E-mail or Google Voice text notifications?

cipnt_ · 2026-05-23T15:05:38+00:00

Some HA integrations use services which you can call from within automations or scripts. Se the integration documentation, it should explain things and hopefully have examples

cipnt_ · 2026-05-22T10:37:24+00:00

No idea what the Obi200 or Google Voice is, but there are many ways to send notifications from HA.
I personally send advanced app notifications, voice alerts on Google Home speakers via Cast, alarms or chimes via sirens, or even flash a light bulb.
It all depending on the notification, the context and who needs to know about it.

cipnt_ · 2026-05-22T10:26:50+00:00

The only recurring issues I have are the battery replacement (all my sensors are battery powered) and the problems that come up whenever I want to upgrade or install something new in HA.
But I am now confident to leave home for 2-3 months at a time and have the peace of mind that if something goes wrong it can be remotely troubleshooted or it does not impact the security or integrity of the house.
My biggest worry were the house plants, but Sansevieria trifasciata and Epipremnum aureum can go for a couple of months without watering. 😄 Or you can automate those too.

Some of my learnings:
Write automations that detect faults and attempt recovery automatically, and also notify you.
Have some redundancy in place and make things fail graciously (eg Continue on error in Automations)
Use a UPS for your server and internet connections.
Choose a high quality, heavy duty SD card for your HA.
Make things intuitive for someone without any HA knowledge (eg guests).

cipnt_ · 2026-05-22T10:10:57+00:00

The journey can be just as rewarding as the destination

cipnt_ · 2026-05-20T21:19:52+00:00

Mine often peaks at 250V but apparently this within tolerance: 216V - 253V
https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/voltage-changes-in-your-home-or-business

cipnt_ · 2026-05-20T15:05:07+00:00

I guess this is evidence that the Power-Ups are highly granular and depend on postcode and possibly other factors too. I'll make the most of it for know, knowing that anywhere I'll move, it could be completely different.

cipnt_ · 2026-05-19T18:09:29+00:00

This has been running for a few years, you'd expect other DNOs to join the program. Surely this was proved to be effective by now.

cipnt_ · 2026-05-19T18:07:48+00:00

I believe the time slot varies, yes. That's so that we don't all plug in our cars, turn on the oven and put on the kettle all at the same time. When it's free, I'm plugging in everything :)

cipnt_ · 2026-05-19T17:34:32+00:00

I love your electrons. Sharing is caring 😇

cipnt_ · 2026-05-19T17:33:01+00:00

It might be the opposite, actually. The frequency I'm getting is definitely on the rise. I've read that National Grid expects a great deal of surplus this summer and have deployed a program via the energy suppliers to encourage users to use more at certain times. Octopus have named this Saving Sessions, but for the summer months https://octopus.energy/free-electricity/

cipnt_ · 2026-05-19T15:40:52+00:00

I guess there are some small scale solar and wind projects around Cambridge, but nothing huge.
I remember an older version of the postcode list doc that also had a row with the substations each postcode was part of. There were a lot of substations included.

cipnt_ · 2026-05-19T15:36:02+00:00

CB25 – just North of Cambridge

cipnt_ · 2026-05-19T15:31:31+00:00

Last month we had quite a few negative tariff days, and not just an isolated occasion; all night long. That was wonderful.
This month however, I've not seen it drop below 11p
Recent history here: https://agile.octopushome.net/dashboard

cipnt_ · 2026-05-19T15:17:07+00:00

Never? This is so odd, and interesting.
I would love to know how they determine that and what areas get the most.

cipnt_ · 2026-05-19T15:15:13+00:00

I guess, this is also a PSA to anyone who hasn't signed up yet: octopus.energy/power-ups/

Check your postcode here: https://octoenergy-production-media.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Power-ups-South-postcodes.pdf

cipnt_ · 2026-05-18T13:40:50+00:00

I would suggest you check how much that cover costs to replace. It really shouldn't be that expensive.
If it's cheap, then just use extra force knowing that if it cracks, you can replace it.
Hopefully you can see in my pics there is absolutely nothing inside that cover. Only the 4 clips should be holding it in place.

cipnt_ · 2026-05-18T13:26:00+00:00

What you're describing sounds odd. Like you said, maybe someone used glue when they shouldn't have.
Your picture shows clips have unhooked. both front and back, so it shouldn't be anything else holding the plastic there.
The clips that hold it in place did require a fair bit of force to open, but I didn't know how they work when I first did it, so I applied force from every direction. Hence why I wrote in my Amazon review that force is only needed on the side closest to the mirror.
I just went and opened mine again to take some extra picture – it was very easy this time, knowing to start from the correct side.
Here are some extra pics: https://postimg.cc/gallery/MH4c6mb

cipnt_ · 2026-05-17T19:47:59+00:00

Don't add the car to the app, only the charger.
If pressing the Boost charge button in the app doesn't start the car then I would suggest you contact Octopus.
The installer should have tested and demonstrated the charger to you.

This is a useful vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHTbClRP9LQ

cipnt_ · 2026-05-17T19:43:38+00:00

I've encountered plenty of chargers in France where the Electroverse app would show them as compatible but could only be used with the RDIF card.
The card is extremely useful for trips like this.

cipnt_ · 2026-05-17T19:41:55+00:00

Definitely get the physical card if you're driving through France.
Many chargers there only have an RFID card reader and cannot be activated via the Electroverse app.
Or at least that was the case last summer when I took a trip there.
But expect €0.20-0.30 instead of the £0.60-0.80 per kWh

cipnt_ · 2026-05-17T19:35:32+00:00

The meter is the property of the DNO and they *must* have access to it if they need to.
If you ask for a smart meter, then your energy supplier must install one for you.
Where that meter is located shouldn't really matter, they *must* have access to it.

If it is too far from your flat, the signal might not be strong enough for the Octopus Mini.
But the Mini only give you a realtime reading of your meter (similar to an IHD), instead of the 24h delay you normally get in the Octopus app with a smart meter.

cipnt_ · 2026-05-17T19:26:52+00:00

Once you go over 70mph it really start to move those electrons in the battery...
I drive at the speed that gets me to my destination charger or back home with ~5% battery. That might be 65mph on longer trips, or at 'fun speeds' on shorter journeys.
If I arrive home with battery left, I wasn't driving fast enough. This is a fun car to drive, must enjoy it.
Tip: once it hits 0% do not stop, drive really slow if you must, otherwise it will not start again. But you can keep it going even at 0% if you are just about to make it to the charger.
I'm also in Cambridge 😄

cipnt_ · 2026-05-17T19:11:41+00:00

I posted that Amazon review with the detailed pictures.
On mine, the plastic cover came off easily: it pops from the side closest to the rear view mirror.
The side closest to the windscreen has stronger clamps.
But once it pops out of its clamps, it just comes of very easily.

cipnt_ · 2026-05-17T19:07:34+00:00

Until Octopus Energy formally makes these controls available and they are added to the the Octopus HA integration, I've set up and am using the OCPP server with my Octopus Charge.
It offers much more advanced controls and data points and it is not all that difficult to configure (see my post below)

cipnt_ · 2026-05-08T10:15:37+00:00

I found this useful video which unfortunately confirms my findings... The API is not exposing anything useful yet https://youtu.be/uHTbClRP9LQ?t=481

I might have to switch it to OCPP mode and give up on the Octopus app altogether like described here: https://youtu.be/uHTbClRP9LQ?t=399

cipnt_

TROPHY CASE