Hubitat Dashboard App for Amazon Echo or dedicated Dashbord tablet

[andy-e]

An Amazon Fire tablet also has the advantage that it can double up as an Alexa device, for less than an Echo device.

[marktheknife]

@hotarobin

Alternatively, Hubitat could make an inexpensive dedicated tablet-like device to mount on the wall which has the sole purpose of presenting the Dashboard..

Anything is possible, but there’s nothing to suggest they would ever do this.

If you use the Hubitat Alexa skill, it’s possible to turn lights on and off with an echo show device by using the touch screen.

[thebearmay]

Get Hubitat dashboard on echo show

It’s even easier than that. Just say “Alexa, open firefox”. It will respond “here’s firefox”, and open your browser. You can pin the dashboard and then move it so it’s at the top of the recent‘s for easy access. You can also do this with a routine. Just create an Alexa Routine so that when you say your custom phrase ( mine is Alexa, open dashboard), it will open Firefox. I have my ambient weather dashboard pinned in Firefox too. So this makes an easy to remember phrase for the family that will …

[hotarobin]

thanks..

[hotarobin]

I really like that!! It looks great and professional!! Wow!

Can you tell me of all of the components you used to build that and the source?

Thanks in advance..

[hotarobin]

I already control all devices in my house with Alexa but we have to appreciate that not everyone wants to have to rely on Alexa to do everything..

Also, it's not always convenient to use Alexa i.e. when the Internet is down; when you have a social event at your home and folks are talking and music is playing in the background.. I can go on..

[hotarobin]

this is an interesting approach..I will look into this..

thanks!!

[marktheknife]

This thread has a ton of dashboard ideas, including some discussion of hardware and mounting:

Show Off Your Dashboards!

We would love to see what you are doing with Hubitat Dashboard (or any other dashboard solution integrated with Hubitat). Feel free to post screen shots, videos, etc. of what you are doing with dashboards, how you are using them and what your plans for the future are. Sharing what you are doing can help inspire others to do the same. If you want to even share your dashboard layout which will include any custom colors, backgrounds, rows, and columns, you can paste in the layout json file. Thi…

[hotarobin]

thanks very interesting thread..

[wayne.pirtle]

Thank you for the compliment @hotarobin. What you couldn't see is the outlet I mounted behind the tablet to charge it.

Here is the list of primary parts I used:

• 3 in. x 2 in. x 2-1/2 in. 1-gang electrical box
• Eaton RF9605 Z-wave outlet (Lowes)
• UGREEN USB C Cable 2 Packs Type C Cable 18W Fast Charging USB A to USB C Cable Right Angle
• Carlon 2-Gang Low-Voltage Mounting Bracket
• Brush Wall Plate
• Combination Decorator/Blank wall plate
• Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet
• VidaMount On-Wall Tablet Mount - Amazon Fire HD10 7th/9th Gen - White (2017-2019)

Here is a link to the wall mount.

Yes, it is expensive, but it mounts easy, holds the tablet securely, and looks great. I looked at the others I found on Amazon and elsewhere. There were 3D printed and looked like it. Really rough. I strained over the cost for several weeks (months?). I finally succumed to making sure my SAF was as high as possible. It was a great choice. Very high SAF.

The right angle cable is another place you can get in trouble if you aren't careful. A lot of the right angle USB C cables I found are specifically for charging laptops. They have special circuitry in them to ensure the source is providing sufficinet wattage (based on voltage) to charge the laptop.These won't work at 12 V and below. Look for one that is for charging a cell phone. Here is a link to the one I used.

I used the Eaton Z-wave outlet because I have chosen to use all Eaton Z-wave dimmers and switches. I bought this from Lowes (or was it Ebay? )We all like the UI of the Eaton devices. You can use what ever you have chosen either Zigbee or Z-wave. The improtant part is to power the charger from a controllable outlet so you can create a rule to turn the charger off periodically so the tablet battery doesn't get over charged. Over charging will reduce the battery life. This is important because you may choose to use it as a general purpose tablet again.

