New HomeKit Controller

So, with just one heat/cool unit, could you get by with only one thermostat and a remote sensor? In my scenario, to replace two older thermostats, one on the first floor and one on the second floor?
edit: I only have those two zones. It's a hydronic boiler unit. Thanks

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No.

HomeKit support was added with the second generation of the ecobee3 in 2014.

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Thank you. That all makes perfect sense. It is very much like Homekit Device in HA. Which is what I was hoping it would be. I use that a lot on the HA side. If I am misunderstanding please let me know.

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If you currently have two thermostats, then will need two new thermostats to replace them. The remote sensors cannot replace a thermostat.

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The quickest way to check if your thermostat is compatible with HomeKit, is to open the Ecobee app on a iOS device, then go to settings for a thermostat. If you see HomeKit listed under Integrations on the Main Menu, then you can add the thermostat to Hubitat via the new HomeKit Controller.

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To add to this, if you go to your settings directly on the ecobee, there is a place within there to enable homekit pairing that i think needs to be done as well.

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Also, you have to pay a bit more attention to hydronic boilers. I replaced a Nest with Ecobee and had to add a relay between the thermostat and the boiler. The Nest did not require the relay.

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I currently have a couple of Ecobee Smart SI's , so you would think they'd work.

This begs the question... I have a few FP2s that were found, as well as some Twinkly light strings. Is there a comprehensive list of devices that should be found via HomeKit Controller?

Anything that's on your network should be found; the bigger question is whether a driver would work with it. The available types are documented.

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Hubitat C8P told me that there was a homekit device it discovered. Turned out to be my Abode IOTA hub which I currently integrate through the Cloud API app. So thinking I could bypass the cloud I gave it a try. I could see the IOTA and functions broken out but not a single sensor was exposed. I could not see much of a use case going with Homekit limited as it is on Abode. So I backed out of it. Conclusion the new Homekit integration does not replace the current driver api cloud integration.

Anyone had success adding a Honeywell T6 thermostat through the new controller? It sees the device but I can't get it to add

Is this the right thermostat? I may my get hands on one to test it out.

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Yes it is. So what I am seeing is when I add it to homekit outside of Hubitat the thermostat displays a code for you to enter, it doesn't look like the process through Hubitat triggers the code generation on the thermostat.

Has anyone paired a Schlage BE499WB door lock (WiFi, Homekit compatible) using the new Homekit controller? I'm unclear on (1) whether that even works, and (2) exactly how to do it.

I'm trying to avoid unpairing my 3 locks from Homekit without knowing that a Hubitat alternative actually works (because pairing the locks back to Homekit is a PITA).

Also, if Hubitat Homekit Controller pairing DOES work, is battery level available to monitor in HE?

I figured you could join the hub into the existing "Home" as a controller and then bring in already paired devices, or is that not how it works?

That is how Matter Controllers work (I.e. multiple controllers, all working harmoniously.) However, HomeKit devices can only communicate with one HomeKit Controller, very similar to how Zigbee works. However, Apple Home does support multiple Apple Home “Hub” capable devices (e.g. multiple HomePods and/or Apple TVs). Only genuine Apple devices can perform the role of being an Apple Home “Hub”.

HE and HA hubs can both directly pair HomeKit over WiFi devices, as they emulate being a HomeKit Controller. But neither platform can join an Apple Home system. However, they can both share their devices via HomeKit to an Apple Home system. :wink:

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Ouch! My head hurts. :face_with_head_bandage:

Edit to add: Does anyone know of a graphic or website that describes all of this graphically? And maybe something that also incorporates zwave and/or zigbee as a contrast/comparison. There are a couple of excellent descriptions posted here recently, but I am still not able to wrap my head around this.

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For completeness - only one of the "Hub" capable devices can function as a Home hub at one time. The choice of device to use as a the hub can be automatic, or be chosen by the user via the Home app.

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No. I have a few Eufy cameras and added one just for testing to see what it would do. It looks like there isn't a good driver for it because it doesn't give you the ability to do anything.

I can not get the Ecobee Thermostat to pair fully. It says it paired fully but then it never shows up in devices.

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