Anyone using home assistant for home defense?

Seeking Help Forum
1

I’ve set up my home defense system using home assistant and it’s finally complete. Here’s what I’ve got:

I use unifi cameras with IR for night vision. If someone or a car is detected, my outside lights turn on, my bedside lamps light up, and my TV shows the camera feed. My doors lock automatically when I arm the alarm.

When I’m not home, I get alerts for motion or door openings. The outside lights and some inside lights turn on, and an alarm sounds inside the house. Still working on how to handle alerts during the day though.

2

Is everything in your setup dependent on WiFi?

3

Hale said:
Is everything in your setup dependent on WiFi?

I’m using POE for the cameras.

4

Pax said:

Hale said:
Is everything in your setup dependent on WiFi?

I’m using POE for the cameras.

What’s POE?

5

Hale said:

Pax said:
Hale said:
Is everything in your setup dependent on WiFi?

I’m using POE for the cameras.

What’s POE?

It means the cameras are wired.

6

@Blair
Oh, got it. I was curious because I’d like to avoid using wireless. Your setup sounds solid.

7

Hale said:
@Blair
Oh, got it. I was curious because I’d like to avoid using wireless. Your setup sounds solid.

Good call. Wireless systems can be disabled more easily.

8

I wouldn’t fully rely on automation for locking doors. Always manually lock them behind you before setting the alarm.

9

How are you linking your smart devices with your unifi system?

10

Careful with outside lights triggering when the cameras are in IR mode. If it flips them to daytime mode, you might miss a few seconds of footage. I use frigate to send alerts to my Google hubs instead when I’m home.

11

What kind of backup power are you using to keep everything running?

12

You might want to try 433 or Zigbee buttons as duress triggers. I have some placed around my house. A first press sends a notification to my phone and email like ‘Duress alert from [location].’ A second press activates homemade 12V sirens (90+ decibels) and strobes I’ve installed. It’s pretty cheap and effective.

I can also trigger them with a voice command like ‘OK Google, lockdown.’ The sirens are tied into my house alarm as well.

Another useful setup: create a zone around your local hospital. If you’re there for over 15 minutes, it sends a notification. It’s handy if you’re ever taken there in an emergency and your phone’s with you.