EVCC on Smart Home? Sure — But Secure!

Home Assistant A-Z: M is for MQTT – The Invisible Glue of Your Smart Home

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the A-Z Series: M is for MQTT

In today’s episode of our Home Assistant A-Z Series, we’re diving into a topic that works quietly in the background and yet is absolutely essential: MQTT! It’s the invisible glue that brings almost any device into your smart home. Without MQTT, my smart home would grind to a halt in many places – but why is that?

Today I’ll explain in simple terms (promise: no complicated technical jargon!) what MQTT is, why it matters so much, and how I’ve integrated 52 devices with it in my Home Assistant setup.

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What Is MQTT? 30 Seconds of Theory, Jargon-Free

Let me explain MQTT so simply that anyone can understand it – even if you’re not deeply technical.

The Problem Without MQTT

Normally, Home Assistant has to talk directly to every device. That means:

Home Assistant needs to know how to control the device
What data the device sends
In what units the data arrives
What interface the device uses

For every single device, Home Assistant needs its own dedicated integration. That’s a lot of work and limits the number of supported devices.

The Solution: MQTT as a Middleman

MQTT steps in between and simplifies everything dramatically:

Home Assistant only needs to know how to read from an MQTT server
The device only needs to know how to post its data to MQTT
The MQTT Broker (server) mediates between the two

The Brilliant Advantage

This has a huge advantage:

✅ The device can support MQTT and doesn’t care whether you’re using Home Assistant, OpenHAB, or any other smart home solution

✅ Home Assistant doesn’t care which device you have – as long as it speaks MQTT

MQTT is therefore a supremely universal solution for integrating as many devices as possible into Home Assistant, without Home Assistant needing to explicitly support each device!

In the video, I explain this even more clearly with a diagram!

A Live Look: 52 Devices via MQTT in My Smart Home

Enough theory! Let’s look at a real smart home and see everything I’ve integrated with MQTT.

In my MQTT integration in Home Assistant, I can see: 52 devices connected via MQTT. That’s more than half of all my devices! Without MQTT, my smart home would be capable of considerably less.

Let’s look at some concrete examples:

Aqara Motion Sensors via Zigbee2MQTT

I have several Aqara motion sensors distributed throughout my smart home – in the hallway, bathroom, storage room, and other areas.

How are they integrated?

The sensors speak Zigbee (a wireless protocol)
I use Zigbee2MQTT – the universal gateway for Zigbee devices
Zigbee2MQTT translates Zigbee signals into MQTT messages
Home Assistant reads these MQTT messages

The brilliant part: Zigbee2MQTT supports hundreds of different Zigbee devices from a wide variety of manufacturers. Set it up once, and everything works through the same pipeline!

In the video you can see the motion sensors live in the dashboard!

Philips Hue Lights via Zigbee2MQTT

My Philips Hue lights also run via MQTT – likewise through Zigbee2MQTT!

Why not the official Philips Hue Bridge?

Good question! The Hue Bridge would certainly work too, but:

✅ With Zigbee2MQTT I skip the need for an extra bridge ✅ Everything runs through the same infrastructure (one Zigbee stick) ✅ Completely local – no Philips cloud required ✅ Cheaper (no expensive Hue Bridge needed)

Hue lights also speak Zigbee, so they can communicate with Zigbee2MQTT just as easily as the Aqara sensors!

Where I use Hue lights:

Bedroom (for the wake-up light)
Terrace (for evening lighting)

In the video I’ll show you what the Hue lights look like in the MQTT dashboard!

Sonoff Devices with TASMOTA Firmware

Another great example: Sonoff devices. These are smart relays and sensors – similar to Shelly modules.

My configuration:

I’ve flashed most of my Sonoff devices with TASMOTA firmware. This is an open-source, alternative firmware that:

✅ Works completely locally (no cloud)
✅ Natively supports MQTT
✅ Is far more flexible than the stock firmware
✅ Is more secure (open source, no backdoors)

The Sonoff devices communicate via Wi-Fi (not Zigbee!) and send their data directly to the MQTT Broker.

Examples in my setup:

Smart plugs
Relays for light control
Temperature sensors

In the video I go into more detail on TASMOTA and show you what the devices look like!

Xiaomi Light Sensors for Automations

I have two Xiaomi light sensors mounted on the outside of the building. They continuously measure brightness and help me with various automations.

What I use them for:

Automatic lighting (e.g., terrace lights at dusk)
Blind control (automatically closing when the sun is intense)
Energy management (cloud cover = lower PV output)

These sensors also speak Zigbee and run via Zigbee2MQTT through MQTT into Home Assistant.

