It’s that time of year again. The Internet is getting ready to explode with deals. I’m talking about the AliExpress 11.11 Sale 2025 or a.k.a Singles’ Day Sale!
If you’ve never heard of it, 11.11 (November 11th) is one of the biggest online shopping days in the world. Think of it like Black Friday, but even bigger. You can find some seriously amazing deals on all kinds of stuff, but what we care about is the smart home gear.
This year the sale starts on Nov 11.2025 and ends on Nov 19.2025 and this time slot is the perfect time to grab those sensors, switches, and gadgets you’ve been wanting for your Home Assistant setup.
A Quick Heads-Up:
Before we dive in, I want to be upfront. The links in this post are affiliate links.
What does that mean? It just means that if you click a link and decide to buy something, I might get a small commission. This comes at absolutely NO extra cost to you! You pay the same low 11.11 price. It’s just a simple way to help support this blog and all the Home Assistant projects we talk about. So, if you find this list helpful, I’d be super grateful if you used these links.
Okay, let’s get to the fun part! I’ve broken down my favorite finds by category. For every single item, I’m going to focus on the most important part: How does it work with Home Assistant?
Let’s build a smarter home for cheap!
Table of Contents
Water Management
This might not be the “sexiest” smart home category, but it’s one of the most practical. Automatically watering your plants or, even more importantly, automatically shutting off your water main if a leak is detected? That’s not just cool, that’s a lifesaver.
Tuya Zigbee WIFI Smart Water Valve DN15 DN20 DN25
What is this? This is a robot for your main water valve. You clamp it over your existing manual valve (the big red handle you have to twist). It has a motor inside that will physically turn that handle for you. This model comes in Zigbee and WiFi versions.
Home Assistant Integration: I strongly recommend the Zigbee version. Why? It’s just more reliable for something this important. It will connect directly to Home Assistant through ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) or Zigbee2MQTT (Z2M). Once paired, HA will see it as a simple switch or valve entity.
How to use it in HA: This is where the magic happens. Get a few cheap water leak sensors and place them under your sink, behind the toilet, and near the washing machine.
Automation Example:
- Trigger: When
Water Leak Sensorstate changes towet. - Action: Call action
valve.closeonMain Water Valve. This single automation could save you thousands of dollars in water damage. You can also create a “Vacation Mode” automation that automatically turns off the water whenever you set your home’s state to “Away.”
- Tuya Zigbee WIFI Smart Water Valve
- Zigbee, Wifi
- AC/DC
- ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT
SONOFF SWV Zigbee Smart Water Valve
What is this? This is SONOFF’s version of the smart water valve. It is easy and quick to install, simply connect the Zigbee Smart Water Valve between the faucet and the hose to quickly upgrade your irrigation system in just minutes, automatically watering your lawn, garden, whatever…
Home Assistant Integration: This is a Zigbee device. It’s designed to work perfectly with SONOFF’s own Zigbee bridge, but who needs that? We have Home Assistant! It pairs beautifully with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. It will show up as a switch entity that you can toggle on and off.
How to use it in HA: Here is a use case for a smart irrigation system
Automation Example:
- Trigger: When
Family Groupstate changes tonot_home(meaning everyone has left the house). - Condition: And it’s a weekday (so you’re not just out in the garden).
- Action: Call action
switch.turn_onLawn Water Valvefor 15minutes.
- SONOFF SWV Zigbee Smart Water Valve
- Zigbee
- AC/DC
- ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT
ZIGBEE WIFI Garden Watering Timer Smart Sprinkler
What is this? Again This is a smart tap for your outdoor hose. You screw it onto your faucet, and then attach your garden hose or drip irrigation system to the other end. It has a valve inside that can turn the water on and off.
Home Assistant Integration: Again, get the Zigbee version! WiFi for an outdoor device can be flappy unless your signal is super strong. The Zigbee version will pair with ZHA or Z2M and give you a simple switch entity in Home Assistant.
How to use it in HA: This is all about smart gardening. Forget those dumb timers you have to reprogram every week.
Automation Example:
- Trigger: Every day at 6:00 AM.
- Condition: Check if it has rained in the last 24 hours (you can use a weather integration for this, or even better, a smart rain sensor).
- Condition: If
Weather Forecastattributeprecipitation_probabilityis less than 30%. - Action: Turn on
Garden Sprinkler Switchfor 20 minutes, then turn it off. You’ll save water and your plants will be happier.
