Dashboard on Smart Home? Sure — But Secure!

Home Assistant A-Z: J is for Blinds - More Than Just Up and Down

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the A-Z Series: J is for Blinds

In today’s episode of the Home Assistant A-Z Series we tackle a topic with far more potential than most people realize: blinds and roller shutters! From elegant dashboard control and time-based automations to fully automatic, sun-dependent shading – I’ll show you how to make your home more energy-efficient and comfortable.

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More Than Just Up and Down

Most people use their smart roller shutters only for the basics. But there’s so much more potential hiding in them! In this article and the accompanying video I’ll walk you through:

Dashboard control with live feedback
Time-based and event-driven automations
Groups and template sensors for a quick overview
Fully automatic, sun-dependent shading
Seasonal adjustments to your setup

Dashboard Control: The Foundation

The first step toward smart roller shutters is intuitive control through your dashboard.

Position Control with Live Feedback

If your roller shutters can report their position back, you can see in Home Assistant not just the current status, but also:

Move to precise intermediate positions using a slider
Watch live as the shutter reaches the desired position
Use classic Open/Close/Stop controls on a secondary level

In the video you’ll see how elegant this looks in practice!

Visualization on Floor Plans

Things get especially clear when you project your roller shutters onto a floor plan of your home. At a glance you can see:

Which shutters are open
Which are currently closing
The status of all windows at the same time

Under the hood: A simple picture-elements card with positioned shutter controls. I show you exactly how this works in the video!

Time-Based Automations: The Smart Home Classic

Constantly tapping buttons isn’t smart – so let’s automate!

Automation 1: Close Automatically at Night

The first useful automation makes sure roller shutters are closed at night. You can use various triggers:

State-based: When you go to bed (Smart Home state “Night”)
Time-based: At a specific time (different for weekdays and weekends)
Condition-driven: Only when it’s cool outside (to make use of the insulating effect)

In the video I show you concrete examples from my own setup!

Automation 2: Open Automatically in the Morning

Symmetrically, when you get up in the morning the shutters open again automatically. Alternatively, you can use the sun’s position as a trigger.

Intelligent Schedules with Helpers

For different schedules (weekday vs. weekend) schedule helpers are perfect. You can define them as “quiet hours” and reference them in your automations.

Groups and Overview: Everything Under Control

Grouping Roller Shutters

You can create any groups of roller shutters you like – for example:

All shutters in the living room
All shutters on the south-facing side
All shutters in the entire house

With a single click you can then open or close all shutters in that group.

Template Sensor for an Overview

A small template sensor shows you on your dashboard how many roller shutters are currently closed:

sensor:
  - platform: template
    sensors:
      closed_covers_count:
        friendly_name: "Closed Roller Shutters"
        value_template: >
          {{ states.cover 
             | selectattr('state', 'eq', 'closed') 
             | list | count }}

This way you always have a clear overview! In the video you can see how I use this on my dashboard.

Automatic Shading: The Game Changer

Now things get really interesting: fully automatic, sun-dependent shading!

The Two Components

My system consists of two automation groups:

1. Sun Position Calculation per Facade

The first group calculates for each cardinal direction whether the sun is currently shining on that facade:

Blueprint-based: I use a blueprint that I’ve instantiated four times
One helper per facade: North, South, East, West
Dynamic calculation: Takes the current sun position into account

I cover the technical details and the blueprint thoroughly in the video!

2. Individual Control per Window

The second group controls each individual roller shutter:

One blueprint per shutter: Each shutter can be configured individually
Window contacts taken into account: Window open? Shutter stays up!
References the sun-position helpers: Only closes when the sun shines on that facade

Example from my setup: The roller shutter in the utility room on the north side closes as soon as the sun (even in summer, only at the edges of the day) shines on that facade.

Why One Automation per Window?

This approach enables maximum flexibility:

Each shutter can be individually enabled or disabled
Different rooms can be controlled differently
Seasonal adjustments are easy to make

Seasonal Configuration: Adapting Throughout the Year

The great thing about this system: you can adjust which rooms should be shaded as the seasons change.