The remaining items plus miscellaneous wire and screws I bought at Home Depot.

Here are some more picture of the installation.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[hotarobin]

wow thanks for that comprehensive response...very much appreciated!!

Because of your and other responses on this thread, I went from concept to pre-production in less than 24 hrs. I remembered that I have a Fire HD 7 which I hardly ever used..I was able to install the Hubitat Dashboard app and not, just like you, I am scratching my head about that VidaMount

..but I really want a finish like yours so I will bite the bullet and go with it.

That is useful info on the power aspect. In my research, I saw that most folks used outlets with USB ports to power their devices but I prefer the smart outlet option you used and will also go that route as well.

Once again thanks much!!

[sburke781]

@hotarobin

Because of your and other responses on this thread, I went from concept to pre-production in less than 24 hrs

Exactly the reason I enjoy this forum so much. Although I have not had much experience in many other similar forums in order to compare, my experience here has been entirely positive with regards to finding solutions to my problems or desires to expand my HA setup. Great to hear you have had a similar experience @hotarobin, and to @wayne.pirtle and others who helped @hotarobin.

I would encourage others to share the details of their setup for others to learn from and potentially copy. It can also prompt useful discussion amongst other Community members, it doesn't always need to be sparked by those with a question...

[gtracy]

I have four Amazon fire 8 inch tablets that are about to go into service running HE. I have chosen a slightly different approach to powering mine.
I am feeding them with POE to a 5 volt converter. My POE source is a managed switch with switchable POE.
Rather than rooting my tablets I will simply write a rule that will shut off the POE to them periodically and prevent the batteries from overcharging.
While this is not a feedback scenario, it will serve the purpose for the interim. Later I will put software on the tablets that monitors the state of charge and hold it at the 45% level where lithium batteries are most happy.
Finally, I am very impressed with this installation. I haven't looked at Eaton switches but I will now. Might use them in other applications.
Thanks for posting.

[gtracy]

@wayne.pirtle

Eaton RF9605 Z-wave outlet

One quick question is what charger are you using?
Thanks.

[wayne.pirtle]

I am using the charging block that came with the Fire tablet. I purchased a USB cable with a right angle connector for the tablet. The charging block is plugged into the controlled outlet of the Eaton RF9605 duplex outlet. Here are a few more pictures showing the cable and final installation.

This is the previous generation Fire tablet. VidaMount is not going to make a wall mount for the 2021 Fire HD10. I spoke to one of their sales staff. He said there isn’t enough interest to justify the cost of tooling up for it. Most of their sales are to businesses, and they usually choose one of the other Android tablets. He did say he knew some customers had purchased the existing wall mount and made the minor modifications (cuts and fills) to allow it to hold a 2021 tablet. I have one I am going to do that to for another location in my house. If you are interested, feel handy, and find one of the wall mounts for sale snap it up and have fun. They are probably hard (impossible?) to find now. VidaMount was blowing them out a few months ago.

EDIT: Notice the modification I made to the wall plate around the brushes so the cord can lay flatter.

[diegodelprat]

How do you manage hubitat for the amazon tablet? by google chrome?

[wayne.pirtle]

I use Fully Kiosk. There is a build specifically made for the Fire tablets. There is a Filly Kiosk driver for Hubitat. From that driver I can see the battery level of the tablet. I have a Rule Manager rule to torn off the outlet at 100% battery, and on at 20% battery.

[gtracy]

So now you have prompted some more questions....
Did you mount the Eaton switch inside the wall in a box?
Also where did you get the brushes? I have been looking for something like that for quite a while.
Thanks.

[wayne.pirtle]

Yes, the outlet is installed in a switchbox in the wall. If you look at my first pictures up at post 16 you can see the outlet in the wall. I bought the brushes on Amazon. There are lots of options there.

Have fun!