Always been into Automation since I broke my neck and bruised my spine. TEMPORARILY was paralyzed from neck down and couldn’t breath without maching. 5 mo in hospital and I just am not the intense adrenaline guy I was, so I slowed down. Walking slower and right arm tight, so automation is good. Can’t imagine for permanently paralyzed. I was 20 at the time. Now double it. Before that though, I loved tech and computers.

Always the ‘Tech’ guy wherever I work, yet I only truly know VB, VBA for Outlook & Excell expert level, SQL, and most importantly, how computers work & ‘COMMON SENSE RE TECH’. That last one, along w/ middleware I’ve built at a large Indtitutional Investment Mgmt Co is why I wore the IT hat. Oh, and SWIFT (not the computer language the financial system protocol, which is more about parsing XML).

I’m taking a Full Stack Coding Course, so Git is now a favorite resouce. (I started at UCSB as s ChemE, and we used TelNet to FTP). Things HAVE CHANGED!

I just want to get very custom into Smart Things! Seems they are trying to limit, but I want WAY more info on the data sent (raw data). We’ll see!

HUGE ADVOCATE of PoE for eventual main power source (especially in lighting). Low voltage is where it’s at! My house is prewired w/ cat6 EVERYWHERE! I run a 24 port POE++ switch and wIfi (soon to be 6e w/ Thread) is done thru 2 ceiling mounted APs, of course hardwired to carry power & data from Enterprise grade PoE++ switch. I’m ready for Ultra PoE/PoE 4 wires/90+ watts per cable ability.

ULTRA PoE IS FUTURE OF LIGHTING CONTROL, with low voltage switches and sensors powering a CREE LED lighting controller.

Switches hard-wired to controller via PoE or matter/zwave/etc, occupancy sensors, recessed RGBW (RGB TW), lux and RGB sensors to go circadian style when able. I want to wash walls with light, especially if I need an energetic 5000 K main overhead light for work, and I’lll hit the walls with 2500 K or a relaxing color.

• Lux is to maintain certain lux/lumens when windows letting in sun or automated window shades down
• RGB sensor tell lights which colors to blend in so I hat the Circadian mark, or whatever I’m going for. I LOVE LIGHTING!!

I now am addicted. I’m wondering how to get EVERYTHING smart!

I’m a traitor b/c privacy and direct connection. I am looking at using my NAS or a Raspberry Pi, loaded w/ HA to keep all requests direct.
(Only potential prob is internet outage, because I have solar and Tesla Power Wall 2. Can’t even tell when power goes out. Doesn’t skip a beat w/ internet, cable, streaming TV, lighting, and NO resetting clocks!! Oh, and LoRa, ESP32 interests the hell outta me!