- ZIGBEE WIFI Garden Watering Timer Smart Sprinkler
- Zigbee, Wifi
- AC/DC
- ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT
Tuya ZigBee Smart Wireless Watering Timer Irrigation System
What is this? This is another, slightly simpler version of the garden watering timer. It’s smaller and battery-powered, making it easy to install anywhere.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Zigbee, so you know the drill. It will pair with ZHA or Z2M. Since it’s battery-powered, it will be a “sleeper” device, meaning it won’t act as a router to strengthen your Zigbee mesh. But that’s fine. It will wake up, open the valve, close the valve, and go back to sleep, saving battery. HA will see it as a switch.
How to use it in HA: Perfect for a small balcony garden or a specific potted plant setup.
Automation Example:
- Trigger: Time is 7:00 AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Condition:
Soil Moisture Sensor(a separate DIY sensor) state is below 40%. - Action: Turn on
Balcony Dripper Switchfor 5 minutes, then turn it off.
- Tuya ZigBee Smart Wireless Watering Timer Irrigation System
- Zigbee
- Battery
- ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT
Smart Plugs & Sockets
This is where most people start their smart home journey. They are simple, cheap, and super useful. Turn any “dumb” appliance into a smart one.
Tuya Smart EU Plug
What is this? The classic smart plug. Plug this into your wall, then plug your lamp, fan, or coffee maker into it. This one is WiFi.
Home Assistant Integration: Because it’s a Tuya WiFi device, you have two great options.
- Tuya Integration: The official Tuya integration in Home Assistant works well most of the time, but is over the Cloud.
- LocalTuya (Better!): If you don’t want your plug talking to the cloud, you can use
LocalTuya. This is a custom integration that controls the plug directly over your local network. It’s faster and works even if your internet is down. - Tasmota/ESPhome (Best for tinkerers): Many of these plugs can be “flashed” with custom firmware like ESPhome or Tasmota. This completely removes the Tuya software and makes it a 100% local, super-reliable HA device. This is for more advanced users, but it’s the ultimate goal!
How to use it in HA: The possibilities are endless.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Your Work Calendar entity shows an event starting in 5 minutes called “Morning Meeting.”
Action: Turn on the Coffee Pot Plug.
SONOFF S60 EU/UK WiFi Socket Smart Home Plug
What is this? This is SONOFF’s high-quality WiFi smart plug. The S60 is a newer model, with a sleeker design and power monitoring.
Home Assistant Integration: SONOFF devices are fantastic for Home Assistant.
- SONOFF LAN Integration: This is a HACS (Home Assistant Community Store) integration that finds your SONOFF devices on the local network. No cloud needed! It’s fast and reliable.
- eWeLink (Cloud): You can use the official eWeLink/SONOFF integration, but it relies on the cloud.
- Tasmota/ESPhome: Like the Tuya plugs, many SONOFF plugs can be flashed for 100% local control.
How to use it in HA: If this model has power monitoring (many do), you get a whole new world of automations.
- Automation Example:
- Trigger: The
Washing Machine Plugpower sensor drops below 5 watts (meaning the cycle finished). - Condition: And it’s been above 10 watts for at least 30 minutes (so it was actually running).
- Action: Send a notification to your phone: “The laundry is done!”
- Trigger: The
BSEED Single Zigbee EU Socket
What is this? This isn’t a plug; it’s a replacement for your entire wall socket. It gives you a much cleaner look, with no bulky plug sticking out.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Zigbee! This is the best-case scenario. It will pair directly with ZHA or Z2M. It will appear as a switch, and since it’s hardwired, it will also act as a Zigbee router, strengthening your mesh network for all your other battery-powered devices.
How to use it in HA: This is perfect for outlets that are hard to reach or where you want a permanent smart solution.
Automation Example:
Use: Install it behind your TV cabinet.
Automation: Create a “Movie Mode” scene.
Trigger: You say “OK Nabu, it’s movie time.”
Action: BSEED TV Socket turns on (powering the TV, soundbar, etc.), Living Room Lights dim to 10%, and LED Strip Lights turn on.
Thermostats
Automating your heating and cooling is the #1 way to save money and make your home more comfortable.
Tuya WiFi Electric Floor Heating Water/Gas Boiler Temperature Controller
What is this? This is a smart wall thermostat designed to replace your existing one. It can control electric floor heating, water-based systems, or gas boilers.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s a WiFi device, so it works with the Tuya integration. You’ll get a climate entity in Home Assistant. This is awesome because it’s not just an on/off switch—it’s a full thermostat. You can see the current temperature, set the target temperature, and change modes (heat, off, etc.).
How to use it in HA: This lets you build a way smarter heating schedule than any “dumb” thermostat.
Automation Example:
Trigger: The first person’s phone connects to the home WiFi (meaning someone is home).
Condition: The Outdoor Temperature Sensor is below 15°C.
Action: Set the Main Thermostat to heat mode and 21°C.
