that is needed. You sign in with your email address and a code, and that is the whole setup.

Will Home Assistant log me out of the phone app?

No, they have separate sessions and the app carries on as normal.

Live camera view is the exception. The feeder allows only a couple of video connections at a time, so if Home Assistant is holding one, the app may not get one. See The Camera.

Which feeders are supported?

Philips Pet Series feeders in the PAW range, including the PAW5320 with camera. Feeders without a camera work too, you simply get the feeding and sensor side.

If yours is not picked up, open an issue with the model name. Adding one is usually small.

Can I edit the meal schedule from Home Assistant?

Not yet. The schedule is created in the Philips app. Home Assistant reads it and gives you the next meal time and a calendar of all of them, and you can dispense food whenever you like with the feed button.

How much food is one portion?

One turn of the dispenser, not a weight. It depends on your kibble. Weigh one portion once and every number in the integration will make sense afterwards.

Can I record the camera in Frigate?

Yes. See Recording the Camera, and docs/nvr.md for complete configurations.

Why is my log full of "Error opening stream"?

Because the camera connection is released when nobody is watching, and Home Assistant retries the old address. It is noise, not a fault. The Camera explains it, and how to stop it.

Does the video go through anyone else's servers?

The connection to the camera is set up through Tuya's infrastructure, which is what the feeder itself uses. The video then travels to Home Assistant. This integration does not add any server of its own, and nothing is sent anywhere that the phone app would not send it.

Can I use two Philips accounts?

Yes. Run Add Integration again with the second email address.

Does it work on a Raspberry Pi?

Yes, on a 64 bit system, which covers a Pi 4 or 5 running Home Assistant OS. The camera helper is built for 64 bit Intel, AMD and ARM. On anything else, everything except live video still works.

Is this made by Philips?

No. It is an independent community project, built by someone who wanted their feeder in Home Assistant. It is not made, backed or supported by Philips or Versuni. If it breaks, ask here, not them.

How do I help?

Tell people it exists. Report bugs with enough detail to act on. Say which model you have, especially if it is one that is not recognised yet. Post your automations in Discussions. Pull requests are welcome, and for anything substantial it is worth opening an issue first so we can talk it through.