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Must haves when outfitting a home with "smart" devices?
Posted on 5/17/18 at 10:46 am
Posted on 5/17/18 at 10:46 am
Moving into a new home next month and really interested in getting into home automation and smart device integration.
For those of you who have already gone this route, what are some devices that are essential and which devices are more novelty than useful?
Obviously looking at a smart lock for the front door, Nest thermostat, etc.
Already have one echo dot.
For those of you who have already gone this route, what are some devices that are essential and which devices are more novelty than useful?
Obviously looking at a smart lock for the front door, Nest thermostat, etc.
Already have one echo dot.
5
Posted on 5/17/18 at 10:56 am to JohnnyKilroy
Really depends on how far you want to go. You will need a Hub as most smart devices work off of z-wave or zigbee radio signal...not wifi. Popular hubs are:
Samsung Smartthings
Wink
There are other hubs out there (i have an Abode security system which has a built in smart home hub), but the two above are the most common.
Once you have selected a hub, I would suggest looking into locks, lights, and thermostats. there are many directions you can go here so research on your part (to see what best fits your needs/wants) will be important.
Also, voice integration makes smarthome devices really the most usefull as its not that convienent to pull out a phone or tablet to turn a light on/off. Occupancy sensors can really help here too, as your devices can react to your presence. Becasue of this I would recommend more than 1 echo.
Here is a short list of devices to look into:
Locks - Schlage & Kwikset
Lights - Philips Hue, Sengled, Sylvania, GE Smart Switches
Temp Control - Nest & Ecobee
Garage door controlers - Linear & GoControl
Television/media - Harmony Hub
Home Security - Abode, Simplisafe, Nest, Ring
Home Audio - Sonos
Id also look into IFTTT once you have some components selected. This service can make items work together that would ordinarily not be compatible.
Samsung Smartthings
Wink
There are other hubs out there (i have an Abode security system which has a built in smart home hub), but the two above are the most common.
Once you have selected a hub, I would suggest looking into locks, lights, and thermostats. there are many directions you can go here so research on your part (to see what best fits your needs/wants) will be important.
Also, voice integration makes smarthome devices really the most usefull as its not that convienent to pull out a phone or tablet to turn a light on/off. Occupancy sensors can really help here too, as your devices can react to your presence. Becasue of this I would recommend more than 1 echo.
Here is a short list of devices to look into:
Locks - Schlage & Kwikset
Lights - Philips Hue, Sengled, Sylvania, GE Smart Switches
Temp Control - Nest & Ecobee
Garage door controlers - Linear & GoControl
Television/media - Harmony Hub
Home Security - Abode, Simplisafe, Nest, Ring
Home Audio - Sonos
Id also look into IFTTT once you have some components selected. This service can make items work together that would ordinarily not be compatible.
Posted on 5/17/18 at 11:18 am to ZoneLiftGMC
pretty solid list. as someone who has between 100 and 200 smart devices my favorites are:
- door locks
- thermostats
- color changing bulbs
- pool pump
- wall switches/dimmers
- voice control (home, dot, etc)
- open/close sensors
- speakers
- security cameras
what you want is to get AWAY from using your phone to control any of these devices as much as possible. a mobile phone app can't hold a candle to a three word command spoken out loud that shuts 57 devices down or turns on every outdoor light at the same time.
Posted on 5/17/18 at 11:35 am to ZoneLiftGMC
Panelized lighting
Posted on 5/17/18 at 12:01 pm to TigerWise
A really good WiFi network if you are going for a lot of WiFi connected devices.
Hardwiring some of your house is always a good idea.
Hardwiring some of your house is always a good idea.
This post was edited on 5/17/18 at 12:03 pm
Posted on 5/17/18 at 12:11 pm to Dam Guide
quote:
A really good WiFi network if you are going for a lot of WiFi connected devices.
Hardwiring some of your house is always a good idea.
good point. you need a solid foundation to build off of and the last thing you want are a bunch of wifi dead spots causing you to pull your hair out when you try to set stuff up.