Another Automation:
Trigger: Guest Bedroom Presence Sensor (see below!) is clear for 1 hour.
Action: Set Guest Bedroom Thermostat to 16°C (eco mode).
MOES Zigbee Thermostat Room Temperature Controller
What is this? This is another great wall thermostat, but this one is Zigbee. MOES makes some really solid smart home gear that’s very popular with Home Assistant users.
Home Assistant Integration: Being Zigbee, it pairs directly with ZHA or Z2M. No cloud, no developer accounts. It just works. It will create a climate entity in Home Assistant, giving you full control.
How to use it in HA: This is the one I would personally choose. Because it’s Zigbee, its connection is super stable, and it doesn’t care if your internet is down. Your heating schedule will always run.
Automation Example:
Trigger: A Door Sensor on a window is opened.
Action: Turn off the Heating in that room immediately.
Action (Part 2): When the Door Sensor is closed, wait 1 minute, then restore the previous heating setting. This stops you from heating the whole neighborhood!
Presence Sensors
This is the “holy grail” of smart home automation. Forget old-school PIR (motion) sensors that turn off if you sit still. These are presence sensors. They know you’re in the room even if you’re sleeping or reading a book.
Aqara FP2 Presence Sensor
What is this? This is the king of presence sensors right now. It uses mmWave (millimeter wave) radar to detect you. Its killer feature is zone positioning. You can mount it on the ceiling and draw “zones” in the app. It can tell if you’re “on the couch,” “at the desk,” or “in the kitchen area,” all from one sensor.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s a WiFi device, but it integrates beautifully.
- Aqara Home Integration: The official integration works well.
- HomeKit Integration (Best!): This is the magic trick. You add the FP2 to the Aqara app, then add it to Home Assistant using the HomeKit integration (even if you don’t own any Apple products). This makes it 100% local and super fast. Each zone you create shows up as a separate presence sensor in HA.
How to use it in HA: This changes everything.
Automation Example:
Trigger: FP2 Couch Zone sensor changes to on.
Action: Turn on Couch Reading Lamp and turn on TV.
Trigger: FP2 Desk Zone sensor changes to on.
Action: Turn on Desk Lamp and turn on PC Smart Plug.
And the big one:
Trigger: FP2 Living Room (All Zones) changes to off.
Action: Turn off all living room lights, the TV, and the fan. And it will never turn off by mistake while you’re just watching a movie.
Xiaomi Mijia Human Presence Sensor
What is this? This is Xiaomi’s take on the mmWave presence sensor. It’s a bit simpler than the FP2 (no zones), but it’s excellent at one thing: detecting if a human is in the room, moving or not. It’s also Bluetooth.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Bluetooth. This should be easy until it isn’t! Some devices use AES encryption to protect the sensor values they are broadcasting. There are a few ways to obtain a bindkey for your device if that is the case and you can find how in the Xiaomi BLE HA inegration. But most likely that is not the case and Home Assistant’s built-in Bluetooth integration will eventually find it, or you can use a Bluetooth proxy (like an ESP32 device) to get better range. The BTHome or Xiaomi BLE integrations will pick it up and show you a simple on/off presence sensor.
How to use it in HA: Perfect for bathrooms or offices.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Bathroom Presence Sensor changes to on.
Action: Turn on Bathroom Light and Bathroom Fan.
Trigger: Bathroom Presence Sensor changes to off.
Action: Wait 5 minutes (for the fan to clear the air), then turn off Bathroom Light and Bathroom Fan.
Tuya WiFi Zigbee Human Presence Detector
What is this? This is a more generic (and cheaper!) mmWave presence sensor. It comes in both WiFi and Zigbee flavors.
Home Assistant Integration: GET THE ZIGBEE ONE! I can’t stress this enough. The Zigbee version will pair with ZHA/Z2M and give you a rock-solid binary_sensor for presence. The WiFi one will rely on the Tuya cloud, which is slower.
How to use it in HA: Use it anywhere you have a PIR motion sensor that annoys you.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Office Presence Sensor changes to on.
Action: Turn on Office Lights and Monitor Smart Plug.
Trigger: Office Presence Sensor changes to off and stays off for 2 minutes.
Action: Turn off all office devices. You can work for hours without moving, and the lights will stay on.
Tuya Zigbee 24G Millimeter Wave Human Presence
What is this? Another Tuya-based mmWave sensor. This one is also Zigbee. It’s similar to the one above but might have different sensitivity settings. The 24Ghz radar is great at detecting even small motions like breathing.
Home Assistant Integration: Zigbee means easy pairing with ZHA or Z2M. Many of these sensors also give you extra controls in Zigbee2MQTT, like setting the sensitivity or detection_delay, which is super helpful for tuning it to your room.