In the video I show you the live sensor readings!

Wallbox via EVCC

A particularly cool example: my wallbox for the EV is also integrated via MQTT!

How does that work?

I use EVCC (Electric Vehicle Charge Controller) – intelligent software for managing the wallbox. EVCC can:

PV surplus charging (only charge when the solar system produces enough power)
Use dynamic electricity prices (charge when power is cheap)
Monitor all values (charging power, battery level, costs)

EVCC publishes all these values to MQTT, making them available in Home Assistant.

What I get via MQTT:

Current charging power (in kW)
Total energy meter (total amount charged)
Current charging price (for dynamic tariffs)
Grid price and electricity rates
EV state of charge (in %)

All this data can be used in automations or displayed on dashboards!

More on EVCC is available in my dedicated video – link in the video and description above!

In the video I show you the wallbox entities live in the MQTT dashboard!

Why MQTT Is So Important

After all these examples, it’s clear: MQTT is the backbone of my smart home!

The Advantages at a Glance

Universal: Almost any device can speak MQTT
Vendor-independent: Whether Aqara, Philips, Sonoff, or Xiaomi – they all use MQTT
Protocol-agnostic: Zigbee, Wi-Fi, even Ethernet – everything ends up at MQTT
Future-proof: New device? If it speaks MQTT, it works
Local: No cloud required, everything stays on your own network

In the video I go even deeper into these advantages!

Installation: How to Get MQTT Into Home Assistant

Convinced and ready to use MQTT? No problem – the installation is surprisingly easy!

Option 1: Home Assistant OS (recommended for beginners)

If you’re running Home Assistant OS, MQTT is just one click away:

Step 1: Go to Settings → Add-ons

Step 2: Search for “Mosquitto broker” (this is the MQTT server)

Step 3: Install the add-on and start it

Step 4: Home Assistant automatically detects the Broker and suggests the integration

That’s it! No complex configuration needed. The Broker is running and ready to use immediately.

Option 2: Home Assistant Core / Docker

If you run Home Assistant Core and manage everything via Docker, you can start the Mosquitto Broker as a separate container:

Docker Compose example:

mosquitto:
  image: eclipse-mosquitto:latest
  ports:
    - "1883:1883"
  volumes:
    - ./mosquitto/config:/mosquitto/config
    - ./mosquitto/data:/mosquitto/data

Then add the MQTT integration in Home Assistant and provide the IP address and port (1883) of the Mosquitto container.

In the video I show you both installation methods!

Configuration: Almost None Required!

The beauty of MQTT: it requires almost no configuration!

The default port (1883) works out of the box
No complex settings
Ready to use immediately

Of course, for added security you can also:

Set up a username and password
Enable TLS encryption
Configure Access Control Lists (ACLs)

But for getting started, the default configuration is perfectly sufficient!

Connecting Devices to MQTT

You now have an MQTT Broker running – but how do devices connect to it?

Zigbee Devices: Zigbee2MQTT

For all Zigbee devices, I recommend Zigbee2MQTT:

What you need:

A Zigbee USB stick (e.g., ConBee II, Sonoff Zigbee 3.0)
The Zigbee2MQTT software (as an add-on or Docker container)

Setup:

Plug in the Zigbee stick
Install Zigbee2MQTT
Enter the MQTT Broker details (usually done automatically)
Pair devices (put them into pairing mode)

Done! All Zigbee devices appear automatically in Home Assistant.

Wi-Fi Devices: Native MQTT Support or TASMOTA

Some devices (e.g., Shelly, ESPHome devices) natively support MQTT. Simply enter the MQTT Broker IP in their settings – done!

Other devices (e.g., Sonoff) can be flashed with TASMOTA and then have MQTT enabled.

In the video I walk through concrete examples!

Software Integrations: EVCC and Others

Many software tools like EVCC can publish their data to MQTT. In the respective configuration, you enable MQTT and provide the Broker details – and the data flows straight into Home Assistant!

Creative Use Cases for MQTT

Beyond plain device data, you can also use MQTT for creative purposes:

Build Your Own Sensors

With ESPHome or TASMOTA you can build custom sensors and integrate them via MQTT:

Temperature and humidity sensors in the garden
Water level sensors for plants or cisterns
Door contacts in unusual locations
PIR sensors for motion detection

Exchange Data Between Systems

MQTT is perfect for sharing data between different systems:

Home Assistant → Node-RED → MQTT
MQTT → Grafana (for beautiful dashboards)
MQTT → InfluxDB (for long-term data analysis)

Trigger External Automations

You can trigger external tools via MQTT messages:

Start the 3D printer when the solar system has enough surplus
Activate the irrigation system when soil moisture is low
Arm security systems based on presence

The possibilities are endless!