Posted on 5/17/18 at 12:14 pm to TigerWise
quote:
Panelized lighting
no thanks, i'll stick with $50 lutron switches and a few hue bulbs.
quote:
Panelized Lighting Planning
A successful Control4 Panelized Lighting installation is best achieved when the electrician and the Control4 Dealer communicate early and regularly throughout the project (see the Control4 Panelized Lighting Planning Guide for Dealers). In doing so, the potential for time-consuming and costly changes are greatly reduced.
Additionally, project planning, design and installation will run much more smoothly and successfully, and communications with the builder and homeowner will be more effective.
If at all possible, a Control4 Dealer should meet with you prior to the lighting design and layout stage of the project. This is the best option to limit the number of potential changes in the project. At a minimum, a Control4 Dealer should review Control4 Panelized Lighting with you before the electrical wiring rough-in stage, so you’ll know what to expect. If you haven’t met with the dealer until after this stage, costly re-wiring of the home may be the only option, and in many cases, it will not be possible.
Be sure to give the Control4 Dealer the option to be included in electrical walk-throughs with the client. The Control4 Dealer will be able to make recommendations appropriate for panelized lighting systems, such as the best placement of enclosures, optimal locations for user interfaces such as system keypads and touch screens, and ideal locations for standard switches and dimmers such as guest rooms, bathrooms and closets where familiar switches and dimmers may be preferred.
Posted on 5/17/18 at 12:57 pm to CAD703X
Man I hope the fish are biting the hooks this hard at the camp this weekend.
Posted on 5/17/18 at 1:26 pm to TigerWise
ok tell me what magic control4 panel lighting brings to the table. list all the benefits (to customer, not installer
) over smart switches.Posted on 5/17/18 at 1:45 pm to CAD703X
Who said anything about C4 ?
Posted on 5/17/18 at 1:52 pm to JohnnyKilroy
Garage Door for sure.
Posted on 5/17/18 at 2:33 pm to TigerWise
quote:
Who said anything about C4 ?
thats their term.
Posted on 9/11/18 at 7:13 pm to JohnnyKilroy
Bumping an old thread for help. New home will be finished in a few weeks. Just found out builder installed some z wave switches for my can lights in the kitchen and living areas and then on the garage door opener. I’ll also have sonos through out the house and a ring spotlight cam on the front of the house.
Would a SmartThings Hub or Wink work best for my application?
Would a SmartThings Hub or Wink work best for my application?
Posted on 9/11/18 at 7:40 pm to tilco
Smartthings.
Posted on 9/11/18 at 8:08 pm to CAD703X
Thanks
Will I be able to control the garage door opener by location since they put a z wave switch on it? Can I program that switch to activate when me or my wife’s phone gets close? Or is that more complicated than what I’m working with?
Will I be able to control the garage door opener by location since they put a z wave switch on it? Can I program that switch to activate when me or my wife’s phone gets close? Or is that more complicated than what I’m working with?
Posted on 9/11/18 at 9:54 pm to tilco
Yes, you can enable geofencing on the hub. It's typically about a 100-200 yard radius from your house.
Posted on 9/11/18 at 9:54 pm to tilco
Yes, you can enable geofencing on the hub. It's typically about a 100-200 yard radius from your house.
Posted on 9/11/18 at 10:00 pm to JohnnyKilroy
GE inwall switches and dimmers
GE outdoor switches
Good WiFi coverage is plus
GE outdoor switches
Good WiFi coverage is plus
Posted on 9/12/18 at 6:23 am to ZoneLiftGMC
Sweet, thanks.
Posted on 9/12/18 at 7:07 am to tilco
quote:
Will I be able to control the garage door opener by location since they put a z wave switch on it?
Is it the iris/linear unit? If it was already paired with a hub you'll need to exclude it before adding it again (same with all zwave devices)
Don't forget that step or you may get frustrated trying to set them up. We can talk further when you decide on a hub.
This post was edited on 9/12/18 at 7:08 am
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