How to use it in HA: This is great for a bedroom.
- Automation Example:
- Trigger:
Bedroom Presence Sensorchanges toon(detects you getting in bed). - Condition: Time is after 10:00 PM.
- Action: Run a “Goodnight” scene: turn off all house lights, lock the front door, and set the bedside lamp to 5% brightness.
- Trigger:
SONOFF SNZB-06P Zigbee Human Presence Sensor
What is this? SONOFF’s new presence sensor! This is exciting because SONOFF’s Zigbee stuff is known to be high-quality and have great compatibility. It’s a simple, USB-powered mmWave sensor.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Zigbee 3.0. It will pair perfectly with ZHA and Z2M and give you a simple binary_sensor.presence. It’s designed to work perfectly with Home Assistant.
How to use it in HA: I’d put this in a hallway or a walk-in closet.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Hallway Presence Sensor changes to on.
Action: Turn on Hallway Lights.
Trigger: Hallway Presence Sensor changes to off.
Action: Turn off Hallway Lights immediately. Because it’s a presence sensor, not a motion sensor, the lights will never turn off while you’re just standing in the hallway (e.g., talking to someone).
HLK-LD2410C / HLK-LD2410B
What is this? This is for the DIY (Do It Yourself) crowd. This is just the raw sensor module. It’s tiny and incredibly cheap. It’s what’s inside many of the other sensors on this list.
Home Assistant Integration: I will link not one but three articles of mine about these sensors with all the info if you are interested:
- How to detect human presence with LD2410B sensor and Home Assistant
- Smart Presence Sensor with LD2410 – Cheap and Easy solution
- Extending LD2410 Human Presence Sensor Range with ESP32 for Home Automation
How to use it in HA: This is the ultimate custom solution. You can build this sensor right into a 3D-printed case, or hide it inside another project. You get a binary_sensor in Home Assistant that is 100% local, 100% Bluetooth or 100% WiFi (via the ESP32), and costs next to nothing. You can build 5 of these for the price of one “commercial” sensor.
Other Sensors/Detectors
These are the “senses” of your smart home. They detect fire, water, temperature, and more, and let Home Assistant react.
Tuya Smart WiFi Smoke Sensor Fire Protection Smoke Detector
What is this? A smart smoke detector. When it detects smoke, it makes a loud noise and sends an alert to your phone.
Home Assistant Integration: This is a WiFi device, so it works with the Tuya integration. Home Assistant will see it as a binary_sensor that changes from clear to detected.
How to use it in HA: This is for safety. A regular “dumb” smoke detector is great if you’re home, but what if you’re not?
Automation Example:
Trigger: Smoke Detector state changes to detected.
Action 1: Send a “critical” notification to your phone (the kind that breaks through ‘Do Not Disturb’).
Action 2: Turn on all the lights in the house to 100% brightness (to help you see).
Action 3: Unlock all smart locks (to help you get out).
Action 4: Turn off your HVAC system (to stop spreading smoke).
SONOFF SNZB-02LD IP65 Zigbee LCD Smart Thermometer With Probe
What is this? This is a new temp/humidity sensor from SONOFF with two killer features: an LCD screen so you can see the reading, and a waterproof probe.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Zigbee, so it pairs instantly with ZHA/Z2M. You’ll get two entities: a sensor.temperatureand a sensor.humidity.
How to use it in HA: The probe is the key. You can measure the temperature of things other than air.
Automation Example:
Use: Put the probe in your aquarium or hot tub.
Trigger: Hot Tub Temperature sensor state drops below 37°C.
Action: Send a notification: “Hot tub heater might be broken!”
Use 2: Put the probe in the soil of a sensitive plant.
Trigger: Plant Soil Humidity (it can measure this too!) drops below 30%.
Action: Turn on the Plant Watering Pump (connected to a smart plug).
1/10PCS DS18B20 Waterproof Thread Temperature Probe Sensor
What is this? This is the classic DIY waterproof temperature sensor. It’s just the sensor on a wire. It’s incredibly cheap.
Home Assistant Integration: This is another one for ESPhome. You wire this (it only takes 3 wires) to an ESP32 or ESP8266 board. You add the dallas and ds18b20 components to your ESPhome YAML file, and boom… you have a new temperature sensor in Home Assistant.
How to use it in HA: These are so cheap you can put them everywhere.
Automation Example:
Use: Tape one to the water pipe coming out of your hot water heater.
Trigger: Hot Water Pipe Temp drops below 40°C.
Condition: And Shower Presence Sensor is on.
Action: Send an alert to the house speaker: “Warning! Hot water is running out!”