My Scenarios

Winter (currently):

✅ All shading automations disabled
🌞 I enjoy every ray of sunshine that enters the apartment

Transition periods (spring/autumn):

✅ Only bedroom automations enabled
🏠 Rest of the apartment: sunshine welcome
😴 Bedroom: should stay cool

Midsummer:

✅ All shading automations enabled
❄️ Maximum cooling through consistent shading

On my dashboard I have an elegant overview where I can see at a glance which automations are active. I show you this view live in the video!

Hardware Basics

Wondering how to make your roller shutters smart in the first place?

In my Shelly roller shutter video I cover in detail:

Hardware selection (Shelly Plus 2PM, Gen3, Gen4)
Wiring in the flush-mount box
Software setup and security
Home Assistant integration

👉 To the Shelly Blinds Video

The Blueprints in Detail

The blueprints for sun-position calculation and individual control are the core of my system.

Interested in the details? Let me know in the comments under the video! If there’s enough interest, I’ll make a bonus video dedicated to these blueprints, covering:

Complete code
Step-by-step explanation
Customization options
Download links

Practical Benefits in Everyday Life

What does this actually get you?

Comfort

Automatic adjustment to sunlight
Never need to manually intervene again
Smart Home thinks ahead – even when you’re not home

Energy Efficiency

Cooler rooms in summer through consistent shading
Warmer rooms in winter through the insulating effect at night
Less air conditioning/heating required

Security

Presence simulation while on vacation
Automatic closing during storms possible
Integration with alarm systems

Level 1 – Basics:

Add roller shutters to Home Assistant
Set up dashboard control
Create first time-based automations

Level 2 – Comfort: 4. Create groups 5. Add template sensors for overview 6. Visualize on floor plan

Level 3 – Pro: 7. Implement sun-position calculation 8. Set up individual shading automations 9. Configure seasonal adjustments

I walk you through every step in detail in the video!

Further Links

Do you already have a dynamic electricity tariff? Tibber is one of the first providers to offer such a tariff in Germany. I’ve been a customer since October 2022, and it’s been a thoroughly positive experience. Tibber offers a clearly structured, modern app where you always have full oversight of your electricity tariff and costs. Pricing is very transparent: Tibber only charges what electricity actually costs on the exchange at any given moment (plus standard grid fees, etc.), plus a service fee of just €3.99 per month.

If Tibber sounds like an option for you, I’d be glad if you sign up via my referral link. That gets both you and me €100 for the Tibber Store, where you can buy various IoT hardware for your smart home. If you’re already a Tibber customer and haven’t used a referral link, you can still do so within 14 days — use code vkccaupl.

Have questions or still unsure? Don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to help you figure out whether Tibber is the right choice for you. And if it turns out it isn’t — you can cancel Tibber month by month at any time!

Thank you for your support! It makes it possible for me to keep creating videos for you.

― Joachim

More helpful articles from the A-Z Series:

Hardware:

Shelly Blind Control

The Home Assistant A-Z Series brings you the most important Home Assistant concepts in short videos and in-depth articles. A new letter every Sunday, a little more knowledge each time!

Replace Your Tablet Battery Yourself – How to Save Your Old Device in 20 Minutes!

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

When Your Tablet Never Leaves the Charger

Sound familiar? Your tablet used to be great, but now the battery barely lasts a few hours. Maybe you use it for your Smart Home Dashboard in Home Assistant or for other purposes – but being permanently tethered to a cable is simply annoying.

Most people think: “Time for a new device.” But wait! These devices are far too good to throw away. In this article I’ll show you how to breathe new life into your tablet with a new battery – and without any special tools!

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Why Repair It Yourself?

Sustainability and Resource Conservation

Every repaired device is a win for the environment. Manufacturing a new tablet consumes enormous resources – raw materials, energy, water. A new battery for €20–30 and 20 minutes of your time can extend the device’s life by years.

Save Money

A new tablet can easily cost several hundred euros. A replacement battery? About €20–30. The math is simple!

It’s Fun!

Honestly: there’s a really great feeling when the device works again after the repair. In the video you can watch every step live alongside me!

My Example: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

For my Smart Home Dashboard I use a Samsung Galaxy Tab S3. It’s a bit older, but still perfect for Home Assistant. The battery, however, was completely done – the tablet only lasted a few hours.

