Home Assistant On Wheels: We’re going Inside the SmartyVan
Podcast: Home Assistant PodcastPublished On: Tue Mar 24 2026
Description: Director-turned-vanlifer Mike from the YouTube channel SmartyVan shows how he turned a bare Mercedes Sprinter into a fully automated, off‑grid smart RV powered by Home Assistant and ESPHome. We cover DC power realities, alternator charging vs solar, Starlink on the move, Bluetooth presence, wired vs Zigbee sensors and PoE cameras with Frigate. Perfect for vanlife, RV, and tiny home builders.Watch this episode on YouTubeShow notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA227Support the PodcastGet early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.https://homeassistant.fm/patreonShare your storyWe wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro, sponsors, Mike arrives00:05:00 - From Sprinter shell to smart RV00:10:00 - Power: solar, alternator, efficiency00:16:00 - Home Assistant in a DC world00:22:00 - Pi 4, microSD, backups00:28:00 - Internet, Starlink, offline logic00:35:32 - Van automations that matter00:41:00 - Service mode and shop visits00:47:00 - Presence without motion sensors00:53:00 - OBD-II, WICAN, vehicle data00:59:00 - Wired sensors vs Zigbee01:05:00 - Cameras, Frigate, PoE control01:09:00 - What’s next and where to findThis episode was made possible thanks to our sponsorsHome Assistant Cloud by Nabu CasaEasily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.ZoozIf you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.comNotionNotion is an AI-powered, connected workspace for teams. Notion brings all your notes, docs, and projects into one space that just works. Try Custom Agents now at https://notion.com/homeassistantProducts DiscussedGoogle Coral USB TPU accelerator: https://amzn.to/4cNVot1Aqara contact sensors: https://amzn.to/4utywFkHostsPhil HawthorneWebsiteSmart Home ProductsTwitter: @philhawthorneBluesky: @philhawthorne.comBuy Phil a CoffeeRohan KaramandiWebsiteSmart Home ProductsTwitter: @rohank9Buy Rohan a CoffeeThis episodes contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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