Stoneyburn

Project Overview

Our first project in Edinburgh, and what a challenge it was! Interestingly, the client didn’t reach out to us directly. Instead, their network engineer, who had seen our podcast on YouTube, contacted us for help. The client had recently purchased a home that was advertised as a “smart home,” but soon discovered that it was anything but functional.

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From the moment they moved in, they encountered multiple issues, struggling with even the most basic tasks like turning the lights on and off. Frustration quickly set in, and they needed a solution fast. The network engineer, recognising that the job was outside of their skillset, recommended us as the right team to get things back on track.

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We drove up to Edinburgh for an on-site assessment, and what we found was… puzzling. It became clear that the previous homeowner had cut corners, likely due to budget constraints, resulting in a haphazard DIY setup that left us scratching our heads. After carefully reverse-engineering the system, we formulated a comprehensive action plan to restore functionality.

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During our initial visit, we fixed as much as possible on the spot. However, some components were beyond repair, either too underpowered for the size of the property or simply no longer working. To fully optimise the system, we scheduled a follow-up visit to implement a proper solution.

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When we returned, we brought along a NUC, a selection of new smart devices, and an APC UPS. The existing setup relied on an aging Raspberry Pi with a failing cooling fan that sounded like a jet engine. Worse still, it was running on a microSD card, an inherently unreliable choice due to its limited read/write lifespan. We replaced this with a fresh Home Assistant installation on the NUC, ensuring only the necessary configuration elements were imported to maintain functionality.

To further enhance reliability, we installed a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). While a power outage would still prevent interaction with features such as lighting and heating, the UPS allows the smart home to monitor its battery level and perform a controlled shutdown when necessary. This prevents sudden power loss, which can lead to data corruption and significantly reduce the lifespan of the system.

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Finally, we implemented our signature Luxeia dashboard, providing the client with an intuitive, seamless interface to control their entire smart home. What started as a dysfunctional, frustrating setup was transformed into a fully optimised, reliable, and beautifully integrated smart home.