Many owners of Yeelight products have encountered connection issues with Home Assistant integration. The last reliably functioning version was Home Assistant 0.114.X. Consequently, many users have refrained from updating their Home Assistant instances until a fix was available. It now appears that Home Assistant 0.118 may resolve these issues, allowing users to update once again.
Contents
Should You Update Home Assistant for Yeelight Integration?
Developer @shenxn has addressed the Yeelight integration issues that were came with the update to Home Assistant version 0.115. However, should you update to Home Assistant 0.118 immediately? It is advisable to wait until at least version 0.118.1, if not 0.118.2, has been released. Here’s why.
Mixed User Reports
Reports on the success of this fix are still inconsistent. While some users on GitHub have reported that the change worked for them, others in the Home Assistant community have stated that the update broke their Yeelight integration again. These mixed reviews suggest it is prudent to wait a little longer before updating to Home Assistant 0.118.
tested on 0.118.0.dev20201030 this change works for me
Early Adopters
Many Home Assistant users tend to update to the latest release immediately. Some of these users will likely own a Yeelight product. Let those willing to test the fix do so before you update. Keep an eye on this Home Assistant community thread for user reports. Waiting until a maintenance release or two is generally a good practice for stability. If you do not want things to break, avoid updating to a .0 version of Home Assistant.
If It Isn't Broken, Don't Fix It
If your Yeelight integration with Home Assistant is currently working, why risk breaking it by updating? While the Grid and Logbook cards look appealing, you should be able to wait a few weeks before risking your entire setup.
Alternative Integration Methods
If you are willing to experiment, an interesting solution to integrating Yeelight with Home Assistant was discovered by a Reddit user. Instead of using the Yeelight integration, they used the HomeKit Controller function in Home Assistant. If your Yeelight bulbs or LED strips come with a pairing code, you can bypass the Yeelight integration entirely.
What Is Yeelight?
Yeelight is a Chinese vendor of smart lights and is part of the Xiaomi ecosystem. In 2013, Yeelight launched their first smart LED light via crowdfunding. They have since expanded their lineup to include ceiling lights, desk lights, ambient lighting, LED strips, and more LED bulbs. The appeal of Yeelight products lies in their affordability and functionality.
However, those seeking smart home products that protect privacy and function without cloud connections should look elsewhere. You are required to install the Yeelight app before integrating Yeelight products with Home Assistant. According to reviews on the Google Play Store, the app requires permissions to access your contacts, microphone, location, camera, and telephone records. Updates to the Yeelight app have also caused frustration for many users.
Better Alternatives to Yeelight for Home Assistant Users
I do not recommend using Yeelight products. There are better and similarly priced options available. The main issue with Yeelight products is that they use Wi-Fi and require an app for setup. Switching from Wi-Fi to Zigbee bulbs and LED strips has several advantages:
- You are not reliant on cloud services; everything stays within your home.
- Zigbee uses less power and has meshing capabilities.
- While Zigbee requires a hub, you can build your own.
- Zigbee devices do not need an internet connection, so the integration with Home Assistant will not be affected by firmware updates.
- You can also buy many battery-powered sensors.
For a low-cost Zigbee option, consider Gledopto, Xiaomi (Mijia and Aqara), and IKEA products.
Summary
In summary, while Home Assistant 0.118 may resolve the Yeelight integration issues, it is advisable to wait for further maintenance releases before updating. If your system is currently stable, avoid unnecessary updates. Explore alternative integration methods, such as the HomeKit Controller, or consider switching to Zigbee products for a more reliable and cloud-independent smart home setup.