Bringing my devices together
I have a go-e EV charger and a KOSTAL solar inverter. I also wanted the option to integrate Amazon Alexa. I had not settled on smart plugs yet, so I tried several models and eventually chose Shelly. That let me choose my devices one at a time.
A Fire HD 8 as a wall-mounted control panel
I mounted a refurbished Fire HD 8 on the wall for everyday control. I use it to open my openHAB dashboard. A right-angle USB-C connector routes the cable out to the side of the tablet. A slim power adapter fits into the wall socket.
- Refurbished Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022), 32 GB
- €51.49
- sciuU universal wall mount
- €8.99
- UGREEN right-angle USB-C cable (90°, 1 m, 60 W)
- €8.40
- ZINOOY slim USB-C/USB-A power adapter (35 W)
- €12.23
These four parts cost me €81.11 in total when I bought them.
How openHAB connects different brands
Bindings connect devices and services to openHAB. Things represent the connected equipment. Items let you display readings and switch states in one interface and use them in rules. The official Alexa skill is an optional integration that uses myopenHAB.
What to check before choosing a controller
Home Assistant also supports devices from different manufacturers. I chose openHAB because it could bring my equipment together and left me free to choose my smart plugs. If you are deciding today, check your exact charger and inverter models against both platforms and look for the functions you use day to day.