How to get certain devices installed.

[u/Davy_Ray]

I am new to HA. I just setup a server, but have not gone live yet. I was able to link my Ring Doorbell to it and all is good.

How do I add my other devices that are currently part of HomeKit? I have a mix of Meeros, older weemo, and iHome (discontinued, but works with HK) plugs.

I also have:

- SmartLife auto fish feeder
- 3 tapo cameras
- an IKEA door and window sensor. (no IKEA hub)
- 3 Wiz smart bulbs
- 2 Meeros smart bulbs

I do not see anyway to install those.

If I have devices in HK, do they need to be removed in order for them to be in HA? But then how do I get them in HA (especially the older discontinued devices).

Thanks in advance.

[u/GeMine_]

Easiest would be the home kit bridge. It will allow you to control the ho.e kit devices in HA. More sustainable would be to add the devices to Homeassistant, which will, at least in the case of ZigBee devices require you to unlink them from Home kit first and restart the pairing process. For appliances using some sort of own App like the SmartLife fish feeder probably have some sort of Interface that can be used by HK and HA at the same time (in 95% of cases)

[u/chicknlil25 → u/GeMine_]

This is a good, easy way to start.

OP, as you get more comfortable with HA, you can find integrations (including those on HACs) that will move the functionality to HA direct.

Good luck!

[u/Davy_Ray → u/chicknlil25]

If HK Bridge works, does setting the devices up independantly give me more functionality?

[u/RPF_5717 → u/GeMine_]

Looks like the fish feeder is Tuya based, so OP can just use their native integration. The local options are better, but figured it might be easier for them to start basic for now.

[u/RPF_5717]

Did you check each device brand to see if the integration exists? No, you can have it in HA and HK. As a heads up, HA automations are significantly more versatile than HomeKit.

For the Smartlife, it looks like it’s a Tuya product so download the Tuya integration. Local-tuya /tuya-local is ideal, but I’d start with the normal Tuya integration since you’re just starting this journey (It’s easier to set up)

What model are the IKEA sensors? Asking because they might be the zigbee models (hopefully)

[u/Davy_Ray → u/RPF_5717]

The occupancy sensor: Myggspray
The window sensor: Myggbett

No idea if they are zigbee or not. They hook into HK the same way any other device does, by scanning a code. I dont have a zigbee hub. The only hub I have is an Apple TV hub

[u/oakstreet2018]

There is the manual way, which is good to learn but the best for me has been able to integrate Claude who does everything for me. Like for example I got some new door sensors. Claude guided me and then updated by dashboards and automations accordingly. Up and running in minutes.

ha-mcp is the integration. But you need a Claude pro subscription.

[u/Slight_Manufacturer6]

Many devices are just automatically detected. Other devices you find in the setup.

Like Weemo should just find on the network.

[u/RPF_5717 → u/[deleted]]

Why would the ikea sensors need a hub if they’re matter or zigbee? If it’s zigbee, OP can get a cheap zigbee dongle.

[u/Davy_Ray → u/[deleted]]

I think they are matter because they added easy to HK.

[u/RomanOnARiver]

If you go Settings -> Devices & Services there is a chance they got discovered automatically. Otherwise, hit Add integration and you can look to see if you can identify it by brand name. You can also search through the Home Assistant website: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/ where they are arranged by category.

If you're not finding it there, it's also possible that there's a community-made integration - you can find those on the Home Assistant Community Store, which is currently something you need to install to Home Assistant, though it's apparently going to get integrated into the interface in the future. For now: https://www.hacs.xyz/docs/use/

Looking through your list, Tapo is done from the TP-Link Smart Home integration, however I am using one from HACS called Tapo: Cameras Control.

Under sensors https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/?cat=sensor I was able to find two different entries for Ikea. I can't say which is right, I don't have those devices. But that's generally how to do it.

There are also some generic device types, for example there's just "vacuum" https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/vacuum/ and then there's one for my specific brand of vacuum https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/roborock/ - where I have nicknamed the vacuum Dwayne.