Post

Using Node-RED to capture Dash Button press

With the release of Home Assistant version 0.70 it is now possible to install the Dasher add-on again when running Hass.io on Ubuntu Server.

If, like me, you are frustrated by the inability to install certain add-ons in the latest versions of Hass.io running on a generic Linux Server, you must be looking for alternatives.

One of the add-ons I was missing the most was Dasher because I use Dash Buttons to control some scenes in my house.

As I do not have the patience to wait for the next versions of Hass.io the add-on (which may or may not solve the problem) I started searching and found Amazon Dash Button with Node-RED built-in nodes.

This article explains everything textually so I decided to prepare something more visual to make it easier to understand it.

Based on what’s written there I created the following subflow.


Subflow


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[
    {
        "id": "27274ec0.477d32",
        "type": "subflow",
        "name": "Dash Button Press",
        "info": "",
        "in": [],
        "out": [
            {
                "x": 460,
                "y": 40,
                "wires": [
                    {
                        "id": "4d2c0a32.de2794",
                        "port": 0
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "x": 460,
                "y": 120,
                "wires": [
                    {
                        "id": "4d2c0a32.de2794",
                        "port": 1
                    }
                ]
            }
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "10f156e0.c68be9",
        "type": "udp in",
        "z": "27274ec0.477d32",
        "name": "",
        "iface": "",
        "port": "67",
        "ipv": "udp4",
        "multicast": "false",
        "group": "",
        "datatype": "buffer",
        "x": 70,
        "y": 80,
        "wires": [
            [
                "94bc49a4.4eb12"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "94bc49a4.4eb12",
        "type": "function",
        "z": "27274ec0.477d32",
        "name": "",
        "func": "var mac = Buffer.alloc(6);\nmsg.payload.copy(mac, targetStart=0, sourceStart=28, sourceEnd=34);\nmsg.mac = mac.toString('hex');\nreturn msg;",
        "outputs": 1,
        "noerr": 0,
        "x": 210,
        "y": 80,
        "wires": [
            [
                "4d2c0a32.de2794"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "4d2c0a32.de2794",
        "type": "switch",
        "z": "27274ec0.477d32",
        "name": "",
        "property": "mac",
        "propertyType": "msg",
        "rules": [
            {
                "t": "eq",
                "v": "78e103b8b5c8",
                "vt": "str"
            },
            {
                "t": "eq",
                "v": "78e1031a7c50",
                "vt": "str"
            }
        ],
        "checkall": "false",
        "repair": false,
        "outputs": 2,
        "x": 350,
        "y": 80,
        "wires": [
            [],
            []
        ]
    }
]


The switch node has two outputs, one for each one of the buttons I use. You’ll need to have as many outputs as the quantity of buttons you want to use.


Switch Node


After that I just created the following flow connecting each output to its respective node and deploy the flows.


Flow


If you’re curious, these are the switches I currently use.


Dash - Bedroom Lights


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switch:
  - platform: template
    switches:
      dash_bedroom:
        value_template: "{{ is_state('light.bedroom_lights', 'on') }}"
        turn_on:
          service: script.turn_on
          entity_id: script.good_morning
        turn_off:
          service: script.turn_on
          entity_id: script.good_night


Dash - Livingroom Lights


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switch:
  - platform: template
    switches:
      living_room_lights:
        value_template: "{{ is_state('light.living_room_lights', 'on') }}"
        turn_on:
          service: script.turn_on
          entity_id: script.turn_on_1s
        turn_off:
          service: script.turn_on
          entity_id: script.turn_off_1s


The best thing about this is that it seems to work faster than with the add-ons in Home Assistant.

This post is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the author.

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