When I decided to build my home automation server, I knew it had to run Home Assistant OS (HAOS) on Raspberry Pi hardware. I ordered everything I needed and decided on the Pironman 5 case. However, the case delivery was set to take over two weeks, and I was eager to start tinkering with Home Assistant right away. Instead of waiting, I opted for a basic temporary standoff base to get things up and running and planned to swap to the Pironman once it arrived.
When I finished building the temporary setup, I was surprised by how great it looked. It was exactly what I envisioned for a mini 24/7 home server runing Home Assistant OS – small, with a tiny footprint, extremely low power consumption, fanless, silent, and marked only by a single green LED to show it was running. But by then, my Pironman order was already placed. What now? Well, the obvious answer was to get a second Raspberry Pi! I wasn’t sure what I’d use it for yet, but that didn’t matter – I’d figure it out later. So, I ordered another set of components and waited for the Pironman case delivery.
When the Pironman case finally arrived, building it was an incredible experience. The build quality, precise engineering, packaging, presentation, and even the instructions were exceptional. I’ve worked on many DIY projects and assembled a lot of gear, but this case stood out. I couldn’t believe something this premium came from China, often associated with cheap and inconsistent quality. This was the real deal.
I took my time with the assembly, savoring every minute of it. I meticulously checked every screw, adjusted every detail, and made sure it was perfect. The whole process took about four hours, and the final result was stunning. Once complete, I placed it on my desk where it sat for three weeks… unused. I just couldn’t decide what to do with it!
Eventually, inspiration struck. I realized my utility room downstairs, where I work on various DIY projects, could use a small desktop machine. I often needed to bring my laptop downstairs, which was manageable but still a bit of a hassle. Why not set up the second Raspberry Pi as a simple desktop for general use in the utility room? It was a perfect idea.
Now, I have a dedicated desktop setup in front of me when I tinker downstairs. It’s great for listening to music, browsing online articles, writing blog posts (like this one), and even doing light work. I absolutely love it!
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