Zigbee Tuya Pressure Sensor Detector
What is this? This is a very unique sensor! It’s a thin, flat pad that detects pressure.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Zigbee, so it pairs with ZHA/Z2M and will likely show up as a binary_sensor.
How to use it in HA: This opens up all-new automation ideas.
Automation Example 1 (Bed Sensor):
Use: Place it under your mattress.
Trigger: Bed Pressure Sensor changes to off (you got out of bed).
Condition: Time is between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM.
Action: Run “Good Morning” scene: turn on coffee pot, open blinds, and read the weather.
Automation Example 2 (Couch Sensor):
Use: Place it under the cushion of your favorite chair.
Trigger: Dad's Chair Sensor changes to on.
Action: Turn on Dad's Reading Lamp and turn on the Radio Smart Plug.
Zigbee3.0 Zigbee2MQTT Smart Rain Sensor
What is this? A dedicated rain sensor. It has a sensor plate that detects water droplets.
Home Assistant Integration: As the name suggests, this Zigbee sensor is made for Zigbee2MQTT. It will pair and give you a binary_sensor that changes to on when it’s raining.
How to use it in HA: This is way more accurate than a weather forecast. This is actual rain at your house.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Rain Sensor state changes to on.
Action 1: Turn off the Garden Sprinkler Switch (to stop watering).
Action 2: If any windows are open (using window sensors), send a notification: “It’s raining! Close the bedroom window!”
Aqara Wireless Door Sensor Zigbee
What is this? The most popular, most reliable door and window sensor on the market. It’s a small two-piece sensor. When the pieces are separated (the door opens), it sends a signal.
Home Assistant Integration: Aqara Zigbee devices are rock-solid. They pair instantly with ZHA/Z2M and give you a binary_sensor.contact.
How to use it in HA: A must-have for every smart home.
Automation Example (Security):
Trigger: Front Door Sensor changes to on (opened).
Condition: Home State is Away.
Action: Send a critical notification, flash all the lights red, and play a “Warning” sound on all speakers.
Automation Example (Convenience):
Trigger: Pantry Door Sensor changes to on.
Action: Turn on Pantry Light.
Trigger: Pantry Door Sensor changes to off (closed).
Action: Turn off Pantry Light.
Aqara Temperature Humidity Sensor
What is this? Just like the door sensor, this is the gold standard for simple temp/humidity sensors. It’s tiny, battery-powered (lasts 2+ years), and super accurate.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Zigbee. Pairs instantly. You get three sensors in HA: sensor.temperature, sensor.humidity, and sensor.pressure (barometric pressure).
How to use it in HA: Put one in every room.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Bathroom Humidity Sensor state goes above 70%.
Action: Turn on Bathroom Fan Switch.
Action (Part 2): When humidity drops back below 55%, turn the fan off.
Hubs
If you’re getting into Zigbee (and you should!), you need a hub or “coordinator” to talk to all your Zigbee devices. This plugs into your Home Assistant server.
What really is a Zigbee Coordinator.
This is a small USB stick or box that plugs into your Home Assistant server (or your network) and talks to all your Zigbee devices directly. No cloud, no internet, no lag. This is the heart of a true, local smart home. If you are serious about Home Assistant, you need one of these.
Here are the best ones you can get.
Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1
What is this? This is the official (at least I hope so – this is AliExpress and everything is possible) Zigbee & Thread dongle made by the same people who make Home Assistant! It used to be called the “SkyConnect.” It’s designed to be the easiest, most “plug-and-play” option for Home Assistant users.
Home Assistant Integration: This is as simple as it gets. You plug it into a USB port on your Home Assistant machine (using the included extension cable—this is important to avoid interference!). Home Assistant will pop up a notification saying, “Hey, I found a new device!” You click “Configure,” and it will set up ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) for you. ZHA is the built-in Zigbee integration, and it’s perfect for 90% of users.
This stick can also be updated to speak Thread, which is the new super-fast network used by Matter devices. It can even (with a bit of tinkering) run Zigbee and Thread at the same time.
How to use it in HA: This is your Home Assistant Zigbee network.
Automation “Example”:
Step 1: Plug this in and set up ZHA.
Step 2: Grab that Aqara Door Sensor we talked about.
Step 3: Tell ZHA to “Add Device.”
Step 4: Press the button on the sensor.
Step 5: Beep boop! The sensor is now in Home Assistant, 100% local.
This stick is the “gate” that lets all your Zigbee devices talk directly to Home Assistant. It’s the best choice for beginners who want a simple, supported, and future-proof setup.
