We just installed a new boiler, radiators, and Hive Hub. I’m curious if it’s possible to upgrade our radiator valves to smart valves while keeping everything offline. If so, which smart valves do you recommend, and what hardware or software would I need?
You could use Bosch (Zigbee), Tuya (Zigbee), or Shelly (WiFi with a local API).
Michael said:
You could use Bosch (Zigbee), Tuya (Zigbee), or Shelly (WiFi with a local API).
Thanks for the suggestions! I have a Hive Hub with my Worcester Bosch boiler. Would the Bosch hub make the Hive Hub unnecessary? If I use Zigbee valves, will they be controlled through Bosch’s software? And can I still use Home Assistant offline with this setup? Also, is there a risk of Bosch or Zigbee bricking anything in the future, like the hub or valves? Lastly, can I set this up to work offline or with RF instead?
@ShieldedDwellings
Everything can be local, with no cloud access, and it’s compatible with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT.
Michael said:
@ShieldedDwellings
Everything can be local, with no cloud access, and it’s compatible with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT.
Great! So, with my Hive hub, I should be able to buy Zigbee valves and link them to Home Assistant without needing another hub? The Hive Hub would work for this?
@ShieldedDwellings
I’m not very familiar with the Hive hub. Is it just a WiFi router?
Michael said:
@ShieldedDwellings
I’m not very familiar with the Hive hub. Is it just a WiFi router?
It’s a hub that connects to my router, linking to the boiler and controlling the thermostat.
@ShieldedDwellings
The Zigbee TRVs will need a Zigbee router (like a USB stick on the Home Assistant device). You still need the Hive to control your boiler. I haven’t found anything to replace it that’s supported by British Gas for my home care. Home Assistant can control your Hive hub as an imported device, so you can manage everything from there. I’m halfway through setting that up with Hive TRVs; I can share screenshots if you remind me tomorrow.
@Ellis
Thank you! I’d love to see those screenshots. When you mention a Home Assistant device, are you talking about something like my mobile phone, or does it need dedicated hardware?
ShieldedDwellings said:
@Ellis
Thank you! I’d love to see those screenshots. When you mention a Home Assistant device, are you talking about something like my mobile phone, or does it need dedicated hardware?
It needs its own hardware. You have options depending on how complex you want to go: 1. Buy a prebuilt device like Home Assistant Yellow or Green. 2. Install the Home Assistant OS on a Raspberry Pi you already own. 3. Set up a Raspberry Pi or similar device running standard Pi OS and install via Docker.
@Ellis
What would be best if I wanted to run Home Assistant and a media server on the same device connected to larger media storage (internal or external)?
ShieldedDwellings said:
@Ellis
What would be best if I wanted to run Home Assistant and a media server on the same device connected to larger media storage (internal or external)?
That’s a tough one. They serve different purposes. I prioritize Home Assistant to keep my wife happy, so it gets its own Raspberry Pi. For media storage, I’d suggest a mini PC with external storage, as syncing to portable devices usually requires transcoding, which can overload the CPU.
@Ellis
Would a basic Raspberry Pi 3 work for Home Assistant, or should I go for the latest model? I already have a mini PC, so maybe I’ll use that for the media server and get a Raspberry Pi for Home Assistant?
@ShieldedDwellings
This comment is empty, admin should fix.
You can find models that support Home Assistant and Zigbee. Here’s a comparison of some options: Radiator Valves - Smart Home Compared.