Spoiler: After the battery replacement it now runs for a whole week again! 🎉

What You Need

Tools (no special equipment!)

Hair dryer (yes, really – your regular hair dryer!)
Suction cup or suction cup clamp (available at any hardware store)
Plastic spatula or an old credit/loyalty card
Small screwdriver (Phillips head)
Optional: Plastic opening tools (available online for a few euros)

Materials

Replacement battery matching your tablet model
Optional: Replacement adhesive strips for the housing

Important note on buying the battery:

⚠️ Do NOT buy the cheapest battery you find online!

Make sure to look for:

✅ Reputable distributors
✅ Good ratings and reviews
✅ Brand manufacturers or certified replacements

Why? Low-quality lithium-ion batteries don’t just perform poorly – in the worst case they can catch fire. Safety first! I cover this in detail in the video.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Warm Up the Housing with the Hair Dryer

The first step is heating the adhesive between the housing and the display. Without this step you won’t be able to get into the device.

My recommendation:

Lowest airflow setting
Maximum heat
About 2 minutes warming the entire housing
One corner more intensively (that’s where you want to open it first)

Temperature check: If you can just barely touch the tablet without burning yourself, it’s perfect!

In the video you can see exactly how long I hold the hair dryer and how!

Step 2: Open the Housing with a Suction Cup

Now comes the exciting part. Using a suction cup or suction cup clamp you carefully pull the housing apart.

Two options:

Option A: Suction cup clamp (the one I use)

Place it on the warmed corner
Carefully tighten until a gap appears
No force – just warm it up again if needed!

Option B: Two simple suction cups

One on the front, one on the back
Carefully pull apart with your hands
Again: patience matters more than strength

You’ll see in the video: In my case the housing pops open after just a few turns!

Step 3: Fully Open the Housing

Once the first gap appears, grab a plastic spatula or an old credit card.

Important:

⚠️ Do NOT use metal tools!
✅ Plastic only – that way you won’t scratch anything
✅ Don’t go too deep into the device
✅ Work your way completely around the device

If it doesn’t slide smoothly somewhere? Just warm up that spot with the hair dryer again. In the video I show you the right technique!

Step 4: Watch Out for Cables!

On my Samsung tablet: The back panel has no cabling – just lift it off.

On other tablets: Carefully check whether ribbon cables connect the back panel to the circuit board! Otherwise you’ll tear something off when opening it.

Step 5: Remove the Battery

Now it gets technical – but don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks!

On my tablet:

Loosen a few screws securing the battery
Carefully disconnect the ribbon cable
Gently lift the contact clips with a small screwdriver
Pull out the cable

In the video you can see every single step in close-up – I show you exactly where each cable sits!

Step 6: Remove the Old Battery

The battery is usually still secured with some adhesive tape. Carefully lift it and remove it from the housing.

Note: Don’t just throw the old battery in the trash! Batteries belong at the recycling center or at the collection point in an electronics store.

Step 7: Install the New Battery

The new battery goes in exactly the same spot.

Connection order:

Place the battery in the housing
Reconnect the ribbon cable
Press the contacts firmly
Screw the screws back in

In the video I show you what to pay attention to when connecting the cables!

Step 8: Function Test BEFORE Closing!

Important: Test that everything works BEFORE you close the housing!

What I test:

✅ Tablet can be switched on
✅ Display works
✅ Buttons respond
✅ Speakers work
✅ Battery charges (plug in the charging cable!)

In the video you’ll see the exciting moment: Does it turn on? 😊

Step 9: Calibrate the Battery

Before closing the housing, it’s a good idea to:

Charge the battery fully (100%)
Let the tablet drain completely without charging in between

Why? This way the operating system learns the actual capacity and can display accurate remaining runtime again.

Step 10: Close the Housing

Now comes the final step!

Option A: Use the remaining adhesion (what I do)

The old adhesive often still holds well enough
Simply press the back panel on and you’re done
⚠️ The device is then no longer waterproof

Option B: New adhesive strip

Remove the old adhesive
Apply a new adhesive strip (order it together with the battery!)
Good sealing again

For my Smart Home Dashboard, Option A is perfectly sufficient!