SONOFF Dongle Plus MG24 Zigbee Thread USB Dongle EFR32MG24
What is this? This is SONOFF’s newest and most powerful Zigbee dongle. It uses a brand new, very powerful EFR32MG24 chip. This is the “E” model on steroids. Why does “powerful” matter for a USB stick? Because this chip has more memory (RAM), meaning it can handle a massive Zigbee network with hundreds of devices without breaking a sweat.
Home Assistant Integration: This stick is a favorite of the Zigbee2MQTT (Z2M) community. Z2M is an alternative to ZHA. It’s a bit more complex to set up (it runs as a separate “add-on”), but it supports a few more devices and gives you tons of advanced configuration options.
This stick works perfectly with both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. You just plug it in and tell your chosen integration which USB port it’s on. Because it’s so new and powerful, it’s a great “future-proof” option for people who know they’re going to build a big smart home.
How to use it in HA: This is the heart of a high-performance Zigbee network.
Automation Example (Why it’s good for Z2M):
Use Case: You have 150 Zigbee devices in a 3-story house.
Action: You install this dongle and use it with Zigbee2MQTT.
Result: The powerful chip manages all the connections, routes, and messages flawlessly. Z2M gives you a cool network map so you can see how all your devices are talking to each other. You can go into a specific device and “force” it to OTA update its firmware or change a weird setting. This is the “pro-tinkerer” choice.
SMLIGHT SLZB-06 Series Zigbee 3.0 To Ethernet, USB
What is this? This, in my opinion, is the ultimate Zigbee coordinator for Home Assistant. It is a “network” coordinator.
Look at the other two. They are USB sticks. Where do they have to be plugged in? Into your Home Assistant server. Where is your server? Probably in a closet, in the basement, or in a metal server rack. These are the worst possible places for a radio antenna!
The SLZB-06 solves this. You plug it into an Ethernet cable, and you can power it with PoE (Power over Ethernet) or a USB-C cable.
Home Assistant Integration: This is the magic. You can put your Home Assistant server in the basement, and place this little box on the ceiling in the center of your house. It connects to Home Assistant over your local network (not WiFi, a stable wired connection).
It’s pre-flashed and works flawlessly with both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. You just tell Z2M or ZHA to connect to its IP address (e.g., socket://192.168.1.50:6638) instead of a USB port. It also has a powerful built-in antenna and amplifier for massive range.
How to use it in HA: This gives you the most reliable, rock-solid, best-range Zigbee network possible.
Automation Example (Solving a common problem):
Problem: Your Mailbox Sensor is Zigbee, but it’s 100 feet away at the end of your driveway and keeps “dropping off” the network because your HA server is in the office.
Solution: You get an SLZB-06. You run a single Ethernet cable to your living room and plug it into the wall.
Result: The coordinator is now in the center of your home. Its powerful signal easily reaches the mailbox. Your network is now 100% reliable, and your HA server is still happily sitting in the office. This is the “buy once, cry once” solution, and it’s the best one.
TRVs (Thermostatic Radiator Valves)
These are magic for houses with radiators. You replace the manual knob on your radiator with one of these. Now you can control each room’s temperature individually.
EZAIOT Tuya ZigBee Smart TRV
What is this? A smart, battery-powered valve for your radiator.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Zigbee! This is fantastic. It will pair with ZHA/Z2M and create a climate entity in Home Assistant for that specific radiator.
How to use it in HA: This is for “zone heating.”
Automation Example:
Trigger: Guest Room Presence Sensor changes to on.
Action: Set Guest Room TRV to 21°C.
Trigger: Guest Room Presence Sensor changes to off for 2 hours.
Action: Set Guest Room TRV to 15°C (eco mode). Why heat a room no one is in?
Tuya Smart ZigBee 3.0 TRV Radiator
What is this? Another great Zigbee TRV. Functionally identical to the one above, just a different style.
Home Assistant Integration: Zigbee 3.0 means it will work perfectly with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. It will create a climate entity, showing the current temp and letting you set the target temp.
How to use it in HA: Combine it with window sensors!
- Automation Example:
- Trigger:
Bedroom Window Sensorchanges toon(window opened). - Action: Set
Bedroom TRVtooff. - Trigger:
Bedroom Window Sensorchanges tooff(window closed). - Action: Set
Bedroom TRVback to20°C.
- Trigger:
AVATTO Tuya 1-6PCS Wifi TRV
What is this? This is a WiFi version of the TRV.
Home Assistant Integration: This will use the Tuya cloud integration. It will still create a climate entity in HA, but its commands will have to go to the internet and back. This can be a bit slower than Zigbee. It’s a good option if your Zigbee signal is weak in a particular room.
How to use it in HA: The automations are the same as the Zigbee TRVs.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Your Work Calendar shows you’re “Out of Office.”
