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Home Assistant Integration#

Learn how to connect n8n with Home Assistant for smart home automation, IoT monitoring, and advanced workflow integration.

🎯 What You'll Build#

A comprehensive Home Assistant integration that: - Monitors smart device states and changes - Triggers automations based on sensor data - Sends notifications and controls devices - Integrates with external services and APIs - Creates complex multi-step automation scenarios

πŸ“‹ Requirements#

  • Home Assistant instance running
  • Home Assistant API access (Long-lived access token)
  • n8n instance running
  • Smart devices connected to Home Assistant

πŸ”§ Workflow Overview#

View workflow file

Key Components#

  1. Home Assistant Trigger - Monitors state changes
  2. Device State Parser - Extracts sensor and device data
  3. Condition Logic - Determines when to trigger actions
  4. Action Executor - Controls devices and sends notifications
  5. External Integrations - Connects to other services

πŸ“ Step-by-Step Guide#

1. Configure Home Assistant API#

  1. Generate Long-lived Access Token: - Go to Home Assistant > Profile - Scroll down to "Long-lived access tokens" - Create new token and save it securely

  2. Enable API access: - Ensure default_config is in your configuration.yaml - Verify API is accessible from your n8n instance

  3. Test API connection: 

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    curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     http://your-home-assistant:8123/api/states

2. Set Up Home Assistant Trigger#

  1. Add Home Assistant Trigger node
  2. Configure connection: - URL: Your Home Assistant instance URL - Access Token: Your long-lived token
  3. Select trigger type: - State Changed: Monitor specific entity changes - Time Pattern: Trigger at specific times - Webhook: Custom webhook events

3. Monitor Device States#

Temperature Monitoring#

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// Process temperature sensor data
if ($json.entity_id === 'sensor.living_room_temperature') {
  const temperature = parseFloat($json.new_state.state);
  const previousTemp = parseFloat($json.old_state.state);

  return {
    entity: 'living_room_temperature',
    current_temp: temperature,
    previous_temp: previousTemp,
    change: temperature - previousTemp,
    timestamp: $json.last_changed
  };
}

Motion Detection#

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// Handle motion sensor events
if ($json.entity_id === 'binary_sensor.motion_sensor_1') {
  const motionDetected = $json.new_state.state === 'on';

  return {
    entity: 'motion_sensor_1',
    motion: motionDetected,
    timestamp: $json.last_changed,
    location: 'hallway'
  };
}

Door/Window Sensors#

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// Monitor door and window sensors
if ($json.entity_id.startsWith('binary_sensor.door_')) {
  const isOpen = $json.new_state.state === 'on';
  const doorName = $json.attributes.friendly_name;

  return {
    entity: $json.entity_id,
    door_name: doorName,
    is_open: isOpen,
    timestamp: $json.last_changed
  };
}

🏠 Automation Scenarios#

Climate Control Automation#

  1. Temperature-based Control 

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    // Smart thermostat control
if (data.current_temp > 25 && data.entity === 'sensor.living_room_temperature') {
  return {
    service: 'climate.set_temperature',
    entity_id: 'climate.living_room_thermostat',
    temperature: 22,
    hvac_mode: 'cool'
  };
}

  2. Energy-saving Mode 

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    // Turn off devices when away
if ($json.entity_id === 'person.home' && $json.new_state.state === 'not_home') {
  return [
    {
      service: 'light.turn_off',
      entity_id: 'all_lights'
    },
    {
      service: 'climate.turn_off',
      entity_id: 'all_climate_devices'
    },
    {
      service: 'media_player.turn_off',
      entity_id: 'all_media_players'
    }
  ];
}

Security and Safety#

  1. Intruder Detection 

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    // Alert when motion detected while away
if (data.motion && !isSomeoneHome()) {
  return {
    service: 'notify.mobile_app',
    message: `🚨 Motion detected in ${data.location}!`,
    title: 'Security Alert',
    data: {
      priority: 'high',
      ttl: 0
    }
  };
}

  2. Smoke/Fire Detection 

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    // Emergency response for smoke detection
if ($json.entity_id === 'binary_sensor.smoke_detector' && $json.new_state.state === 'on') {
  return [
    {
      service: 'notify.all_devices',
      message: 'πŸ”₯ SMOKE DETECTED! Evacuate immediately!',
      title: 'EMERGENCY'
    },
    {
      service: 'light.turn_on',
      entity_id: 'all_lights',
      brightness: 255
    },
    {
      service: 'switch.turn_on',
      entity_id: 'switch.alarm_siren'
    }
  ];
}

Energy Management#

  1. Peak Hour Optimization 

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    // Reduce energy consumption during peak hours
const currentHour = new Date().getHours();
const isPeakHour = currentHour >= 18 && currentHour <= 22;

if (isPeakHour) {
  return {
    service: 'climate.set_temperature',
    entity_id: 'climate.air_conditioner',
    temperature: 26, // Higher temp during peak hours
    hvac_mode: 'cool'
  };
}

  2. Solar Power Integration 

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    // Use solar power when available
if ($json.entity_id === 'sensor.solar_power_generation') {
  const solarPower = parseFloat($json.new_state.state);
  const homeConsumption = parseFloat($json.state.sensor.home_energy_consumption.state);

  if (solarPower > homeConsumption) {
    // Use excess solar power for beneficial loads
    return {
      service: 'switch.turn_on',
      entity_id: 'switch.water_heater'
    };
  }
}

πŸ“± Notifications and Alerts#

Multi-channel Notifications#

  1. Mobile Push Notifications 

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    {
  service: 'notify.mobile_app_your_phone',
  message: 'Home automation triggered',
  title: 'Smart Home Alert',
  data: {
    entity_id: $json.entity_id,
    state: $json.new_state.state,
    priority: 'normal'
  }
}