Pitfalls and Tips

To wrap up, here are a few important tips from my own experience:

Tip 1: Plan Your Topic Structure Early

MQTT uses Topics for organization. Think through a sensible hierarchy from the start:

1
2
3

home/living-room/temperature
home/living-room/humidity
home/bedroom/temperature

Not:

1
2
3

temp_living-room
humidity_living-room
temperature_bedroom

A clear structure will save you a lot of headaches later!

Tip 2: Use Retained Messages

For status values, you should enable Retained Messages. This way the Broker stores the last known value – even if a client restarts.

Tip 3: Understand Quality of Service (QoS)

MQTT defines three QoS levels:

QoS 0: Fire and forget (fast, but unreliable)
QoS 1: Delivered at least once
QoS 2: Delivered exactly once

For smart home purposes, QoS 1 is usually sufficient.

Tip 4: Use Discovery

Many tools (e.g., Zigbee2MQTT, TASMOTA) support MQTT Discovery. This means devices register themselves automatically with Home Assistant – no manual configuration needed!

In the video I go into these tips in more detail!

Conclusion: MQTT Is Indispensable

After all of this, it’s clear: MQTT is absolutely indispensable for my smart home!

What I wouldn’t have without MQTT:

52 fewer devices
No Zigbee devices
No flexible wallbox integration
Far fewer options for custom projects

MQTT makes a smart home flexible, open, and future-proof. It’s one of the reasons I value Home Assistant so highly!

Make sure to watch the video – there you’ll see everything in action live!

Your Experiences?

What do you integrate with MQTT?

Let me know in the comments:

Which devices do you use over MQTT?
Do you have creative use cases?
Are you using Zigbee2MQTT or other gateways?
What questions do you have about MQTT?

Charging Your EV Without Cloud: EVCC – The Intelligent EV Charger Controller!

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Problem: Wallbox Apps That Drive You Crazy

You have an EV and a wallbox, but you’re frustrated with clunky manufacturer apps and terrible smart home integration? The app is slow, confusing, and sends all your data to the cloud?

There’s a better way! With EVCC, you get a fully local solution for intelligent control of your EV charging – no cloud, no dependency, maximum control.

In the new video, I’ll show you my complete setup and how I saved over €2,500 with it!

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What Is EVCC?

EVCC stands for “Electric Vehicle Charge Controller” and is an open-source software for intelligent wallbox control. What makes it special:

✅ Completely local – no cloud connection required
✅ Open source – transparent code, active community
✅ Manufacturer-independent – works with almost any wallbox
✅ Professional UI – more polished than any manufacturer app
✅ Smart Home integration – works perfectly with Home Assistant & more

With or Without a PV System

The brilliant part: EVCC works with AND without a PV system!

With PV: Intelligent surplus charging – make the most of your solar energy
Without PV: Charge on a schedule or with dynamic electricity prices

In the video, I’ll show you both scenarios!

My Setup in Detail

In my setup, I use:

PV system on the roof (optional!)
Home battery storage in the basement (optional!)
Wallbox in the garage (required)
EV (hopefully you have one 😊)
Raspberry Pi 4 running EVCC as a Docker container

My wallbox is connected to the Raspberry Pi via a Modbus cable (20 meters through the basement!). But don’t worry: depending on the wallbox model, this can also work over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

The best part: You don’t need my complete setup! A single wallbox is enough to get started.

In the video, I’ll show you my complete installation including the wiring!

The EVCC Dashboard: A Dream!

Does this brilliant user interface look like a “hacky” open-source tool to you? I was completely blown away when I first launched it!

What You See at a Glance:

Top: Energy flows

Where is the power coming from? (PV, battery, grid)
Where is it going? (house, car, battery, grid)
Live updates every 10 seconds

Middle: Charging modes

PV: Surplus charging – solar power only
Min+PV: Minimum load + solar
Fast: Full power – regardless of source

Bottom: Details

Current charging power
Battery state of charge
Estimated charging time
Cost overview

Make sure to watch the video to see the display change in real time!

Live Demo: How Surplus Charging Works

In the video, I’ll walk you through three live scenarios:

Scenario 1: No Sun, No Car

PV system produces little (November fog)
Home battery covers household consumption
No charging possible

Scenario 2: Lots of Sun, No Car

PV system produces a decent amount
Home battery is full
Surplus is exported to the grid (wasted)

Scenario 3: Sun + Car Plugged In 🎉

PV system is producing
Household consumption is covered
Surplus flows into the car!
EVCC adjusts automatically every 10 seconds

The dynamic adjustment is impressive – check it out in the video!

