Affiliate links to Smart Home Tech I used and had lots of success with:
Kara Light Switch:
Hue Motion Sensor:
Hue Light Bulbs:
Lutron Switches (Requires Hub):
Aqara Temp and Humidity Sensor (Requires Hub):
Tapo Smart Plug:
Affiliate links to YouTube gear I use:
Sony a7siii:
Sony A7c:
14in M1 Pro MacBook Pro:
Mac Studio:
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:00 What’s the Goal?
1:50 What Needs Automating?
2:40 What Devices Do We Need?
5:53 Smart Home Standards
7:53 Smart Home Ecosystem
10:23 Home Assistant
12:21 Conclusion
Let’s talk about what I learned trying to make this house smart, this includes all the things I would do differently with everything I know now. That’s the idea, make things more convenient and make less things for me to worry about, which you’re about to see from me, actually leads to a lot of inconveniences itself.
We’ll need a way to control the ceiling fan, the 3 lamps, and the blinds. We also need something that can tell when someone is in the room, and a way to tell how hot or cold this room is. So, what devices are available to do these tasks? If you’re trying to control lights, you have smart bulbs, smart plugs, and smart light switches. Each have their own pros and cons and really you have to figure out for yourself what’s best to use for your situation. As for the ceiling fan, I’m going to use a smart switch since I don’t care about the fan speed and the fan will only be kept on medium anyway when I have it on. Now the hardest part was finding devices for the blinds. I had to purchase these aqara E1 drivers, to smartify and motorize these existing blinds.
To solve the remaining items, we’ll need to use sensors. These are the “eyes” of your smart home. These can be used for your smart home to understand what’s happening in your house and can be used in your home automations. And sometimes you can actually find multi-purpose sensors that have more than one sensor built in. Like the one I have right here. The Philips Hue motion sensor, has a motion, illuminance and temperature sensor all built into this single device.
The primary smart home ecosystems are Alexa, google home, and Apple Home or Homekit. You have to be careful using one because you have to be on the lookout to see if your specific ecosystem is supported by the device or hub that controls all these devices. So it requires a bit of research to make sure you have the right device. These systems don’t talk to each other and you get stuck in a situation where a bunch of devices only work on one platform but not the other. So my solution for a while was to just use both google home and apple home and use them for different things.
Home Assistant is a tool that enables you to consolidate pretty much all your smart home devices and more like your NAS into a single point. And from there it can behave as your smart home letting you control all your devices in the Home Assistant app, or then route all of your devices back to your desired smart home ecosystem even if they were not originally supported by that ecosystem. See this TP-link motion controlled light switch? It’s not Apple Home compatible, but with Home assistant controlling it, it can be used in Apple Home. Home assistant also has super robust automations that let you make some really complex stuff. The level of customization Home Assistant provides is fantastic. That being said, it has its own issues too, some integrations with Home Assistant aren’t very good and doesn’t work the way you’d expect. Home Assistant also requires being a bit techy to fully setup, and since the automations are so robust, it’s easy to make a mistake that leads to unintended consequences, like the lights turning on randomly at midnight causing your significant other to wake up. So if you’re willing to spend some time with it, it can definitely enhance your smart home, and make it so much better as long as you’re aware of its limitations.
So here’s a summary of all my tips. Research what you’re buying, make sure they’re compatible with everything you use now and in the near future, use 3rd party platforms like Home assistant to further consolidate what you need and force compatibility for the devices that aren’t compatible with your smart home ecosystem and use it to control all the automations in a single place. And take it one room at a time to keep the end goal in sight.
More Information:
The title "I Tried Building the PERFECT Smart Home: What I Learned (Mistakes Included)" suggests a personal narrative or blog post detailing the author’s experience in creating an ideal smart home environment. A smart home integrates technology to enhance convenience, efficiency, and security, harnessing Internet of Things (IoT) devices to automate and control various household functions.
Here’s a breakdown of what the content might entail, focusing on key gadgets and components typically involved in a smart home setup, as well as potential mistakes that could be addressed based on real-life experiences:
Key Gadgets and Components
Smart Hub:
- A central device that connects all other smart devices (e.g., SmartThings, Google Nest Hub, Amazon Echo).
- Author might discuss choosing a compatible hub for a seamless user experience and any issues faced with device compatibility.
Smart Lighting:
- Smart bulbs (like Philips Hue or LIFX) and smart switches that allow for customizable lighting settings and scheduling.
- Learning experiences could include installation challenges, integration with voice assistants, or the frustration of inconsistent connectivity.
Smart Thermostat:
- Devices like the Nest Thermostat or Ecobee that optimize heating and cooling based on user behavior.
- The author might explore energy savings versus upfront costs and challenges in effectively programming the thermostat.
Smart Security System:
- This could include cameras (like Ring or Arlo), smart locks, and doorbell cameras for enhanced security.
- Mistakes might involve overlooked privacy issues, difficulties in installation, or compatibility problems with other devices.
Smart Appliances:
- Items such as refrigerators, ovens, or washing machines that can be controlled remotely (e.g., Whirlpool, Samsung).
- Possible learning experiences could cover reliability, complexity of setup, and how users overcame skepticism regarding their utility.
Smart Speakers:
- Devices with voice assistants (like Amazon Echo or Google Nest) for voice control of the entire ecosystem.
- The author could reflect on issues like audio quality, responsiveness, and everyday frustrations experienced when utilizing voice commands.
Smart Sensors:
- Sensors for motion, temperature, water leaks, etc., that provide alerts and automation opportunities.
- Mistakes might focus on placement errors, false alarms, and battery management.
- Routines and Automation:
- The use of routines to automate tasks (like setting "Goodnight" routines to lock doors, turn off lights, and adjust the thermostat).
- Challenges might include learning to effectively program routines and how they sometimes failed to trigger as expected.
Lessons Learned
Compatibility Issues: The author might address the importance of ensuring devices are compatible with the chosen ecosystem—some devices may work well independently but could create issues when integrated.
Overcomplication: Simplifying the smart home experience by avoiding unnecessary gadgets that complicate rather than enhance functionality.
Privacy Considerations: Exploring the balance between convenience and data security; for instance, issues with how much data these devices collect and the risks associated with unauthorized access.
Cost vs. Benefit: Evaluating the return on investment for smart gadgets—whether the utilities and conveniences gained truly justify the initial costs and ongoing subscriptions.
- User Experience: Highlighting the importance of user-friendly interfaces and customer support, as well as the learning curves associated with new technologies.
Conclusion
In summary, this narrative would offer an insightful blend of technical exploration and personal reflection on building a smart home. Through detailing successes and setbacks, the author would provide readers with valuable tips, cautionary tales, and encouragement to approach smart home technology with realistic expectations and an informed mindset. The ultimate goal is likely to inspire others to evaluate their own needs and experiences in the evolving world of smart home technology.