Getting Started with Hubitat's Elevation Hub Q&A for Novices and Newbies (IMHO)

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Getting Started with Hubitat's Elevation Hub Q&A for Novices and Newbies (IMHO)

Q1 What can I use Hubitat's HE hub for?
A1 Along with additional acquired devices and sensors some examples - water leak and high water level detection, indoor lighting and scene control, outdoor flood light control,
indoor and outdoor home security using door and window contact sensors and motion detectors, access control front door or garage door, critical calendar event alerts,
USPS mail delivery, refrigerator/freezer cooling monitoring, sump pump monitoring and waterflood prevention, "outdoor" local critical weather alerts to name just a few examples.
Be sure to first use Hubitat's recommended, compatible devices and sensors for HE for best results. Keep in mind, you don't really need to automate or control your entire home - your choice. There are plenty of standalone devices and sensors well suited for the home without a hub.

Q2 What happens if my HE hub becomes defective or doesn't work?
A2 This is your worst case and you will lose all home reporting, automation, security & control!
The response time from Hubitat in Arizona is extremely quick for a hub turnaround.
You could also acquire an additional, inexpensive, HE hub "spare" and keep it running.
My extremely reliable solution, is to have several "different" hubs running and overlapping with similar programs. Technology changes constantly, for the better, and I rotate or upgrade my hubs every few years.

Q3 Should I always upgrade my HE hub to the latest HE software revision?
A3 Tricky question - read all the information about the upgrade and wait if the upgrade/fix does or doesn't apply to your application. Make sure you have your present application backed-up, just in case, BEFORE upgrading. Always check the upgrade for any obvious errors. I never had any problems upgrading to the next firmware revision.

Q4 Which is better HE radio - Zigbee(3) or Z-Wave+ ?
A4 It a matter of choice - for me, both are good. You probably need to have several, of the "same type" of devices/sensors to form a proper mesh for a large home. This forum community is also extremely helpful if you have and problems with any of these radios.

Q5 Are there any troubleshooting tools with Hubitat HE ?
A5 Look under "Settings". There are some excellent Zigbee and Z-Wave "radio" diagnostic and troubleshoot tools. Review all HE "settings" will help you keep your HE hub in top running condition.

Q6 How do I automate my devices and sensors?
A6 Just use the App "Basic Rule" or for more advanced control use the App "Rule Machine" version-5.1. There are also many "user" supplied Apps for specific device and sensor control.

Q7 How do I learn more about Hubitat HE?
A7 This community forum is a good start but you need to read, read and read a lot and ask questions to be proficient using the Hubitat HE hub. Be sure to use and read ALL the provided "documentation" from Hubitat.

Q8 What happens if I lose AC mains power?
A8 You will lose your internet router and HE's hub which means your home automation system will not be functional. One solution is to have the HE hub and internet router (if possible not required) on a small UPS. (Uninterrupted Power Supply) My solution is to have both an UPS and all critical devices and sensors on batteries. HE hub provides both Zigbee and Z-Wave radios for battery operated sensors and devices.
Note: Loss of AC mains, in most cases, is temporary and just waiting for power to be restored would/should be OK. Of course, you can always go with the more expensive back-up generator or solar energy route.
Note: Smart criminals and burglars will go for your AC Mains and router to escape early detection. I have a dummy, decoy router on display for the smart criminals. Criminals are on a time clock - try to slow them down and you might catch them in the act.
In my case, when all else fails "The Dog" will get them along with my video cams and cellular security.

Q9 Do I need an electrician for wiring devices and sensors?
A9 In most cases, it's plug and play. For 110 VAC and open wiring, for safety, you might want to consult with an electrician!
Note: AC power mains can kill! Also, voltages below 110 VAC can send you to the ER.

Care to add to this list for the Newbies?

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Just to comment on your A1, I don't think they want it to be recommended for anything to do with security. Lots of us do use it that way but they'd be in trouble if there was a break-in that circumvented a user rule, and it appeared the system had been sold on the basis of being good for security

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As @Inge_Jones indicated, this is not a recommended use of Hubitat. In fact, Hubitat Safety Monitor (HSM) displays the following text when it is opened:

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I have been corrected - Twice :wink: I use HE for a security warning system along with cellular wireless and video security cams. "The Dog" is my best security system!

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The HE can integrate with some systems allowing you to arm/disarm.. and maybe get info on certain devices which is still useful.

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As long as you understand, and convey to others, that this off-label use is entirely at the enduser's own risk.

