Bear Stone Smart Home Documentation
Be sure to :star: my configuration repo so you can keep up to date on any daily progress!
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[](https://github.com/CCOSTAN/Home-AssistantConfig/blob/master/config/.HA_VERSION)
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Live, personal Home Assistant configuration shared for **browsing and inspiration**. This is not a turnkey clone-and-run setup; borrow ideas, adapt entity IDs/secrets, and test in your own environment.
### Latest video: Turn an Old Nest Thermostat Into a Home Assistant Display
[](https://youtu.be/fuS1voqRznY)
A retired second-generation Nest becomes a round living-room photo and notification display. A Raspberry Pi handled the USB flashing; Home Assistant supplies the shared alerts, household screen policy and kiosk dashboard. The companion article also covers the newer 45-photo album, ten Keep favorites and shuffled rotation. [](https://youtu.be/fuS1voqRznY) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/repurpose-nest-thermostat-home-assistant-display.html) [](config/packages/kiosk_tablet.yaml)
[Project guide: upcycled Nest display](docs/NEST_DISPLAY.md) - hardware, credits, message flow, photo controls and source map.
### Quick navigation
- You are here: `/` (root repo guide)
- [Blog](https://www.vcloudinfo.com) | [Gear and buying notes](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/gear-list) | [Issues](https://github.com/CCOSTAN/Home-AssistantConfig/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+sort%3Aupdated-desc) | [Diagram](#network-diagram) | [YouTube](https://youtube.com/vCloudInfo)
- Config readmes: [Config index](config/README.md) | [Packages](config/packages/README.md) | [Automations](config/automation/README.md) | [Scripts](config/script/README.md) | [Scenes](config/scene/README.md) | [Sounds](config/sounds/README.md) | [Package triggers](config/packages/triggers/README.md)
- Codex skills (optional): [Home Assistant Codex Skills](https://github.com/CCOSTAN/Home-Assistant-Codex-Skills)
### What this repo is (and isn't)
- A live record of how my smart home runs, with real-world automations, scripts, and scenes.
- A place to reverse-engineer patterns, not a deployment guide. If you reuse snippets, adjust entities, secrets, and services to fit your setup.
- Issues double as a changelog and design history; browse them for rationale behind changes.
### Repo layout and files you won't see
- Reusable config lives under `config/` (see the quick navigation paths above).
- Runtime artifacts, local development tools and tests, and detailed internal topology notes stay out of the public tree. GitHub Actions keeps the public YAML examples and dashboards validated. This is a browsing guide, not a turnkey deployment; adapt host-specific helpers, URLs, entities, and secrets before reuse.
### Platform
- Runs on Docker/compose today; this README is a browsing guide, not a how-to-install. Current HA version is tracked in `config/.HA_VERSION` (see the badge above).
- Camera and network examples reflect one home installation; replace local endpoints and service names when adapting them.
### Featured examples to start with
- Cloudflare website alerts with authenticated webhook delivery and persistent Repairs: [](config/custom_components/cloudflare_alerts) [](https://youtu.be/-v1JkKwDrI8) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/cloudflare-free-webhooks-home-assistant-website-alerts.html)
- Colored iOS notification icons for packages, driveway alerts, and vacuum help: [](config/script/notify_engine.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/TMfdxv-WprM), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/home-assistant-ios-notification-icons.html)
- Windows Codex usage and reset alerts: [](https://github.com/CCOSTAN/CodexTray), [](https://youtu.be/5EFgP04-Ssk), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/08/codex-tray-monitor-openai-codex-usage-windows.html)
- WAN reachability, quality, Ookla capacity, and freshness monitoring: [](config/packages/infrastructure.yaml), [](config/packages/speedtest.yaml), [](config/dashboards/infrastructure/views/04_wan.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/F-PpsKkzcrM), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/08/home-assistant-internet-speed-monitoring-ookla.html)