Dynamic Electricity Prices: Saving Money on Autopilot

For me, this is the killer feature: EVCC supports dynamic electricity prices!

How It Works:

Create a charging plan
- When do you need the car? (departure time)
- How full should it be? (target state of charge)
EVCC automatically calculates
- When is electricity cheapest?
- How long does charging take?
- What will it likely cost?
Car charges automatically at the best time
- No manual intervention needed
- Maximum savings
- Ready on time for departure

In the video, I’ll show you the charging plan in action!

My Experience With Tibber

I’ve been using Tibber for two years – essentially the pioneer of dynamic electricity tariffs in Germany.

What Makes Tibber Special?

✅ Price changes every 15 minutes
✅ No smart meter required – works with a standard meter
✅ Perfect EVCC integration
✅ Transparent pricing

Making Use of Price Dynamics

In the video, I’ll show you the Tibber app:

You can see the price curve for the next 24 hours. The dynamics are impressive:

🟢 Cheap times: Often at night, when there’s a lot of wind/solar on the grid
🔴 Expensive times: Usually in the evening during peak grid load

EVCC automatically charges during the green phases!

The Result: €2,500 Saved!

EVCC logs all charging sessions and calculates your savings. In my case, it’s now over €2,500 euros!

If I’ve sparked your interest: Use my Tibber link in the description. We both get €50 for the Tibber Store. You support the channel and save money yourself – win-win!

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

Installation: Easier Than You Think

EVCC runs as a Docker container on a Raspberry Pi 4 at my place. The installation is surprisingly straightforward:

Option 1: Docker (My Choice)

# Download and start the container
docker run -d \
  --name evcc \
  -p 7070:7070 \
  -v $(pwd)/evcc.yaml:/etc/evcc.yaml \
  evcc/evcc:latest

Advantages:

✅ Quick to set up
✅ Other services can run in parallel
✅ Easy updates

Option 2: Home Assistant Add-on

If you’re using Home Assistant OS, there’s an official add-on!

Installation:

Open the Add-on Store
Search for “EVCC”
Install & start

Even easier than Docker!

In the video, I’ll show you both options!

Configuration: YAML or Web UI

For initial configuration, you have two paths:

Classic: YAML File

This is how I did it. You edit a text file:

site:
  title: My EVCC
  meters:
    grid: ...
    pv: ...
  
chargers:
  - name: Garage Wallbox
    type: ...

For: Tinkerers who enjoy writing code Against: Slightly steeper learning curve

Modern: Web UI

Since a few versions back, there’s a graphical configuration interface!

For: Beginners who prefer simplicity Against: (None, really 😊)

In the video, I’ll show you the Web UI – super intuitive!

Wallbox Compatibility: A Huge Selection

My wallbox is connected via Modbus cable. But EVCC supports an incredibly wide range of wallboxes:

Supported Connection Types:

Modbus (my setup)
Wi-Fi
Ethernet
Cloud (if necessary)

Supported Manufacturers:

The list is impressively long:

ABL
EVSE WiFi
go-eCharger
KEBA
Mennekes
Phoenix Contact
Wallbe
… and many, many more!

Check the EVCC documentation – I haven’t found a wallbox yet that isn’t supported!

Link to the full list in the video and description!

Manufacturer Independence: The Big Advantage

What makes EVCC truly special: you can mix and match manufacturers freely!

In my setup:

Wallbox: Manufacturer A
PV inverter: Manufacturer B
Home battery storage: Manufacturer C (added just recently!)

All from different manufacturers who normally don’t work together. With EVCC? No problem!

In the video, I’ll tell you how seamlessly my new home battery storage was integrated!

5 Reasons Why EVCC Impresses Me

1. Completely Local

No cloud, no dependencies. Your data stays with you. Even during an internet outage, local control keeps working!

2. Open Source With a Professional UI

The code is public, the community is active. But the user interface looks like it came from a professional team!

3. Massive Hardware Support

Almost every wallbox, almost every inverter, almost every EV is supported. The community keeps growing.

4. Intelligent Charging Control

With a PV system and/or dynamic electricity prices, you save real money. In my case: over €2,500!

5. Manufacturer Independence

You’re not locked in. Switching wallbox? No problem. New battery storage? Works!

Even my in-laws are now using EVCC – and without any issues!

Who Is EVCC For?

