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The original was posted on /r/homeassistant by /u/BrightonBummer on 2025-03-01 13:48:13+00:00.
Something a little much I know but we all go too far with homeassistant sometimes, especially for a cheap price.
Once the hardware arrives you can pretty much 1 click install the bluetooth relay here:
Once that's done it will pick up in home assistant.
Now turn on the bluetooth beacons, they should show up pretty quick in home assistant too as bluetooth devices.
I named my blue bin and black bin, attached them to each bin.
I created a 'bin' calendar with an event every 2 weeks for the black bin and event every 2 weeksfor the blue bin then I can create automations from there.
alias: Blue Bin Reminder # The name of the automation
description: "" # No description provided
triggers:
- at: "00:01:00" # Triggers at 12:01 AM
trigger: time
- at: "06:15:00" # Triggers at 6:15 AM
trigger: time
- at: "08:00:00" # Triggers at 8:00 AM
trigger: time
- at: "09:00:00" # Triggers at 9:00 AM
trigger: time
conditions:
- condition: state # Ensures the bin calendar event is active
entity_id: calendar.bins
state: "on"
- condition: state # Ensures the event message matches 'Blue Bin'
entity_id: calendar.bins
attribute: message
state: Blue Bin
- condition: numeric_state # Ensures the bin is within 20 meters (assumed to be estimated distance)
entity_id: sensor.blue_bin_estimated_distance
below: 20
actions:
- choose:
- conditions:
- condition: state # Checks if the specific iPhone is at home
entity_id: device_tracker.xxx_iphone
state: home
sequence:
- data:
title: Blue Bin needs putting out # Notification title
message: Please # Notification message
data:
image: >- # Image of the blue bin for the notification
https://remotelinkhere.ui.nabu.casa/local/bluebin.png
action: notify.mobile_app_xxx_iphone # Sends a notification to the mobile app
alias: Notify xxx if Home # Descriptive alias for this action
I've added annotations to the automation so each step is explained.
You can also set up buttons on any wall tablets etc to show either distance/or flash a colour based on if the bin is in or out. Here is the card I have set up:
type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: custom:button-card
entity: sensor.black_bin_estimated_distance
show_name: false
size: 50px
color_type: card
show_state: true
show_icon: true
icon: mdi:trash-can
state_display: |
[[[
if (entity.state <= 20) return "In";
if (entity.state >= 20) return "Out";
return "Optimal";
]]]
show_last_changed: null
styles:
icon:
- color: black
state:
- operator: <=
value: 20
color: transparent
- operator: ">="
value: 20
color: green
- operator: default
color: grey
- type: custom:button-card
entity: sensor.blue_bin_estimated_distance
show_name: false
size: 50px
color_type: card
show_state: true
show_icon: true
icon: mdi:trash-can
state_display: |
[[[
if (entity.state <= 20) return "In";
if (entity.state >= 20) return "Out";
return "Optimal";
]]]
show_last_changed: null
styles:
icon:
- color: blue
state:
- operator: <=
value: 20
color: transparent
- operator: ">="
value: 20
color: green
- operator: default
color: grey
grid_options:
columns: full
They turn green when the bin is out, which is usually on the day they are being collected.
Just thought I'd post this if any others want to give it a try and arent aware of how cheap it can be.
Things worth mentioning:
The distance given by the beacons isnt really accurate but it only takes a couple of days to calibrate when its near the home vs further away.
Try placing the BT proxy as close to the bins as you can, will make it more accurate to changes.