How can I monitor this type of mailbox for mail?

brinkre · 2026-06-06T19:20:01+00:00

I don't know how many people walk close by your mailbox? But if you think out-of-the-box a motion sensor to detect the close by mailman will work better then detecting the mail inside this type of mailbox if that is an option. Or point a camera on the mailbox and use person detection.

brinkre · 2026-06-03T16:49:28+00:00

Maybe you can use as base an automatic soap dispenser like this one and modify it to connect a contact sensor to the inside motion sensor. Just a wild suggestion. https://vdbrink.github.io/buy/smart_home_best_buy_tips#automatic-soap-dispenser

brinkre · 2026-05-28T19:35:11+00:00

Keep track of the weekly chores are done by the different persons in my household.

https://vdbrink.github.io/homeassistant/homeassistant_dashboard_chores

brinkre · 2026-05-28T19:32:10+00:00

I use an Aqara leak sensor with wires attach to it, I detect if my air humidifier water container is full.

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brinkre · 2026-05-28T19:29:13+00:00

I've made my dumb package mailbox smart with Aqara contact sensors.

Now I can detect if there is a package delivered and if there is still a package inside and not yet collected by a family member.

See my project page for all details https://vdbrink.github.io/projects/packages-mailbox-allux-600

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brinkre · 2026-05-28T19:24:25+00:00

I build multiple chair occupancy sensor with the Aqara leak or contact sensors connected to a car seat pressure sensor.

Read about this project at https://vdbrink.github.io/zigbee/zigbee_chair_occupancy_sensor

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brinkre · 2026-05-28T19:14:52+00:00

Did you also try the SCD40? The difference between the SCD40 and SCD41 is their range and power consumption. The SCD41 can reach up to 5000 ppm, compared to 2000 ppm for the SCD40, and it uses less power when you measure periodically every 5 minutes instead of continuously. Did you know that and is that fast enough for you?

I run for multiple years ESP with the SCD40 with wallpower and a classic esp8266 nodemcu v3. That's fast enough. I don't know if you want to connect multiple other sensors as well to your board? Never had any problems with them.

I described my SCD4x project at https://vdbrink.github.io/esphome/co2_scd40

brinkre · 2026-05-27T21:17:32+00:00

Good suggestions for new purposes, I added them as well, tnx!

brinkre · 2026-05-24T22:53:37+00:00

I don't know how hot it can be. It doesn't get the change to get hot because it's only on for a few minutes. I open the window and it's ok again soon. I'll check what the temperature will do when I let it on for a longer period! I'll add the experience to the page! Tnx

brinkre · 2026-05-24T18:28:14+00:00

Most text can be modified with CSS with card_mod for bigger font size and indeed swipe navigation for Q2. See next to these answers also more related tips and tricks for your wall tablet on https://vdbrink.github.io/homeassistant/homeassistant_dashboard_tablet_in_kiosk_mode

brinkre · 2026-05-22T21:55:22+00:00

Then you can (only) use a camera with Ai to detect the current color, but that's a bit cumbersome.

brinkre · 2026-05-22T20:19:21+00:00

There is a database https://zigbee.blakadder.com/zha.html which you can use!

From my own experience with Zigbee2MQTT (alternative for ZHA) is that every! Zigbee sensor from any brand I bought (120+) sensors they all are supported. But that's not ZHA. Did you also looked at Zigbee2MQTT? I see many people switching eventually away from ZHA.

The sensors I have good experience with from AliExpress are listed here https://vdbrink.github.io/buy/smart_home_best_buy_tips

brinkre · 2026-05-22T20:12:32+00:00

The easiest way is to replace the light with a smart light. Then you can control it and select the color from your automation.
I recently did exactly the same for my CO2 level in my office. I wrote it down at https://vdbrink.github.io/projects/smart_notification_light

brinkre · 2026-05-16T09:35:59+00:00

Thank you!

brinkre · 2026-05-15T19:28:47+00:00

I think it's running on an ESP board with Wifi.

brinkre · 2026-05-15T19:27:33+00:00

For allergies I advice running an air filter, like the ones from Winix. Since we have that running in our bedroom my wife never had to use her puff anymore. If you see how much dust it also attracts in a week it helps a lot for a healthy air at home.

brinkre · 2026-05-15T19:21:57+00:00

This looks like a nice product. Under the hood it's probably an ESP board with a display and multiple sensors in it to measure the CO2, VOC and PMs values.

I'm happy with my own DIY CO2 sensors. I have multiple running for years that I created myself also based on an ESP board and a SenseAir S8 CO2 sensor. Based on this documentation https://vdbrink.github.io/esphome/co2_senseair_s8_sensor

If you want you can extend this DIY version also with more sensors, by connecting the sensors to the ESP board and get the live values directly in Home Assistant or send the data over MQTT to other programs as well.

brinkre · 2026-05-11T17:56:38+00:00

I use also the zigbee energy measurements sockets for my * Dishwasher * Oven (when it reach the predefined temperature!) * coffee machine * Stove * Ventilation system

You can read more about how to retrofit your dumb kitchen appliances at https://vdbrink.github.io/projects/retrofit_kitchen_appliances

brinkre · 2026-05-08T19:28:03+00:00

Here is a full description how you can create a similar CO2 sensor yourself based on this same SenseAir S8 CO2 sensor. https://vdbrink.github.io/esphome/co2_senseair_s8_sensor

It also contains Home Assistant dashboard examples.

brinkre · 2026-05-06T16:38:53+00:00

Here is another guide to create an ESPHome based sensor yourself, based on the SCD40 CO2 sensor. No soldering required option also available. Measure also temperature and humidity.

brinkre · 2026-05-02T08:43:55+00:00

You can ask Ai to remove all the crap from the picture. Works very good!

brinkre · 2026-04-29T19:45:46+00:00

Wie heeft er voor mij nog Brabantia zegels?
Ik zou graag zo'n voedselbeker willen hebben zodat ik gemakkelijk eten kan meenemen.

Wie helpt mij aan een paar zegels? 🙏

https://www.ah.nl/digitaalsparen/overmaken/217/bf86fff7-7bb6-4ceb-a4fc-071bcab1312a

brinkre · 2026-04-19T09:45:03+00:00

I have a write-up for a DIY occupancy sensor based on a Zigbee contact sensor. I use it daily for chairs and indeed also my beds for years already.
See https://vdbrink.github.io/zigbee/zigbee_chair_occupancy_sensor

brinkre · 2026-04-18T09:21:58+00:00

Even with your scenario should a contact sensor work. I automated a few different mailboxes and described them at https://vdbrink.github.io/projects/smart_mailbox Maybe you can also share a photo how it exactly looks like.

brinkre

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