Home Assistant Configuration

Here's my Home Assistant configuration. I have installed HA on an Intel NUC SkullCanyon with 32GB RAM and 500GB NVMe SSD. I am currently running Ubuntu 16.04 LTS on the NUC and used the virtual environment approach to install HA.

I regularly update my configuration files. You can check my current HA version here. If you like anything here, Be sure to 🌟 my repo!

Other things that I run on my NUC

• Home Assistant
• Homebridge
• Plex media server in a Docker container using the command

docker create \
--name plex --net=host --restart=always \
-e TZ="America/New York" \
-e PUID=1000 -e PGID=1000 \
-e PLEX_CLAIM="<CLAIM>" \
-p 32400:32400 \
-v /docker/containers/plex/config:/config \
-v /docker/containers/plex/transcode:/transcode \
-v /mnt/music:/data/music:shared \
-v "/mnt/media/TV Shows":/data/tvshows:shared \
-v /mnt/bollywood:/data/bollywood:shared \
-v /mnt/hollywood:/data/movies:shared \
 plexinc/pms-docker:plexpass

• Machinebox image tagging service in a Docker container using the following command. First obtain your API key and assign it to MB_KEY and then run the container using (you can access the Tagbox interface at http://ip.ad.dr.es:8081):

$ sudo docker run --name=machinebox -p 8081:8080 -e "MB_KEY=$MB_KEY" -d machinebox/tagbox

Some of the devices and services that I use with HA

• Aeotec Z-Stick Gen5 for Z-Wave control
  • I use a z-wave dry contact relay along with a tilt sensor for automating my garage door
• Xiaomi Aqara for Zigbee sensors
  • Currently using water, temperature/humidity, door/window, and human body sensors
  • Also, using Mi Magic Cube for volume and brightness automation.
• Presence detection is the cornerstone for my setup and I use an elaborate approach as explained here. Currently, I combine the information from the following device trackers using a python_script and a Bayesian binary sensor. Here are the components that I use for presence:
  • Unifi WAP for network-based device tracking
  • OwnTracks, Geofency, and Life360 custom_component for tracking our iOS devices
  • iOS app
• Security
  • Abode home security that is almost entirely automated using presence
  • Four Hikvision DS-2CD2042WD-I cameras across the house integrated using Synology Camera component
  • Three Arlo cameras for indoor monitoring
  • Ring doorbell
• Networking
  • Ubiquiti Unifi Cloud Key
  • Ubiquiti Unifi 802.11ac PRO AP
  • Pi-Hole with Sensor
• Lights and Switches
  • LIFX wifi lights
  • Wemo switches for porch and driveway
  • Wemo plugs for miscellaneous automation including smart charging (to prevent overcharging), humidifier, Christmas lights, etc.
  • GE Z-wave dimmer 12724 for kitchen lights
• Voice Interaction
  • Google Home, with the Google Assistant and Dialogflow components
  • Amazon Echo Dot with HA Cloud
• Media
  • Sonos speakers and component
  • Plex for media consumption along with Plex component
  • Plex activity monitor to track my PMS.
  • Google Cast on my Nvidia Shield TV
• Notifications:
  • iOS and Pushbullet for basic notifications
  • Telegram and iOS for actionable notifications
  • TTS with the Sonos
  • Notification for Android TV to send visual notifications to Shield
• Weather and Climate related
  • Ecobee thermostats in the main floor and kids rooms
  • Honeywell Lyric thermostat (currently integrated using a custom_component) in the master
  • Wunderground to integrate my weather station
  • Bloomsky weather station DarkSky for weather data and forecasts
  • Yahoo Weather for weather card
  • Pollen sensor for allergy related information

My Home Assistant dashboard

Useful links

• HA cheat sheet for miscellaneous tips and tricks.