- Read-only BGW gateway health, link, uptime, and traffic telemetry: [](config/packages/bgw_gateway.yaml), [](https://github.com/CCOSTAN/bgw-probe), [](config/dashboards/infrastructure/partials/network_sections.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/ovNJnaVPWAY), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/09/monitor-att-bgw210-bgw320-gateway-home-assistant.html)
- Mobile quick-access dashboard with large two-column controls: [](config/dashboards), [](https://youtu.be/ujP-zYLEso8), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/07/home-assistant-mobile-dashboard-big-buttons.html)
- Alarm and perimeter monitoring: [](config/packages/alarm.yaml)
- Garage routines and entry lighting: [](config/packages/garadget.yaml), [](config/automation/garage_entry_light.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/wFO0H5zgnzk)
- Tesla tire-pressure alerts with shared briefing snoozes: [](config/packages/tesla_model_y.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/hDNyZfTfTtE), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/09/home-assistant-tesla-tire-pressure-alerts.html)
- Frigate driveway parked-car alert: [](config/automation/driveway_parked_car.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/X9qrywP3XS0), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/09/home-assistant-frigate-driveway-car-alert.html) · Icon styling: [](https://youtu.be/TMfdxv-WprM) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/home-assistant-ios-notification-icons.html)
- Local Frigate package reminders ([setup and validation notes](docs/FRIGATE_STATE_CLASSIFICATION.md)): [](config/packages/frigate_classification.yaml). [](https://youtu.be/KpPYo_Uur7k) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/local-package-detection-frigate-home-assistant.html) Original LLM Vision experiment: [](https://youtu.be/nAhCezFetvI) · Icon styling: [](https://youtu.be/TMfdxv-WprM) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/home-assistant-ios-notification-icons.html)
- Garage garbage and recycling verification: [](https://youtu.be/zcCrtwcw-S4) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/home-assistant-frigate-garbage-bin-reminders.html) [](config/automation/Speech/garbage_day_garage.yaml), [setup notes](docs/FRIGATE_STATE_CLASSIFICATION.md#garage-garbage-and-recycling).
- Docker update reporting and exception review: [](config/packages/tugtainer_updates.yaml), [config/dashboards/infrastructure](config/dashboards/infrastructure), [](https://youtu.be/4NNOkXzUyYw), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/07/home-assistant-tugtainer-docker-updates.html)
- Entity registry and Docker telemetry cleanup: [](config/packages/docker_infrastructure.yaml), [](config/packages/infrastructure.yaml), [recorder](config/recorder.yaml), [logbook](config/logbook.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/aceV7ObKJVA), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/07/using-codex-clean-up-home-assistant-entities.html)
- TeslaMate road-trip reports and milestone alerts: [](config/packages/bearclaw.yaml), [issue #1845](https://github.com/CCOSTAN/Home-AssistantConfig/issues/1845), [](https://youtu.be/9-9T6v17NEw), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/07/teslamate-road-trip-reports-codex.html)
- Air-quality speech alerts with separate CAQI and US AQI thresholds: [](config/templates/speech/briefing.yaml), [issue #1834](https://github.com/CCOSTAN/Home-AssistantConfig/issues/1834), [](https://youtu.be/Gjk7z34Qe_4), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/07/home-assistant-air-quality-airly-pirate-weather.html)
- Water leak response loop: [](config/packages/phynplus.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/xbhgWnomFYI)
- Water softener salt maintenance: [](config/packages/maintenance_log.yaml), [](config/dashboards/overview/views/09_salt_trends.yaml), [](config/dashboards/overview/partials/water_sections.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/_OqTv9i-jAs), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/07/home-assistant-water-softener-salt-automation.html), [issue #1816](https://github.com/CCOSTAN/Home-AssistantConfig/issues/1816)
- Sprinkler status and last-run dashboard: [](config/packages/rachio.yaml), [](config/dashboards/infrastructure/views/10_sprinklers.yaml), [](config/dashboards/infrastructure/partials/home_water_sections.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/a--1iTDWhSo), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/07/home-assistant-sprinkler-automation-rachio.html)
