Skip to content

Home-Automation

Home Assistant – Programmable Thermostat GUI – Part 2

A while back, after converting my primary thermostat over to z-wave, I found a creative way of managing my thermostat’s schedules using the scheduler-card.

Well, I recently installed a new mini-split for my bedroom/office, and needed to integrate and maintain my schedules via home assistant. So, I decided to redo my schedules a bit.

I found the scheduler-card has a “make-scheme” button, which is far more intuitive for creating schedules then what I put together in PART 1. In hindsight, this feature existed then as well…

Macro Rendering Error

File: blog/posts/Home-Automation/2021/fireplace-automation-part-3.md

UndefinedError: 'is_state' is undefined

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/mkdocs_macros/plugin.py", line 688, in render
    return md_template.render(**page_variables)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/jinja2/environment.py", line 1304, in render
    self.environment.handle_exception()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/jinja2/environment.py", line 939, in handle_exception
    raise rewrite_traceback_stack(source=source)
  File "<template>", line 35, in top-level template code
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/jinja2/utils.py", line 83, in from_obj
    if hasattr(obj, "jinja_pass_arg"):
       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
jinja2.exceptions.UndefinedError: 'is_state' is undefined

Full local Z-Wave HVAC Control

Introduction

My house has had a Emerson Sensi thermostat for the last 6 or 7 servers. While, this thermostat has served its purpose, and worked reliably (locally), I have had the ongoing issue of having to integrate it into my Home Assistant by using it through the Smart Things Integration. This cloud integration randomly stops working, and does not give very much warning regarding its status.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a huge issue, but, a few years back, I automated my fireplace. So, my fireplace will kick on during the day, to avoid heating the entire house, saving energy. Since, the fireplace bases its temp on the MAIN thermostat located in the center of the house, its important to have somewhat accurate details.

So, I have decided to upgrade both the fireplace, as well as my thermostat, to leverage z-wave.

Macro Rendering Error

File: blog/posts/Home-Automation/2021/2021-01-RTL_433.md

UndefinedError: 'value_json' is undefined

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/mkdocs_macros/plugin.py", line 688, in render
    return md_template.render(**page_variables)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/jinja2/environment.py", line 1304, in render
    self.environment.handle_exception()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/jinja2/environment.py", line 939, in handle_exception
    raise rewrite_traceback_stack(source=source)
  File "<template>", line 268, in top-level template code
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/jinja2/environment.py", line 487, in getattr
    return getattr(obj, attribute)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
jinja2.exceptions.UndefinedError: 'value_json' is undefined

Automate Holiday Lighting using Home Assistant

This week, I started installing WS2813 individually addressable LEDs around the house. I made a few simple patterns containing colors relevant to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

After manually turning on the lights for the 3rd day in a row… I thought to myself… This is automatable. So- I started down the quest to make it happen.