Action: Set Home Office TRV to 16°C.
Trigger: Your Work Calendar shows a “Meeting.”
Action: Set Home Office TRV to 21°C (so you’re comfy for your call).
Wall Switches
These replace your “dumb” light switches, making your ceiling lights smart. This is way better than smart bulbs, because the switch always has power, and you can still use the physical switch.
Aqara Smart E1 Wall Switch ZigBee
What is this? Aqara’s newest wall switch. They are high-quality, look great, and are super reliable. This comes in “With Neutral” and “No Neutral” versions.
- Important: Check your wiring! If you have a “Neutral” wire (usually blue) in your switch box, get the “With Neutral” version. It’s more reliable and acts as a Zigbee router. If you only have two wires, you must get the “No Neutral” version.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Aqara Zigbee. It works perfectly with ZHA/Z2M. It will show up as a light or switchentity.
How to use it in HA: This is your new smart light.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Movie Mode is turned on.
Action: Set Main Ceiling Light Switch to off.
You can also “decouple” the switch: Tell HA to not turn on the light when you press the button. Instead, HA just sees the button press.
Trigger: Wall Switch Button is pressed.
Action: Toggle your smart bulbs (like Philips Hue) on/off. This lets you use smart bulbs and a wall switch at the same time!
Zigbee Smart DIY Name Switch Horizontal Display Screen Zemismart
What is this? This is a very cool, very custom Zigbee switch. It has a small screen where you can label the buttons! It’s from Zemismart, who are famous for making cool stuff that works with HA.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Zigbee and works great with Zigbee2MQTT. You get entities for the switches, and you can even push text to the screen from Home Assistant!
How to use it in HA: As usual sky is the limit
Automation Example:
Action: Have a button labeled “Weather.”
Trigger: Weather Button is pressed.
Action: Have HA push the text Today: 22°C & Sunny to the switch’s screen.
Action 2: Have HA read the weather forecast on your smart speaker.
MOES Tuya ZigBee Light Switch
What is this? A solid, standard Zigbee wall switch from MOES. Comes in 1, 2, or 3-gang versions (meaning 1, 2, or 3 buttons).
Home Assistant Integration: Zigbee. Pairs with ZHA/Z2M. Each button will show up as a separate switch entity. It will also act as a Zigbee router (if it’s a “With Neutral” version).
How to use it in HA: A workhorse switch.
Automation Example:
Use: Get a 3-gang switch.
Button 1: Controls the Ceiling Light (wired).
Button 2 (Decoupled):
Trigger: Button 2 pressed.
Action: Toggle the Standing Lamp (which is on a smart plug).
Button 3 (Decoupled):
Trigger: Button 3 held down.
Action: Run the “Goodnight” scene, turning off everything in the house.
Aqara Smart Wall Switch Z1
What is this? This is Aqara’s more premium Zigbee wall switch. It has a really nice “click” feel.
Home Assistant Integration: Zigbee 3.0. Works perfectly with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. Just like the E1, it’s a first-class citizen in Home Assistant.
How to use it in HA: Identical to the E1. It’s a super-reliable way to control your main lights.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Double-click the Bedroom Light Switch.
Action: Change the Bedroom Smart Bulb color to Red. (This requires decoupling the switch in Z2M).
SONOFF ZBM5 SwitchMan Zigbee Smart Wall Switch
What is this? This is SONOFF’s Zigbee wall switch. It’s a “rocker” style switch.
- Important: This is a “switch module.” It’s just the insides. You often need to buy the “faceplate” or “rocker” part separately, or it’s designed to fit into an existing multi-gang plate.
Home Assistant Integration: Zigbee. Pairs perfectly with ZHA/Z2M.
How to use it in HA: This is for building a custom switch.
Automation Example:
Use: Install this, and use the extra “switch” it gives you to control something totally different.
Trigger: Hallway Switch 2 is turned on.
Action: Turn on the Outdoor Porch Lights.
Others
The “odds and ends” category. Some really fun and useful stuff here.
3-in-1 Wireless Portable Electric Coffee Maker
What is this? A portable, battery-powered coffee maker!
Home Assistant Integration: This one is not a smart device. It’s just a cool gadget that eventually I wanna buy. The whole idea here is to check are you still here with me…
How to use it in HA: You tell me 🙂
Ultra Thin LED Power Supply DC 12V 24V
What is this? This is a power supply. It turns your house’s AC power into 12V or 24V DC power, which is what LED strips use.
Home Assistant Integration: This is not smart on its own. This is a component for a DIY project.
How to use it in HA:
You combine this with an LED strip and an ESP32 board running WLED.
