ErikdeVries.com
ErikdeVries.com

ErikdeVries.com

Technology, photography and more...

Cheap and easy way to convert dumb wall mounted light switches into smart switches

Home Automation

Cheap and easy way to convert dumb wall mounted light switches into smart switches

Nowadays I only use smart lights across my house. The result is that I cannot use my old wall switches to turn them on or off. In this blog I modify a cheap Aqara door sensor to function as a smart wall mounted switch.

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Receive a notification when the washing machine completes its cycle

Home Automation

Receive a notification when the washing machine completes its cycle

Never again forget to take wet clothes out of the washing machine! I demonstrate how to install and configure a Shelly PM Mini Gen3 energy meter and configure Home Assistant to deliver notifications to your phone.

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DIY Color E-Ink Picture Frame

Development

DIY Color E-Ink Picture Frame

I recently build a DIY picture frame by integrating a 5.7" color e-ink display with a Raspberry Pi Zero W. I housed it inside an affordable IKEA frame and wrote some Python code to transform it into a fully functional digital picture frame.

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Home Assistant Operating System (OS) on Synology NAS

Home Automation

Home Assistant Operating System (OS) on Synology NAS

The recommended installation method for Home Assistant is using their Operating System (OS). This blog explains how to use Virtual Machine Manager to get started with Home Assistant Operating System (OS) on your Synology NAS.

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Use the Apple Watch to geotag your (DSLR) photos

Photography

Use the Apple Watch to geotag your (DSLR) photos

Some (DSLR) cameras don't have built-in GPS. If you want to geotag your photos, you usually have to purchase a separate GPS module or connect to your phone. There is an alternative by using the workout data from your Apple Watch.

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Automate ComboFan S mechanical ventilation with Home Assistant

Home Automation

Automate ComboFan S mechanical ventilation with Home Assistant

My home is equipped with a Zehnder ComboFan S for mechanical ventilation. With a few steps you can connect it with Home Assistant to optimize ventilation and achieve a healthier climate.

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Improve your sleep quality with white noise and Home Assistant

Health

Improve your sleep quality with white noise and Home Assistant

Many factors can result in poor sleep quality, of which environmental noise is a common one. I use Home Assistant automations along with a Google Nest Mini and Withings Sleep Analyzer to improve my sleep quality.

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Keep Docker containers up to date with Watchtower

Home Automation

Keep Docker containers up to date with Watchtower

With just one command, you can use Watchtower to automatically update all your Docker containers. Say goodbye to the hassle of manually checking for updates on your self-hosted (Docker) applications.

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Rebuild my website with Next.js, Tailwind CSS and Contentful

Development

Rebuild my website with Next.js, Tailwind CSS and Contentful

I recently made the decision to revamp my website. To learn something new, I opted for a combination of Next.js, Tailwind CSS and Contentful. My goal was to minimize costs and maintenance while prioritizing speed.

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Working behind a standing desk

Health

Working behind a standing desk

Some people call it a hype, but working behind a standing desk is popular. There is increasing evidence that the human body is not made to sit for the majority of the day. I found out the hard way after being diagnosed with a lower back hernia in 2014. This forced me to leave my chair behind and stand up.

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Konstructor, the DIY 35mm SLR camera by Lomo

Photography

Konstructor, the DIY 35mm SLR camera by Lomo

Nowadays, everyone takes photos with a phone or digital camera. With the Konstructor kit from Lomo, you can build your own analog 35mm SLR camera.

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