- [Upcycled Gen 2 Nest photo and notification display](docs/NEST_DISPLAY.md): [](config/packages/kiosk_tablet.yaml) [](https://youtu.be/fuS1voqRznY) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/repurpose-nest-thermostat-home-assistant-display.html)
- Bedroom camera kiosk tablet: [](config/packages/kiosk_tablet.yaml), [config/dashboards/kiosk](config/dashboards/kiosk), [](https://youtu.be/ChgEu0IDWzc)
- Holiday/front-of-house color scenes: [](config/scene/monthly_colors.yaml), [](config/script/monthly_color_scene.yaml); local calendar source: [](config/packages/holiday.yaml) [](https://youtu.be/QzrfDFA7htc) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/home-assistant-local-holiday-countdowns-python-codex.html)
- Dash-button triggers for quick actions: [](config/automation/dash_buttons.yaml)
- PC lock/unlock-driven lighting plus workday wake-up via HASS.Agent + Wake on LAN: [](config/packages/hass_agent_homepc.yaml)
- Seasonal cuckoo clock with patriotic, October, and Christmas sound packs: [](config/automation/System/CucKoo_Clock.yaml)
- Garage arrival and entry helpers: [](config/packages/garadget.yaml)
- Vacation Mode and house-sitter checks: [](config/packages/vacation_mode.yaml)
- HVAC runtime maintenance loop: [](config/packages/climate.yaml), [](config/dashboards/overview/partials/water_sections.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/nScl2JxYSB8)
- Snoozeable maintenance notifications: [](config/packages/climate.yaml), [](config/packages/printer.yaml), [](config/packages/vacation_mode.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/y47KSflS1aw)
- Battery and solar awareness: [](config/packages/powerwall.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/hR_0lFEE2bA), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/06/tesla-powerwall-home-assistant-watchdog.html)
- Weather-aware lighting: [](config/automation/dark_rainy_day.yaml)
**Docker add-ons & utilities**
| Container | Repo/Docs | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Duplicati | [duplicati/duplicati](https://github.com/duplicati/duplicati) | Off-box, versioned backups for HA config, media, and infrastructure compose/config trees. |
| Cloudflared | [cloudflare/cloudflared](https://hub.docker.com/r/cloudflare/cloudflared) | Secure tunnel/edge access to Home Assistant without opening inbound ports. Cloudflare certificate, tunnel, and origin alert example: [](https://youtu.be/-v1JkKwDrI8) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/cloudflare-free-webhooks-home-assistant-website-alerts.html) |
| WordPress | [wordpress](https://hub.docker.com/_/wordpress) | Hosts [vCloudInfo.com](https://www.vcloudinfo.com) for docs, how-tos, videos, and long-form writeups that accompany this config. |
### Gear tied to real automations (affiliate links)
Hardware linked to the automations below. Older hardware and projects under evaluation are labeled; check the [gear catalog](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/gear-list) for buying notes and walkthroughs.
**Affiliate disclosure:** Amazon purchase links in this table are paid links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Device | What it drives (friendly name -> file) | Buy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Amazon Fire tablet wall kiosk (older Fire 7) | Bedroom camera screen with Fully Kiosk recovery, bedtime dimming, and a lightweight dashboard - [](config/packages/kiosk_tablet.yaml), [kiosk dashboard](config/dashboards/kiosk), [](https://youtu.be/ChgEu0IDWzc) | [](https://amzn.to/2swPVSm) [](https://amzn.to/2tBSTUU) |
| Garadget garage door controller | Garage doors: open/close, arrival helpers, and nighttime reminders - [](config/packages/garadget.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/wFO0H5zgnzk), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/05/home-assistant-garage-automations-arrival-alerts-tesla.html) | [](https://amzn.to/2jQLpVQ) |
| August smart lock | Front-door lock control + status - [](config/packages/august.yaml) [](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UdcCeAyo9Ak) | [](https://amzn.to/48jVzZ3) |
