The automation you hopefully never need – but absolutely should have

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0200

My first video about the XSense smoke detectors surprised me a little. Not because of the numbers – but because of one particular moment in the video.

I’d briefly mentioned what I’d built for the Home Assistant integration: when a smoke detector goes off, all lights come on, all blinds go up, and I get a push notification on my phone. Just a quick aside because it fit the topic. But those few seconds apparently triggered something – in the comments, and at XSense itself.

How this video came about

Shortly after publishing the first video, XSense reached out. I explained the blind and automatic light idea in an email – and they found it so interesting that they asked me to make a detailed video about it. Show exactly how it’s built. What happens step by step. And why.

So here it is.

Why this automation matters more than it sounds

I’ll say it plainly: this isn’t a cool toy. This is an automation I hope you never need. But if you do need it, every second counts.

In a fire, two things rob you of the precious time to escape: disorientation and panic. Someone woken from sleep in the middle of the night often doesn’t immediately know where they are, where the door is, how to get out. And if everything is dark and the blinds are down – that’s a serious problem.

A well-designed automation can help counter exactly that. Not as a replacement for smoke detectors, escape route plans or fire extinguishers – but as one more layer that works silently and reliably when it matters.

What’s in the video

I build the complete automation live – from the MQTT entity of the smoke detector to the finished, tested automation chain in Home Assistant.

What happens when an alarm is triggered:

Push notification to your smartphone – immediately, even if you’re not home
All lights come on – escape routes become visible, no one stumbles in the dark
All blinds go up – windows become accessible as emergency exits, firefighters can see what’s happening from outside

I also show what to watch out for when building it so the automation works when it actually matters – including when the internet is down or Home Assistant just restarted.

And I explain why I deliberately didn’t add an automatic emergency call – it sounds like a good idea, but in practice it isn’t.

To load the video, please click the image. Please note that by doing so, data will be transmitted to YouTube.

What have you already automated for emergencies at home? Write it in the comments – I’m genuinely curious how you’ve solved this.

The devices from the video

The XSense system the automation is built on:

6-pack starter set + base station (affiliate link): 👉 XS01-M 6-pack at XSense
12-pack + base station (affiliate link): 👉 XS01-M 12-pack at XSense
Discount code: safexsense → 12% off your entire order (valid in X-Sense shop only), combinable with site promotions
Alternatively via Amazon: 👉 XSense smoke detectors on Amazon (affiliate link)

This video was made in collaboration with XSense. Affiliate links: the price stays the same for you, but you support the work on my channel.

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

Fire Safety on Smart Home? Sure — But Secure!

The automation you hopefully never need – but absolutely should have

How this video came about

Why this automation matters more than it sounds

What’s in the video

The devices from the video