✅ Perfect if you:

Have an EV and a wallbox
Want control over your data
Like saving money (PV or dynamic tariffs)
Are familiar with Raspberry Pi or Home Assistant
Value manufacturer independence

⚠️ Less suitable if you:

Have no technical interest
Need everything “out of the box”
Have no time for setup

But honestly: The setup is easier than you’d think!

Frequently Asked Questions

“Do I need a PV system?”

No! EVCC works without one too. You can:

Charge on a schedule
Use dynamic electricity prices
Simply enjoy the better UI

“Does my wallbox work with it?”

Very likely! Check: https://docs.evcc.io/docs/devices/chargers

The list is impressive. In the video, I’ll show you where to look!

“Is the installation complicated?”

No! If you’ve used Docker or Home Assistant before, it’s a breeze.

“How much does EVCC cost?”

EVCC is free! Open source, no license fees. You only pay for the hardware (Raspberry Pi, wallbox).

Your Path to EVCC

Step 1: Check your hardware

Do you have a supported wallbox?
Do you have a Raspberry Pi or NAS?

Step 2: Installation

Docker or Home Assistant add-on
Download and start EVCC

Step 3: Configuration

Connect the wallbox
Optional: PV system, battery storage, electricity meter

Step 4: Enjoy!

Open the dashboard
Try out the charging modes
Save money 😊

I’ll walk you through all the steps in detail in the video!

Your Experiences?

Write me in the comments:

How do you charge your EV at home?
Are you already using EVCC?
Did I spark your curiosity?
Which wallbox do you have?

Be sure to watch the video – there you’ll see the dashboard live, the charging modes in action, and my complete installation!

EVCC on Smart Home? Sure — But Secure!

Home Assistant A-Z: M is for MQTT – The Invisible Glue of Your Smart Home

Welcome to the A-Z Series: M is for MQTT

What Is MQTT? 30 Seconds of Theory, Jargon-Free

The Problem Without MQTT

The Solution: MQTT as a Middleman

The Brilliant Advantage

A Live Look: 52 Devices via MQTT in My Smart Home

Aqara Motion Sensors via Zigbee2MQTT

Philips Hue Lights via Zigbee2MQTT

Sonoff Devices with TASMOTA Firmware

Xiaomi Light Sensors for Automations

Wallbox via EVCC

Why MQTT Is So Important

The Advantages at a Glance

Installation: How to Get MQTT Into Home Assistant

Option 1: Home Assistant OS (recommended for beginners)

Option 2: Home Assistant Core / Docker

Configuration: Almost None Required!

Connecting Devices to MQTT

Zigbee Devices: Zigbee2MQTT

Wi-Fi Devices: Native MQTT Support or TASMOTA

Software Integrations: EVCC and Others

Creative Use Cases for MQTT

Build Your Own Sensors

Exchange Data Between Systems

Trigger External Automations

Pitfalls and Tips

Tip 1: Plan Your Topic Structure Early

Tip 2: Use Retained Messages

Tip 3: Understand Quality of Service (QoS)

Tip 4: Use Discovery

Conclusion: MQTT Is Indispensable

Your Experiences?

Further Reading and Videos

Charging Your EV Without Cloud: EVCC – The Intelligent EV Charger Controller!

The Problem: Wallbox Apps That Drive You Crazy

What Is EVCC?

With or Without a PV System

My Setup in Detail

The EVCC Dashboard: A Dream!

What You See at a Glance:

Live Demo: How Surplus Charging Works

Scenario 1: No Sun, No Car

Scenario 2: Lots of Sun, No Car

Scenario 3: Sun + Car Plugged In 🎉

Dynamic Electricity Prices: Saving Money on Autopilot

How It Works:

My Experience With Tibber

What Makes Tibber Special?

Making Use of Price Dynamics

The Result: €2,500 Saved!

Installation: Easier Than You Think

Option 1: Docker (My Choice)

Option 2: Home Assistant Add-on

Configuration: YAML or Web UI

Classic: YAML File

Modern: Web UI

Wallbox Compatibility: A Huge Selection

Supported Connection Types:

Supported Manufacturers:

Manufacturer Independence: The Big Advantage

5 Reasons Why EVCC Impresses Me

1. Completely Local

2. Open Source With a Professional UI

3. Massive Hardware Support

4. Intelligent Charging Control

5. Manufacturer Independence

Who Is EVCC For?

✅ Perfect if you:

⚠️ Less suitable if you:

Frequently Asked Questions

“Do I need a PV system?”

“Does my wallbox work with it?”

“Is the installation complicated?”

“How much does EVCC cost?”

Your Path to EVCC

Your Experiences?

Further Reading