The Result: Mission Accomplished! 🎉

In just 20 minutes: My Samsung Tab runs for a whole week again, just from a new battery!

The tablet is back to being:

✅ Usable permanently as a dashboard
✅ Usable without constant recharging
✅ Ready for years more of service

Common Problems and Solutions

“The housing won’t open”

Solution: Heat it up again! Better to use the hair dryer for 30 seconds longer than to use force.

“I’m afraid of breaking something”

Solution: In the video you can see every move. Take your time and work calmly. Most damage happens from rushing!

“Which battery is the right one?”

Solution:

The exact model number is printed on the old battery
Search for that number at reputable shops
Read the reviews!

“The cable won’t connect”

Solution: Some connectors are a bit fiddly. In the video I show you how I handled the tricky connector on mine – it took me a while too!

Safety Notes

During the Repair

⚠️ Never work while connected to power!
⚠️ Do not damage the battery (risk of short circuit/fire!)
⚠️ Choose a well-ventilated room
⚠️ Keep children and pets away

After the Repair

✅ Supervise the first charging cycle
✅ The tablet getting warm is normal
✅ If you see smoke, disconnect from power immediately!

Why This Fits Perfectly with “Using Tech Smartly”

This channel is called “Smart Home? But Secure!” for a reason – and smart means:

Conserving resources instead of throwing things away
Taking action yourself instead of buying everything new
Understanding and mastering technology

A repaired tablet for a Smart Home Dashboard is the perfect example: Old meets Smart!

Your Repair Project?

Write to me in the comments:

Have you ever replaced a tablet or smartphone battery yourself?
What was your experience?
Do you also use your tablet for Smart Home?
Which device are you considering repairing?

Make sure to watch the video – there you can see every step live and get all the important tips!

More Repair Guides

Repair BROKEN Shellys – the 30 CENT repair that actually works! – Repair Smart Home hardware instead of throwing it away: save a Shelly 2.5 with a new capacitor
Repair Sonoff S20 Smart Plug – the 26 Cent Repair – Permanently fix the unstable WiFi connection on the Sonoff S20 with a capacitor replacement

Home Assistant A-Z: D is for Dashboard

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0200

You open Home Assistant and see… a chaotic mess of switches, sensors, and cryptic names? Or worse: you miss important warnings because everything looks grey and unremarkable? It doesn’t have to be this way! A well-designed dashboard makes the difference between frustration and joy in your daily smart home experience.

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What is it, anyway?

The dashboard is your central control panel in the smart home – the first screen you see when you open the app or web interface. This is where you control your devices, monitor sensors, and keep an overview of your smart home.

A dashboard is made up of cards – small widgets that display different information. You can add light switches, temperature readouts, camera streams, or complex charts. Think of it like the home screen of your smartphone, but for your home.

The default dashboard automatically shows all your devices, but that gets cluttered fast. That’s why you can create your own dashboards – one for the living room, one for security, or one for energy monitoring. Anything is possible.

Why does this matter for your smart home?

Let’s be honest: the best smart home is useless if you can’t find your way around it. A well-thought-out dashboard saves you time and frustration every day. Instead of scrolling through endless lists, you see the most important information at a glance.

A practical example: in the morning, quickly check whether all windows are closed, the heating is set correctly, and whether the coffee maker is already running. With a personalized “Good Morning” dashboard, that takes 5 seconds instead of 2 minutes.

But even more importantly: a good dashboard warns you about problems! Imagine your fridge is too warm, your plants need water, or a door has been left open. With color-coded warnings, you’ll never miss something like that again. Red cards for critical errors, orange for warnings, blue for notices – you can see at a glance where action is needed.

How does it work in Home Assistant?

Let’s look at this practically: go to your dashboard and click the pencil icon in the top right. Now you can add, move, or delete cards. It’s all very intuitive.

For starters, I recommend: create a new dashboard via “Settings” → “Dashboards” → “Add Dashboard”. Then add the entities that matter most to you. Over time, you’ll notice what you use frequently and what you don’t. Take a critical look at your dashboard once a week and refine it step by step. Dashboards are as individual as each user – it just needs to work for you, and you know that best yourself.