  2. Email Notifications 

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    {
  to: '[email protected]',
  subject: 'Home Assistant Alert',
  text: `Event detected: ${$json.entity_id}\nNew state: ${$json.new_state.state}\nTime: ${$json.last_changed}`
}

  3. Telegram Notifications 

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    {
  chat_id: 'your_chat_id',
  text: `🏠 Smart Home Alert\n\nDevice: ${$json.attributes.friendly_name}\nState: ${$json.new_state.state}\nTime: ${new Date($json.last_changed).toLocaleString()}`
}

Rich Notifications#

  1. Image Attachments 
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    // Send camera snapshot with notification
if ($json.entity_id === 'binary_sensor.doorbell') {
  return {
    service: 'notify.mobile_app',
    message: 'Someone is at the door!',
    title: 'Doorbell Alert',
    data: {
      image: '/api/camera.door_front_camera/proxy_stream',
      entity_id: 'camera.door_front_camera'
    }
  };
}

🌐 External Service Integration#

Weather-based Automation#

  1. Weather API Integration 
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    // Get weather data and adjust home settings
const weatherResponse = await httpGet('https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?q=your_city&appid=your_api_key');
const weather = JSON.parse(weatherResponse.body);

if (weather.main.temp > 30) {
  // Turn on fans and AC
  return {
    service: 'climate.turn_on',
    entity_id: 'climate.living_room_ac',
    temperature: 22
  };
}

Calendar Integration#

  1. Google Calendar Events 
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    // Prepare home based on calendar events
const events = await getGoogleCalendarEvents();
const hasImportantMeeting = events.some(event =>
  event.summary.toLowerCase().includes('meeting') &&
  isToday(event.start.date)
);

if (hasImportantMeeting) {
  return {
    service: 'scene.turn_on',
    entity_id: 'scene.meeting_ready'
  };
}

E-commerce Integration#

  1. Smart Shopping 
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    // Order supplies when running low
if ($json.entity_id === 'sensor.toilet_paper_level' &&
    parseFloat($json.new_state.state) < 20) {

  return {
    service: 'notify.mobile_app',
    message: 'Toilet paper running low. Order more?',
    title: 'Shopping Reminder',
    data: {
      actions: [
        {
          action: 'URI',
          title: 'Order Now',
          uri: 'https://shopping-site.com/toilet-paper'
        }
      ]
    }
  };
}

πŸ“Š Data Analytics and Reporting#

Energy Consumption Tracking#

  1. Daily Energy Report 
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    // Generate daily energy consumption report
const today = new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0];
const energyData = await getEnergyData(today);

const report = {
  date: today,
  total_consumption: energyData.total,
  by_device: energyData.devices,
  cost: calculateCost(energyData.total)
};

// Save to Google Sheets
await appendToSheet('Energy Log', report);

// Send summary
return {
  service: 'notify.mobile_app',
  message: `Daily energy report: ${report.total_consumption} kWh, ΰΈΏ${report.cost}`,
  title: 'Energy Summary'
};

Device Usage Analytics#

  1. Track Device Usage Patterns 
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    // Analyze device usage over time
const usageData = analyzeDeviceUsage($json.entity_id, '7d');

return {
  device: $json.attributes.friendly_name,
  usage_hours: usageData.totalHours,
  most_active_time: usageData.peakHour,
  efficiency_score: calculateEfficiency(usageData)
};

πŸ§ͺ Testing and Debugging#

Test Scenarios#

  1. Manual Testing - Use Home Assistant Developer Tools to trigger state changes - Test with different device types and values - Verify webhook delivery to n8n

  2. Automated Testing 

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    // Create test data
const testData = {
  entity_id: 'sensor.test_temperature',
  old_state: { state: '20' },
  new_state: { state: '25' },
  last_changed: new Date().toISOString()
};

// Run workflow with test data
await workflowTrigger(testData);

Debug Tools#

  1. Home Assistant Logs - Check home-assistant.log for API errors - Monitor webhook delivery status - Review entity state changes

  2. n8n Execution History - Review incoming payload data - Check HTTP request responses - Monitor conditional logic execution

πŸ” Troubleshooting#

Common Issues#

Connection Problems - Verify Home Assistant URL is accessible from n8n - Check firewall settings between n8n and Home Assistant - Validate access token permissions - Ensure SSL certificate is valid

State Changes Not Detected - Check entity monitoring configuration - Verify entity exists and is functional - Review trigger node settings - Check for rate limiting

Service Calls Fail - Verify service names and entity IDs - Check device availability - Review service documentation - Test service in Home Assistant UI

Performance Issues - Optimize webhook handling - Reduce unnecessary triggers - Implement proper error handling - Monitor resource usage

πŸ›‘οΈ Security Considerations#

Network Security#

  • Use HTTPS for all communications
  • Implement proper firewall rules
  • Secure API access with strong tokens
  • Regularly rotate access tokens

Data Privacy#

  • Minimize personal data collection
  • Implement data retention policies
  • Secure data transmission and storage
  • Comply with privacy regulations

πŸŽ“ Advanced Features#

Machine Learning Integration#

  • Predictive maintenance for appliances
  • Anomaly detection in energy usage
  • User behavior pattern recognition
  • Adaptive automation based on habits

Voice Assistant Integration#

  • Google Assistant routines
  • Amazon Alexa skills
  • Custom voice commands
  • Natural language processing

Multi-location Management#

  • Monitor multiple properties
  • Centralized dashboard
  • Cross-location automation
  • Unified reporting

Related Tutorials: - Form Submission - Learn form handling basics - Email Notifications - Email integration guide

Resources: - Home Assistant API Documentation - n8n Home Assistant Integration - Home Assistant Community