shelly-homekit VS OpenGarage-Firmware

You could potentially use the requisite Shelly for your use case and install this firmware on it to expose it to HomeKit as a lock

As far as I know you can flash a software on the relays: https://github.com/mongoose-os-apps/shelly-homekit And make them homekit compatible. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/BZc-kp4dDRw Just make sure to use correct download for your device

Shelly Firmware

Shelly one flashed with HomeKit. So easy cheap and one of the most reliable HomeKit devices I have. Watch the video https://github.com/mongoose-os-apps/shelly-homekit

The relay itself doesn’t matter especially given the fact that it’ll be on/off only, so I’d recommend a Shelly Plus 1 flashed with firmware to get it into HomeKit incredibly easily. The contactor doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just needs to be rated appropriately for the load at hand!

I use Shelly relays flashed with firmware (I prefer it over Homebridge) and automations to do this. It keeps the „normal“ look of the lightswitches and won’t cut power to the bulbs. Plus you can configure the different modes for the lightswitches! Check out the link for edge/toggle/etc. 👍🏼

If your light switch is a 2 gang switch I’d recommend picking up a Shelly 2.5, a Shelly 1 Plus, or Plus 1PM for single switches and flashing them with this firmware.

Alternatively, a more cost efficient option could be LED strips of your choice paired with a Shelly RGBW2 flashed with firmware.

The only thing I could think of is using something like a Shelly Plus 1 in HomeKit (firmware/Homebridge paired to a strike of the appropriate voltage.

Personally I went with OpenGarage https://opengarage.io/. I have been using OpenGarage for 3+ years now. It has been amazing.

If anyone is lazy, but wants the functionality and insists on open source….check out https://opengarage.io/ ($50) which offers similar functionality. I switched to a MYQ door opener which made the opengarage need obsolete, but I’ve been happy with MYQ - however it does require cloud access.

I switched to opengarage.io - after trying a few garage door automation devices that utilized door sensors.

I recently got some Matter-capable IoT lightbulbs to try, and I am not impressed. They seemed to have all the same problems I've experienced with previous IoT products (connectivity issues, state de-sync between device and "edge router", firmware updates take ~10 minutes per device).

Then there are problems specific to Apple's IoT stack - like how it's impossible to set an RGB capable light to a ~specific~ white color temperature. Instead you get a shade picker and you have to guess what the color temperature is.

The best IoT experience I've had is with OpenGarage[1] using regular old WiFi, but overall I'd still never rely on IoT products for anything critical.

[1] https://opengarage.io

I got a opengarage thing instead. No door sensor. Uses ultrasonic sensor to see if the door is open or closed. All one piece, hardwired to power. It's been rock solid.