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The same is true for health stuff - anything potentially medical or emergency related is better left to systems dedicated to it.. The power of HE in these areas is integration, information, and automation.

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If you mean zigbee 3.0, the hub is not zigbee 3.0 compliant. It uses the Zigbee Home Automation v1.2 profile. Zigbee 3.0 end devices will work just fine with Hubitat because the 3.0 spec requires backwards compatibility with ZHA 1.2.

There are several built-in apps that have a different focus from Basic Rules but are still much simpler to use than Rule Machone. Notifications, Hubitat safety monitor. button controller, thermostat scheduler all come to mind. As does Motion Lighting (a little more complex but less so than RM).

Is “The Dog” a dog? Or something else? The use of capitalization and quotes is confusing.

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I would add that if you are lured by the siren song of cheap HA devices over on Aliexpress and other sites choosing Zigbee 3 is recommended due to the supposed backwards compatibility.. (which doesn't always work as advertised shockingly).

One other very useful item is to install the community built "Hubitat Package Manager" app. Helps with installing and keeping community drivers/apps up to date..

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I need to clarify that this topic was written without any knowledge of Hubitat's avoidance in
using HE for home security. That's why I put (IMHO) in the topic title which means IN MY HUMBLE OPINION! :wink:

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I think we all understood that, no one is having a go at you :slight_smile:

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I'd echo @Inge_Jones 's point, don't take the comments re security personally. You have some of the longer serving and respected members of the Community providing their input on the topic, so take it as them offering some historical context and knowledge on how the system is best used, rather than any kind of personal attack.

Another thing to bear in mind, and this may not have been the motivation for those who have responded so far, is that the discussions here are public and can serve as research for new customers, so it is important to be mindful of that. Not to say we can't make claims that may turn out to be incorrect, more so that we should be accepting of those wanting to provide an accurate portrail of the uses for HE, both in terms of what the business have advertised and the practicalities of how the product can be used.

Anyway, I've probably laboured that point more than I needed to....

But ... I'd also add that a healthy discussion on points that you raised and seeing those challenged in some way can be just as constructive for new users

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Still wondering more about ”The Dog.” Cause right now I’m picturing something like this:

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:dizzy_face:

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Does it do security?

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So we incorporated this dope into HE... When my 4 year old opens his door after 7:30 and tries to escape, it sends a pushover message with the [H] tag to send a specialized alarm tone and a message that says "kid is escaping! Release the hounds" This one reacts to that tone and tracks the kid down no matter where in the house he is and pins him until we get there and put him back to bed. (This also has the added benefit of when he takes off, so does my other dog because he knows something fun is happening) As for intruders? Both my dogs would offer them a nice Port and a cigar then show them where the valuables are kept...

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Coming back to the original post....

In terms of general recommendations I would second @erktrek 's suggestion re HPM (don't let the BETA tag bother you... None of us do :slight_smile: ). As close to essential as you can come in my book... Probably a close tie with the Hub Info driver by @thebearmay....

Which leads onto your question about troubleshooting.... Alongside using Hub Info to assess and trigger automations based on memory and CPU usage or temperature, there are other built-in pages for looking at your Zigbee network, general device and app logs and resource usage statistics, plus others I have probably forgotten. There are also various Community apps and drivers that can help assess the availability of other hubs using PING, general device health and the status of your Internet connection.

I am all for making the introduction to home automation and in particular HE as easy as it can be. And can understand those who may see what can seem a lengthy read imposing in order to get something simple setup. I look at it another way..... There is a wealth of knowledge captured here. And to find that on your own can be daunting and not the best use of your time. But asking a question on the Community provides an opportunity to connect with people with a similar interest and setup. It also keeps those topics current on the Community, indicating to those that look for those things that people are still interested in those devices or services.

Simon

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And if you ever feel overwhelmed, just look at @rlithgow1 's dog, who can feel stressed looking at them :slight_smile:

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You may also want to be careful about recommendations on electrical work. Some countries have quite strict requirements on the use of electricians, whether it be for the safety of the home-owner considering dabbling, or for insurance purposes, i.e. insurance companies not paying out on insurance if fixtures that cause a fire are not installed by a qualified electrician.

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Are you saying I can't install a molded switch/outlet in a power receptable?

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Depends on country. In the US some states/cities/counties/twp's have their own rules. For instance Where I live only the homeowner or a licensed electrician may install a switch or an outlet. A handyman or the like cannot. Yet where I lived in NJ, only an electrician legally was allowed to install either. This goes for other countries as well.

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