Brent Saltzman
Home Automation

  1. Using the File Integration in Home Assistant to create a log file

    Using the Notify File component Home Assistant can create a log file of just about anything you want! Learn how to create a text log file such as each time your sump pump runs along with weather conditions and other relevant information.…

  2. Bring your Webex status into Home Assistant

    If you have been working from home like me since the start of March 2020, you have come to rely on tools like Webex Teams, Microsoft Teams, Slack and other channel style collaboration tools to keep in touch with your team and keep projects and tasks moving. I've…

  3. Monitoring your Sump Pump with Home Assistant

    With thunderstorm season upon us, I thought it would be fitting to talk about monitoring sump pumps. When I purchased my house one of the first things I immediately wanted to do with my smart home was figure out a way to see if my sump pump was doing its…

  4. Easily find the MAC address of an Amazon Dash Button

    Every now and then Amazon puts their Dash buttons on sale for as little as $0.99 [https://amzn.to/2wtW6qf]. At that price it's hard to pass them up for little buttons to trigger whatever you might want in your home automation setup. I've written…

  5. Notification when a Windows Media Center Recording starts using Home Assistant

    I'm a long time user (and believer) in Windows Media Center as the primary method to consume Cable TV. Coupled with a cable card tuner such as the SiliconDust HDHomeRun PRIME [https://www.silicondust.com/product/hdhomerun-prime/] you can create a fantastic, flexible user and stable Cable TV…

  6. Adding a Z-Wave Door Sensor to your Backyard Gate

    I spent some time looking for a Z-Wave sensor for my backyard gate. I didn't find much for something that was rated for outdoors and all weather so I made my own. The key here is utilizing my favorite Z-Wave Door Sensors by EcoLink because they have an…