Great, I only use lithium energizer battery for my sensors. But some members using rechargables. For coin type battery, all Panasonic.

Before installing any battery, I make it a practice to extend or compress battery contact area, especially with coin type battery. Cos many time encounter lose connection after some time.

Anyway, I'm not sure what type of ZigBee Hub you are using, once my house it hanged. Now I install a WiFi Wall Plug for the power adapter. So I am able to restart the hub remotely.

1 year since moved in to my house, which is running full stock Tuya setup on Smart Life app connected to Google Home. Happy to report all components are still working fine so far.

1 x 4" smart panel with Zigbee hub
14 x Zigbee smart switches (by Moes)
3 x smart curtains (on wifi)
1x smart lock (on wifi)
1x CCTV (on wifi)

Only few things I'm not really happy about -

i) The smart lock doesn't record any exit events, only entry. So if you want to do some exit automation like switch off all the lights etc you have to figure out a workaround instead of relying on the lock. I just setup a tap-to-run automation and assign it as shortcut on the 4" panel. Or I just use Google Assistant.

ii) The CCTV doesn't reconnect to wifi if its disconnected from it. Lets say your wifi have issues or you just restarted your router, even if its up later the CCTV will remain disconnected. Have to force reboot it only will reconnect, and there's no way to reboot from the app

iii) Just realised this recently but I should've bought a standalone Zigbee hub instead of relying on the smart panel. If anything goes wrong its easier to replace compared to the smart panel. But so far still working fine... touch wood

That's all that I could think about. Haven't really dwell any deeper into the functionalities other than basic ones like scheduled turn on/off. Recently just added a temperature + humidity sensor and a scene switch. Thinking off getting some presence sensors to play around next maybe.

I saw you are using 3 gang Moes smart switches from the pic. I am currently using the same unit but I have problem where LED light will flicker whenever I adjust the fan speed (old school rotary knob regulator). When I use inductive device (i.e., drill, blender) it will also cause flickering to all LED light that uses this smart switches even light at the other room Since you are using 14 switches, is this happening to you? This behaviour is happening in 2 different houses (one with neutral connected, one without)

I saw you are using 3 gang Moes smart switches from the pic. I am currently using the same unit but I have problem where LED light will flicker whenever I adjust the fan speed (old school rotary knob regulator). When I use inductive device (i.e., drill, blender) it will also cause flickering to all LED light that uses this smart switches even light at the other room Since you are using 14 switches, is this happening to you? This behaviour is happening in 2 different houses (one with neutral connected, one without)

I think your problem is not with the smart switch but with the AC (Alternative Current) noise from your inductive load.

You either change the LED light to one with better handling of EMI or install EMI filter.

Like this, which is more effective but may post a challenge to you. 

Other option will be Ferrite core like this one .

It will suppress any AC noise to certain degree.

Thanks. But LED light will only flicker if it is in off state. If it was on, it will not flicker. I have tried adding capacitor in parallel with the LED but to no avail. I suspect the noise from the load is enough to pass through the switch and activate it for a short burst. Seeing my switch is solid state instead of relay based, it won't take much to trigger it.

1) any mini pc will do, you don’t really need high spec to run ha. I was using raspberry pi 2 6 years ago.
Try with your old laptop/pc and test it out

2) matter’s still not mature enough yet, there’s a bunch for matter over wifi but very few over thread
Sonoff dongle E can work for both zigbee & thread

3) ha -> main hub, works offline
Alexa > voice assistant, main hub is in the cloud (online only)
You can now diy your own smart şpeaker that works locally

1. You can use any cheap mini PC (old intel NUCs etc), people aim for power efficiency here since its 24/7 on.

2. Thread is not really "better" than Zigbee, its pretty much the same BUT they are trying to standardize with Matter. The thing is those are all radio waves, so usually there isnt any device that has compatibility for all types of protocols. You will see way more Zigbee products on the market hence why i would still recommend them, and since HA is what youre interested in, shouldnt even really care about "matter" because HA accepts pretty much everything. There are devices that do both thread and zigbee (Dongle E) again a thing to consider is that, you should commit to one over the other, your dongle sends and receives data but your devices like switches bulbs relays or whatever youre planning on getting need to also relay the signal to the next device and so on. Zwave pretty much forget about it larh, MY market penetration is super low and devices are usually much more expensive.

3. HA (ignore "Green" thats just the physical device) is the brains of everything, everything should go to it and if you want to use other platforms, it should come out from it. So my case, i have HA, everything goes into it, zigbee wifi stuff, energy meter readings etc BUT i use Homekit Home app to interface with the switches, so i set it up on HA to bridge stuff into Homekit. I have also done the same for Alexa because i have their speakers just for announcements but i bridges the switches etc there as well just in case someone wants to say Alexa turn on this or whatever. So usually Echo is supposed to be the brains of an Alexa home (with Amazon cloud doing heavy lifting) BUT in homes of people that have HA, its merely a device to interface with the switches or devices that are already in HA if you get what i mean.

okay, now i am more clearer to start for HA in my new house reno. continue my questions:

1) Starter pack for the brain HA, what is the good mini pc you can suggest?
mini pc which i think most energy saving is running on arm based?
but articles said better HA do with x86 based. is that true?
again i dont mind to buy a new mini pc, no need to buy old pc or 2nd hand pc, as long as it can save 5star energy savings and stable will do, since need to on at 24/7.
my help here is can you suggest maybe 1 or 2 or just paste a shopee link here i will buy it!