WLED is an amazing piece of software for controlling LED strips. It integrates perfectly with Home Assistant. You get a full-color wheel, dozens of effects, and perfect control.
This power supply is the high-quality “engine” for your DIY smart LED strip project.
Qingping 5in1 Apple HomeKit Compatible WiFi Air Quality Monitor
What is this? A high-quality air monitor. It measures 5 things: CO2, PM2.5, PM10, Temperature, and Humidity.
Home Assistant Integration: The name says it all: HomeKit! This is fantastic. Just like the Aqara FP2 sensor, you don’t need any Apple products. You just add the HomeKit integration in Home Assistant, and it will auto-discover this sensor. It will give you 5 new sensor entities, 100% local.
How to use it in HA: This is for air quality automations.
Automation Example:
Trigger: Bedroom CO2 Sensor goes above 1000 ppm (parts per million).
Action: Send a notification: “CO2 levels are high. Time to open a window!”
Trigger: Living Room PM2.5 Sensor (dust) goes above 50.
Action: Turn on the Air Purifier Smart Plug to ‘High’ speed.
Tuya Finger Robot Zigbee Bluetooth
What is this? This is one of my favorite “dumb” device automators. It’s a tiny robot finger that physically pushes a button. You can stick it on your “dumb” coffee maker, your garage door opener, anything with a button.
Home Assistant Integration: Get the Zigbee version! It will pair with ZHA/Z2M and show up as a simple switch. When you turn it “on,” the finger pushes.
How to use it in HA:
Automation Example:
Use: Stick it on the “brew” button of your old coffee machine.
Trigger: Bed Pressure Sensor changes to off (you’re up!).
Action: Turn on the Finger Robot Switch. The robot pushes the button, and your coffee starts brewing. It’s the Rube Goldberg machine of smart homes, and it’s awesome.
LoraTap Tuya Smart Life Wireless Scene Switch 3
What is this? This is a Zigbee button. It’s a remote control for your smart home. You can stick it on the wall, on your nightstand, anywhere.
Home Assistant Integration: It’s Zigbee, so it pairs with ZHA/Z2M. It will not create an “entity.” Instead, it creates “events.” Home Assistant will see button_1_click, button_1_double_click, button_1_hold, etc.
How to use it in HA: You use these as triggers for your automations.
Automation Example (Nightstand Button):
Trigger: Nightstand Button single_click.
Action: Toggle Bedside Lamp.
Trigger: Nightstand Button double_click.
Action: Toggle Room Fan.
Trigger: Nightstand Button hold.
Action: Run “Goodnight” scene (turn off all house lights).
HA Host (The Brains!)
Finally, if you don’t have Home Assistant yet, or you’re running it on an old, slow Raspberry Pi, 11.11 is the perfect time to upgrade your “server.” This is the computer that will run Home Assistant 24/7.
Raspberry Pi 5
What is this? The brand new Raspberry Pi 5! It’s way faster than the Pi 4.
Home Assistant Integration: This is your Home Assistant server. You install the “Home Assistant OS” on an SD card or (even better) an SSD, plug it in, and you have the most powerful Pi-based HA setup possible. It will be fast, responsive, and will be able to handle hundreds of devices and automations.
Beelink T5 Intel Celeron N4020
What is this? A “mini PC.” Think of it as a small, square laptop with no screen. This one has an Intel Celeron processor.
Home Assistant Integration: This is a fantastic Home Assistant server. It’s more powerful than a Raspberry Pi and has an eMMC (fast, reliable storage) built-in. You just install “HA OS for Intel NUC” on it. It will be super fast, low-power, and extremely stable. This is a serious upgrade.
Beelink Mini S13 Twin Lake N150
What is this? Another, even more powerful mini PC from Beelink. This has a newer N150 processor.
Home Assistant Integration: This is probably the best option on the list for a dedicated HA server. It’s small, silent (or very quiet), sips power, and is way more powerful than you’ll ever need for just Home Assistant. This means HA will be “snappy,” your automations will run instantly, and you can run lots of other services (like AdGuard, Plex, etc.) on the same machine.
Conclusion
Phew! That’s a lot of gear.
My advice? Don’t try to buy everything. Pick one or two “problems” in your house you want to solve.
- Is your office lighting annoying? Grab a presence sensor and a smart switch.
- Do you want to save money on heating? Grab some TRVs and window sensors.
- Are you worried about water leaks? Get a smart water valve and a leak sensor.
The 11.11 sale is the best time to stock up. And remember, if you use the links above, you’re helping support this blog at no extra cost, so a huge “thank you” in advance!
Happy automating, and I hope you snag some amazing deals! Let me know in the comments what you’re planning to buy!