Zigbee Smart home - Best Buy Tips

What is a smart home without digital ears and eyes? Sensors are the digital version of those.
With the sensor data, you can make conditions, act on it and control other devices.

On this page you’ll find the sensors, actuators, and other (Zigbee) home automation hardware I use in my own home and that has worked very reliably for me.

If you need some home automation inspiration, you can check my home automation ideas section!

NOTE 1: Almost all hardware links I show are devices I also use myself.
Most of the links are affiliate links, You pay the normal price and also support my blog a bit.

NOTE 2: I advise these products based on my personal experience.
I run my network with a CC2652 Zigbee adapter and Zigbee2MQTT.
With other hardware combinations it may not run with the same experience.

I’ve been ordering most of my smart home products from AliExpress for years now: good prices, reliable products that last for years, fast shipping (sometimes under a week), and a huge selection. When a product is also available on Amazon, I also added a link to it.
All the Amazon products are also bundled on these Amazon and Amazon NL pages.

What you need

A smart home is built in layers. Each layer needs its own hardware, and each one builds on the layer above it:

ServerWhere your automations run

Protocol + dongleHow devices talk to the server

Sensors and actuatorsThe eyes, ears and hands

Power and accessoriesBatteries, cables and adapters

1. Server

Everything starts with a local always-on computer, which runs your applications to control your home automations. It runs locally in your own home and it the brain of your home automations.

Which hardware to run Home Assistant on?

I explain which options are available and clarify common terms, so you can make a good choice.

2. Protocol and dongle

On the market, there are different protocols to create a smart home network, like Zigbee, Thread, WiFi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave and Matter. You can use different protocols next to each other. I chose one protocol: Zigbee (and some via wifi for ESPs).

What is Zigbee?

Zigbee is a low-power wireless mesh network for smart home devices. Every Zigbee device works in your network regardless of the manufacturer, locally and without the internet. A cheap dongle on your server is all you need to start.

Why I chose Zigbee →

Zigbee coordinator

The dongle (coordinator) connects your server with all the Zigbee devices. It’s the heart of your Zigbee network. In my setup, a Zigbee2MQTT instance on my home server talks via this stick to all my devices.

✓

My used dongleSlaesh's CC2652RB stick

Runs my Zigbee network non-stop since 2020 without any issue. My network has grown to 140+ devices, and it still runs fast.

Slae website | Zigbee2MQTT

PopularSonoff ZBDongle-E Plus

A coordinator that many people are very happy with.

AliExpress | Amazon US | Amazon NL | Zigbee2MQTT

Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZBT-2

From Nabu Casa, the makers of Home Assistant. A dongle with Zigbee or Thread support.

Home Assistant Connect

✓

Improve rangeUSB-A extension cable

To avoid interference with Bluetooth or WiFi, move the stick away from the server. This is recommended for every stick.

AliExpress | Amazon US | Amazon NL

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3. Sensors and actuators

Now your network is ready, you can add devices. Sensors give your server information, actuators like lights and sockets act on it. This is the hardware I advise, mostly based on my personal experience with it. Click on a type to see my favorites.

Contact sensor

Detect open and closed doors, windows and drawers.

Motion sensor

Trigger lights and alerts when someone moves.

Presence detection sensor

Detect people, even when they sit still.

Pressure sensor

Detect weight on a chair, bed or mat.

Temperature sensor

Temperature and humidity for every room.

Air quality sensor

Measure CO2, VOC and other air quality values.

Light intensity sensor

Measure daylight to switch lights at the right moment.

Leak sensor

Get warned about water leaks early.

Smoke detector

Get alerted at the first sign of smoke.

Vibration sensor

Detect vibrations, shocks and knocks.

Plant soil sensor

Know when your plants need water.

Lights

Bulbs, GU10 spots and LED strips.

Buttons

Wall switches, dimmers and portable buttons.

Smart socket

Switch any plugged-in device and measure its power.

Power strip

Several smart sockets in one strip.

USB adapter switch

Switch USB powered devices on and off.

Infrared remote control

Control infrared devices, like an AC or TV, from automations.

Radiator thermostat

Heat only the rooms and moments that need it.

Smart curtains

Open and close your curtains automatically.

Outdoor sensors

There are also outdoor sensors and actuators available, like water-resistant sockets, lights, rain sensors and even a weather station. Find here a set of preselected devices for your garden or garden room.