| Phyn Plus water shutoff | Leak detection + auto shutoff - [](config/packages/phynplus.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/xbhgWnomFYI), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/06/home-assistant-leak-detection-automations.html), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2020/05/phyn-plus-smart-water-shutoff-device.html) | [](https://amzn.to/2Zy3sbJ) |
| Rachio sprinkler controller | Rain-skips, active-zone status, trigger-derived last-run history, and dashboard controls - [](config/packages/rachio.yaml), [](config/dashboards/infrastructure/views/10_sprinklers.yaml), [](config/dashboards/infrastructure/partials/home_water_sections.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/a--1iTDWhSo), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/07/home-assistant-sprinkler-automation-rachio.html) | [](https://amzn.to/2eoPKBW) |
| Tesla Powerwall 2 | Grid-outage alerts, charging watchdog, and load-shed automations - [](config/packages/powerwall.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/hR_0lFEE2bA), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/06/tesla-powerwall-home-assistant-watchdog.html) | [Powerwall at Tesla](https://www.tesla.com/powerwall) (manufacturer; examples use Powerwall 2) |
| Google Nest thermostat | HVAC schedules plus runtime-based filter reminders and condenser-line cleanout tracking - [](config/packages/climate.yaml), [](config/dashboards/overview/partials/water_sections.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/nScl2JxYSB8) | [](https://amzn.to/4olpINw) |
| [Retired Gen 2 Nest display](docs/NEST_DISPLAY.md) | Round family-photo gallery, two-minute household alerts, bedtime/away screen policy and guest Wi-Fi QR rotation - [](config/packages/kiosk_tablet.yaml) [](https://youtu.be/fuS1voqRznY) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/repurpose-nest-thermostat-home-assistant-display.html) | Reuses an existing thermostat and USB power adapter. |
| Raspberry Pi 3 + Aeon Z-Wave stick (historical) | Older hardware reference; current garage-entry examples use wired NodeMCU contacts. Check current host and radio support before buying. | [](https://amzn.to/2e3DOBY) [](https://amzn.to/2eAiAP0) |
| Roku streaming device | TV presence -> scenes/lighting - [](config/packages/roku.yaml) [](https://youtu.be/n13wrw-eTvU) | [](https://amzn.to/2Ctp8cr) |
| NFC tags | Phone taps record per-unit HVAC filter changes and trigger quick actions. [](https://youtu.be/nScl2JxYSB8) - [](config/packages/climate.yaml), [](config/packages/nfc_tags.yaml) | [](https://amzn.to/3L7efQv) |
| Amazon Echo Show | Front door camera pop-up when the August lock unlocks - [](config/packages/august.yaml) [](https://youtu.be/EJLT7KXfzO8) | [](https://amzn.to/4ptA3YO) |
| Amazon Echo Glow (under evaluation) | Unvalidated bridge experiment for Home Assistant status cues; follow the issue before buying - [](https://github.com/CCOSTAN/Home-AssistantConfig/issues/1827) | [](https://amzn.to/4wsGUoU) |
| Dreame L10s Ultra vacuum | Away-only room queues, sweep/mop phases, family-return cancellation, a four-day cycle-start guard, Alexa room cleans, and rescue notifications - [](config/packages/vacuum.yaml), [](https://youtu.be/KKOWSKuF5jA), [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/05/home-assistant-vacuum-automations-dreame-2026.html) Rescue icon styling: [](https://youtu.be/TMfdxv-WprM) [](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/2026/10/home-assistant-ios-notification-icons.html) | [](https://amzn.to/4k0bst4) |
| Flux/LED strip controller | Monthly color scenes for exterior - [](config/script/monthly_color_scene.yaml) | [](https://amzn.to/2jUBSBE) |
| Etekcity/433MHz outlet | Accent lighting relays - [](config/automation/kitchen_lights_and_accents.yaml) | [](https://amzn.to/2efNoBP) |
The [Dash Button automation](config/automation/dash_buttons.yaml) remains as a historical example; the discontinued button is no longer a shopping recommendation. The older Fire tablet and Pi / Z-Wave links document earlier hardware, rather than a current starter kit.
### Gear and affiliate links
- Browsing or purchasing through the affiliate links above helps support this project; thanks!
- [Browse gear by project, category and setup status](https://www.vcloudinfo.com/gear-list), with my walkthroughs and compatibility notes.
**Still have questions on my Config?**
**Message me on X :** [](https://www.x.com/ccostan)
You can buy me a coffee
Affiliate Disclosure