What types of smart devices do you feel are missing or lacking strong options? (UK/EU especially)

[Candeo_Smart]

Hi,

We're interested in getting the community’s take on this — are there any smart home devices you feel are either missing altogether, or where the current options just aren't good enough?

We’re especially interested in the UK/EU perspective, but keen to hear from everyone.

It could be anything you’ve had to make, import, or work around.

I’m with a smart home company (Candeo), and while we’re not here to pitch anything, we are looking to better understand what you would like to see on the market.

Any thoughts would be great,

Thanks.

[Sebastien]

I would love to see a small automated device that could open/close and lock/unlock casement windows.

This is in Canada, so not sure if the same types of windows can also be found in Europe.

[vitaliy_kh]

Since Home Aytomation in a current state is still DIY it will be nice to have some sort of Lego-style IO. For instance a Mother Board with ESP32 (WiFi/Matter) or Zigbee or Zwave brain and plug-in IO Modules such as (just to name few):

• Opto-isolated Input (for all wired buttons, switches, contacts, etc);
• Opto-isolated Output (electronic dry contact equvilent for low voltage, low current control);
• Relay;
• H-Bridge (for Axtuators, DC Motors);
• Verious Wired Sensors (Temp, Humidity, CO, CO2, etc.);

As of now and thanks to @ogiewon for Hubduino Project I am building number of Custom IO Controllers easely integrated with Hubitat. The complete projects are:

• Reverie Adjustable Bed Controller (local bed control vis RS232 Port). This replaced the original Reverie BT Module which was very unstable, frequenly disconnected and very hard to control from HE.
• Autoslide MODBUS Controller (replaced 3 Zigbee Relays);
• Kitchen Undersink Actuator Controoler for automating trash can door;
• Open Sesami swing door actuator controller (almost finished);

Plus few more to come soon.

[kkossev]

Even though I don't use any Candeo devices, I explored the HE forum and noticed that some devices are built on the Tuya platform. Unlike many other companies that merely resell Tuya-based gadgets, I was pleasantly surprised to find excellent driver support for Hubitat provided by Candeo!

This outstanding driver support deserves better advertising, so I'll promote it for you

Candeo HE drivers are available on GitHub at the following link:

GitHub - candeosmart/hubitat-zigbee

I asked ChatGPT for help summarizing the drivers available in this repository and their standard and unique features. I will post the results in a table in the next post.

P.S. I created the post below as a Wiki type, so it can be edited if any inconsistencies are found.

[kkossev]

Candeo Hubitat Drivers – Standard Capabilities and Custom Features

Device / Driver	Standard Capabilities	Custom Features / Functions
C-RFZB-SM1 Zigbee & RF Switch Module	Switch	Flash with timeout, Power-on state config, Command on hub restart
Modmote Scene Switch	Button	Supports push/double-tap/hold per button, debounce timer, configurable button count
C-ZB-SM205-2G 2-Gang Switch Module (L+N)	Switch (parent & child), Power/Energy/Voltage/Current Metering (parent)	Independent control per gang, flash per gang, master switch logic, power-on behavior per gang, hub restart action, input type config, tunable reporting
C-ZB-DM201-2G 2-Gang Dimmer Module	Dimmer (parent & child)	Independent dimming, per-gang power-on state, optional master on/off, hub sync
C-ZB-C202 / C202N Rotary Dimmer	Dimmer	Default dim level on power-on, power recovery behavior, rotary/push support, input type setting
C-ZB-C203 Dimmer Module	Dimmer	Power-on state config, improved reporting & transitions
C-ZB-DM204 Dimmer Module (L+N)	Dimmer, Power Meter	Live power/voltage/current/energy, power-on state, energy report tuning
C-ZB-C205 Switch Module	Switch	Power-on behavior, possible flash & switch input config
C-ZB-C210 Smart Dimmer Plug	Dimmer, Switch	Adjustable dimming speed, flash settings, power-on behavior, hub reboot action, optional input type
C-ZB-LC20 LED Controller	Varies by mode (Dimmer, Color, Color Temp)	Mode-specific control, accurate channel handling, color mix/tuning, smooth transitions, possibly flash
SEDC – Contact Sensor	Contact, Battery	Fixes pairing issues, reliable contact reporting
SEMO – Motion + Lux Sensor	Motion, Illuminance, Battery	Calibrated lux, proper motion clear behavior
SESO – Soil Moisture Sensor	Moisture (as humidity), Temperature, Battery	Parses soil moisture as usable value in Hubitat
SETE – Temp & Humidity Sensor	Temp, Humidity, Battery	Reliable pairing & readings
SEWA – Water Leak Sensor	Water (Wet/Dry), Battery	Correct leak detection, zone type fix
CSF1TZ Smart Irrigation Timer	Switch, Valve	Auto-close after X time, remaining timer display, water usage, weather delay, power-on/hub restart actions

[Ranchitat]

A ZigBee device that is nice and compact with connections for external wires to detect when a switch (dry contact) is closed/opened.

[kkossev]

I’ve been looking without success for an affordable Zigbee noise/sound sensor. A simple On/Off capability with a configurable threshold will be enough.

[John_Land]

A time of flight distance sensor, good to at least 3 to 5 m.

A cabinet switch with built-in Zigee radio, something like this:

[kkossev]

@John_Land

A time of flight distance sensor,

Or a simpler ToF counting sensor - these are very good alternative to the problematic mmWave sensors. Unfortunately, the model below is very difficult to source from Korea :

Aqara FP2 released

I am cross-posting here about another type of occupancy sensor that works perfectly in some specific environments ( one door only available for entry and exit from a room ) - ToF (Time of Flight) sensors. I''ve been using such one for almost about an year now with excellent results - actually less prone to errors in detecting room occupanyce than any mmWave sensor! If anyone else has any experience with similar ToF sensors, please comment in the thread above. This is how the ToF sensor loo…

[Candeo_Smart]

@kkossev

Thanks so much for the kind words, it really does mean a lot coming from you. We're well aware of the work you’ve done around Hubitat development, and some of us even use your drivers in our own setups.

At Candeo, we tend to focus on the kinds of products we’ve wanted in our own homes, which means we only want to put out products we’re genuinely confident in and know we can support properly.
Strong integration with the major smart home platforms is a big part of that.
I know we’ve got a few new products on the way that we’re particularly excited about.

We appreciate the support—and the shout-out!

[Candeo_Smart]

Wow — some of these ideas are things I’d never even considered or come across before. It really highlights just how versatile the smart home space could be — or maybe should be.

We’ll definitely be discussing all the suggestions internally to see if there are any we can potentially develop. I’ve already spent some time digging into a few of the ideas shared here and from other communities, just to explore what might be possible. I had to stop myself at one point — it’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole!

I’d genuinely love to see many of these devices come to life, as I can already think of ways I’d use them myself. But for now, we’ll see where the conversations take us.

Thanks again for all the input — and please do keep the ideas coming.

[bobbles]

How about non-neutral zigbee light switches. You do non-neutral dimmers.
I see you do kinetic switches but these need a receiver as far as I can tell.
Just a bog standard non-neutral zigbee light switch.
I cannot find anyone that does them.

EDIT: I better clarify nobody doing them. I mean a switch that is the same as the standard non-smart light switch that we use in the UK.

[velvetfoot]

I've been looking for an off the shelf z radio device that can measure high temperatures using a thermocouple.