2) ok, ques#1 above will settle for brain. now the second is dongle E.
is Dongle E is the best that cover most protocols?
i dont mind if spend more for dongle, as 1 usb slot on mini pc can settle all my near future worries on signals, where i havent decide my switches, cameras, sensor signal type yet.
what im asking help here is just suggest me maybe 1 or 2 that can cover "everything's dongle".
if Dongle E is the best, then i will buy it.

3) ok, i confused with alexa echo earlier. now i know it is also a brain not speaker interface.
so if i want to build a fully offline brain.
what speaker can you recommend? echo will be overpriced if i am not using it online mode, right?

4) i am not apple user, so big no to homekit.
i am using Samsung handphone for the past decades.
so i need to focus on what interface or plateform? can you name it so i can read it or google it?

5) why you mention thread is not any better than zigbee?
can you explain more? again im a newbie and open to learn
of course, to help ppl around after i success build my 1st smart home

6) stupid ques: im stay in condo, let say neighbour got HA also with zigbee, can neigbour add my zigbee switches to their HA and control them?

okay, now i am more clearer to start for HA in my new house reno. continue my questions:

3) ok, i confused with alexa echo earlier. now i know it is also a brain not speaker interface.
so if i want to build a fully offline brain.
what speaker can you recommend? echo will be overpriced if i am not using it online mode, right?

4) i am not apple user, so big no to homekit.
i am using Samsung handphone for the past decades.
so i need to focus on what interface or plateform? can you name it so i can read it or google it?

5) why you mention thread is not any better than zigbee?
can you explain more? again im a newbie and open to learn
of course, to help ppl around after i success build my 1st smart home

6) stupid ques: im stay in condo, let say neighbour got HA also with zigbee, can neigbour add my zigbee switches to their HA and control them?

okay, now i am more clearer to start for HA in my new house reno. continue my questions:

1) Starter pack for the brain HA, what is the good mini pc you can suggest?
mini pc which i think most energy saving is running on arm based?
but articles said better HA do with x86 based. is that true?
again i dont mind to buy a new mini pc, no need to buy old pc or 2nd hand pc, as long as it can save 5star energy savings and stable will do, since need to on at 24/7.
my help here is can you suggest maybe 1 or 2 or just paste a shopee link here i will buy it!

2) ok, ques#1 above will settle for brain. now the second is dongle E.
is Dongle E is the best that cover most protocols?
i dont mind if spend more for dongle, as 1 usb slot on mini pc can settle all my near future worries on signals, where i havent decide my switches, cameras, sensor signal type yet.
what im asking help here is just suggest me maybe 1 or 2 that can cover "everything's dongle".
if Dongle E is the best, then i will buy it.

3) ok, i confused with alexa echo earlier. now i know it is also a brain not speaker interface.
so if i want to build a fully offline brain.
what speaker can you recommend? echo will be overpriced if i am not using it online mode, right?

4) i am not apple user, so big no to homekit.
i am using Samsung handphone for the past decades.
so i need to focus on what interface or plateform? can you name it so i can read it or google it?

5) why you mention thread is not any better than zigbee?
can you explain more? again im a newbie and open to learn
of course, to help ppl around after i success build my 1st smart home

6) stupid ques: im stay in condo, let say neighbour got HA also with zigbee, can neigbour add my zigbee switches to their HA and control them?

Ok, i purchased a zigbee door lock with matching mortise for my dad’s door. Hope it arrives soon. should be quite easy to install. fingers crossed

1 year since moved in to my house, which is running full stock Tuya setup on Smart Life app connected to Google Home. Happy to report all components are still working fine so far.

1 x 4" smart panel with Zigbee hub
14 x Zigbee smart switches (by Moes)
3 x smart curtains (on wifi)
1x smart lock (on wifi)
1x CCTV (on wifi)

Only few things I'm not really happy about -

i) The smart lock doesn't record any exit events, only entry. So if you want to do some exit automation like switch off all the lights etc you have to figure out a workaround instead of relying on the lock. I just setup a tap-to-run automation and assign it as shortcut on the 4" panel. Or I just use Google Assistant.

ii) The CCTV doesn't reconnect to wifi if its disconnected from it. Lets say your wifi have issues or you just restarted your router, even if its up later the CCTV will remain disconnected. Have to force reboot it only will reconnect, and there's no way to reboot from the app

iii) Just realised this recently but I should've bought a standalone Zigbee hub instead of relying on the smart panel. If anything goes wrong its easier to replace compared to the smart panel. But so far still working fine... touch wood

That's all that I could think about. Haven't really dwell any deeper into the functionalities other than basic ones like scheduled turn on/off. Recently just added a temperature + humidity sensor and a scene switch. Thinking off getting some presence sensors to play around next maybe.

Can share what brand u use?

Hi panel you using why's brand? Can last more than 1 year is good.

Have you tried tuya presence sensor and door window sensors? I read online some have lag due to connect to China servers. Some say use zigbee sensors will faster. Does using zigbee make automation run in local instead of cloud?

Your smart lock using what brand? Is door lock right? Knob or mortise?

i might just encounter my first smart switch issue.... actually not sure is it the smart switch, wiring or the light itself

I have a downlight at my balcony controlled by a single gang zigbee smart switch, been using fine for 1 year+. today when I try to off it, the switch shows off (LED indicator is off and in app status is off as well) but the light continues to be on and its flickering slightly. What's the problem? I suspect it might not be the switch since it seems to still have control and the status are all correct?

Welcome to the club, smart switches is like this, that's why after opening a company, done own website & keep some stock, I decided not to proceed

the issue suddenly dissappear after 2 days lol

i still dont know which part is the problem, whether the switch, light or wiring

was planning to swap out the smart switch to a normal switch to test but the issue was gone suddenly