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really happy with my kick plate illumination (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago by Smokeless7048@lemmy.world to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world
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I've wanted to illuminate my kick plates for a long time, starting with my master bathroom, and rolling out to my secondary and kitchen

Finally started today, with a 100w 24v converter, and a gledopto ZigBee controller

Installation was easy, and the controller was quickly picked up. I previously installed a GFCI protected outlet under my sink, so I just plugged it into there.

I don't have a motion sensor yet, so it's just a timed automation:

Day: bright white, about 40% brightness Evening: warm white, about 20% brightness After 10: almoast amber, and about 1% brightness, just enough to pee by.

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[-] rowinxavier@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago

Very nice, I love the overall effect. Once you have motion sensing are you planning on local reaction or more of a persistence approach? Like a motion sensor and then a timer for turning off or once someone enters the room keeping them on until they leave the room?

[-] Smokeless7048@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago

yea, havent decided if it will always be on, and brighten, or only turn on when someones there.

The energy cost should be nearly nill, a watt or two (it 12 watts at max, and im using it at 5% for standby!)

[-] rowinxavier@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Nice. I would recommend measuring the usage not from what the device reports but from actually measuring at the wall socket. The conversion is likely meaningfully under the 95% efficiency of some tools and that waste is felt as heat. If you convert to 24V from 120V you will have a significant amount of heat as waste which is unreported in home assistant. If you have the option to use a relay it can actually turn the thing all the way off, allowing almost zero usage when not on, but it can be a little slower to respond.

[-] Smokeless7048@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Yea, my guess is just based on what the strip says (12+12 watts per meter)

Only wattmeter I have is an Ikea ZigBee plug, which does draw reporting. Could use that and measure it's wattage

[-] Strit@lemmy.linuxuserspace.show 0 points 1 week ago

I would love to do something like this, also for a mirror backlight, but my bathroom only has 1 outlet, placed in a cubbard above the sink. I can't get anything from there, unless I want wires all over my bathroom walls and some long ones at that.

[-] Smokeless7048@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

yea, i added costco backlit/heated mirrors.

Had to run a new wire from my light fixture, but worth it,.

Pictures a bit old, i've replaced the toilet since, as the old one was leaking

[-] Sunny@slrpnk.net 0 points 1 week ago

Nice one! Although i was surprised to see a wooden floor in a bathroom!

[-] Smokeless7048@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

ha ha ha, thanks!

Its not wood, its a click-lock, waterproof vinyl.. that just is a really good imitation!

[-] ISuperabound@lemmy.world -2 points 1 week ago

Got to be a symptom of end-stage capitalism.

[-] rompe@feddit.org 1 points 1 week ago

The irony that you use a device that's way more expensive than OP's lovely project to write this comment...

[-] Smokeless7048@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago

?

Total project cost was $30, parts from Aliexpress, and its because i love to tinker

[-] ISuperabound@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago

Well, I did say “got to be”. Just an observation…I obviously don’t know if this was necessary or useful.

[-] Smokeless7048@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Not blasting my retinas at 3 a.m. when I just want to pee is a pretty solid use case. The full bathroom light is tuned for my wife doing makeup, and it hits like a flashbang.

If anything, calling someone’s $30 tinkering project “late-stage capitalism” feels more late-stage than the project itself. Criticizing people for having hobbies is a weird hill to die on.

this post was submitted on 28 Nov 2025
3 points (100.0% liked)

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