One tip: make use of the ability to only show entities when relevant. You can do this with an Entity Filter card, or via the visibility conditions in the card settings. This keeps your overview clean.

A concrete example: add an Entities card for an open window, but only show it when the window is actually open.

Tip: With card-mod from the Home Assistant Community Store, you can make warnings color-coded: red backgrounds for critical errors, orange for warnings. You’ll never overlook anything important again. Curious? I’ve linked a video above and in the video description.

The most common pitfalls

The first pitfall: overloading your dashboard with everything that’s possible. Just because you have 50 sensors doesn’t mean they all need to be on the home screen. The result: nobody can find anything, and important warnings get lost in the noise. My tip: only show what you genuinely need every day.

Second pitfall: no differentiation. When everything looks the same, you can’t tell what’s urgent. Use a system: red for critical errors like “fridge too warm”, orange for warnings like “battery low”, blue for notices like “take out the trash”. That way you immediately see what matters.

Third pitfall: only testing on the desktop. Many people design their dashboard on a computer and then wonder why it looks off on their phone. Always test your dashboard on mobile too – especially warning cards need to be clearly visible on the go. Home Assistant makes this easy: as soon as you change a dashboard, any phone with the app open in parallel will prompt you to reload. So you can test your changes live right away.

What creative or useful things can you do with it?

Dashboards can do much more than just display switches. My favorite: a “Warnings Dashboard” using Entity Filter cards that only appear when there’s a problem – red cards for critical errors, orange for warnings, blue for notices. Forgotten plants, open doors, or weak batteries will never slip past you again.

I’ve put together more tips and tricks in this video – I’ve also linked it in the video description.

Next up is “E” is for Entities, or check out the overview of all A-Z posts.

Note: Links marked with affiliate link are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I receive a small commission if you purchase through these links — at no extra cost to you. The revenue helps me run this blog and YouTube channel and keep creating content. Thank you for your support!
― Joachim

Dashboard on Smart Home? Sure — But Secure!

Home Assistant A-Z: J is for Blinds - More Than Just Up and Down

Welcome to the A-Z Series: J is for Blinds

More Than Just Up and Down

Dashboard Control: The Foundation

Position Control with Live Feedback

Visualization on Floor Plans

Time-Based Automations: The Smart Home Classic

Automation 1: Close Automatically at Night

Automation 2: Open Automatically in the Morning

Intelligent Schedules with Helpers

Groups and Overview: Everything Under Control

Grouping Roller Shutters

Template Sensor for an Overview

Automatic Shading: The Game Changer

The Two Components

1. Sun Position Calculation per Facade

2. Individual Control per Window

Why One Automation per Window?

Seasonal Configuration: Adapting Throughout the Year

My Scenarios

Hardware Basics

The Blueprints in Detail

Practical Benefits in Everyday Life

Comfort

Energy Efficiency

Security

Your Path to Smart Blind Control

Further Links

Replace Your Tablet Battery Yourself – How to Save Your Old Device in 20 Minutes!

When Your Tablet Never Leaves the Charger

Why Repair It Yourself?

Sustainability and Resource Conservation

Save Money

It’s Fun!

My Example: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

What You Need

Tools (no special equipment!)

Materials

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Warm Up the Housing with the Hair Dryer

Step 2: Open the Housing with a Suction Cup

Step 3: Fully Open the Housing

Step 4: Watch Out for Cables!

Step 5: Remove the Battery

Step 6: Remove the Old Battery

Step 7: Install the New Battery

Step 8: Function Test BEFORE Closing!

Step 9: Calibrate the Battery

Step 10: Close the Housing

The Result: Mission Accomplished! 🎉

Common Problems and Solutions

“The housing won’t open”

“I’m afraid of breaking something”

“Which battery is the right one?”

“The cable won’t connect”

Safety Notes

During the Repair

After the Repair

Why This Fits Perfectly with “Using Tech Smartly”

Your Repair Project?

More Repair Guides

Home Assistant A-Z: D is for Dashboard

What is it, anyway?

Why does this matter for your smart home?

How does it work in Home Assistant?

The most common pitfalls

What creative or useful things can you do with it?