Smart home options

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Smart home options

yammyyam

1 post

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#277302 6-Oct-2020 23:02

Hey everyone. 😀

I have been digging around the last few weeks of home automation ideas. I am new to smart home systems so probably a few basic and general questions that need clarity

Firstly planning on moving over to NZ for work in the next few months and of course want my new place to be up to date tech etc.

I have come to the conclusion that wireless lighting control is going to be the easiest and most affordable way to go.

Now first question would be what is the most reliable wireless lighting system? it seems that zwave and zigbee are the leaders here but also what about the wifi lights like phillips hue?

does anyone have a whole house with any of these connected?

The other would be Aircon control. any ideas if any common companies have a decent app that allows you to control your AC away from home?

Some other nice things would be control of my TV and perhaps the sprinklers.

A friend of mine here in Aus had a company install a home automation system for him at his home and he seemed rather happy with it however id like to get involved myself. However a professionals installation would also be appreciated at the right price if anyone knows local Auckland suppliers?

Thanks in advance!

davidcole

6010 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2580416 7-Oct-2020 06:41

Zigbee (not too common here) and zwave for lights, are generally an in switch install. Meaning the physical light switch can still control the light. Also possible might be the Shelly 1 and Shelly 1pm. These are WiFi rather than mesh network.

Hue bulbs are a smart bulb. So that renders the switch useless as if someone triggers the switch then they could turn the bulb off so the smart home system can’t operate it.

That’s the biggest difference.

There are wired options c-bus etc. But they are Professionally installed.

Previously known as psycik

Home Assistant: Gigabyte AMD A8 Brix, Home Assistant with Aeotech ZWave Controller, Raspberry PI, Wemos D1 Mini, Zwave, Shelly Humidity and Temperature sensors
Media:Chromecast v2, ATV4 4k, ATV4, HDHomeRun Dual
Server Host Plex Server 3x3TB, 4x4TB using MergerFS, Samsung 850 evo 512 GB SSD, Proxmox Server with 1xW10, 2xUbuntu 22.04 LTS, Backblaze Backups, usenetprime.com fastmail.com Sharesies Trakt.TV Sharesight

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Dingbatt

6736 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2580450 7-Oct-2020 07:51

Hue uses zigbee not wifi. Advanced features require a cloud connection, basic features (off/on/dimming) can be local.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

rp1790

735 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2580458 7-Oct-2020 08:19

Every bulb in my house is a Philips Hue and they are a bit expensive but just work, and of course, work well with Homekit. Of course the old switch's on the wall aren't smart but I'm also putting the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch's on the wall's next to them for the high usage areas where others don't use Siri etc.

If you're not stuck on having to have Homekit then have a serious look at the Bunnings Grid Connect systems. They are very cheap, work really well and have all the smarts you could think of. The Bunnings Grid Connect and Brilliant Smart devices all work together and there is an app called TuyaSmart that works with them all. Very cost effective, maybe 1/3 the Philips Hue costs.

Mark

1653 posts

Uber Geek

#2580611 7-Oct-2020 12:54

I found Wifi bulbs are not so great for the ceiling lights where you have to be sure the light switches are all set to on and people walk past and switch them off rather than ask Alexa, so I got a wifi controlled switch from Aliexpress that fits in behind, and connects to, the physical light switch on the wall, the lights get controlled by the switch and the module, so if wifi switches them on, the switch can turn them off, and vice versa ... works very well, nearly everything is based on Tuya products so you can keep it simple and use their cloud based service or do you own home server setup to manage them.

Search Aliexpress for this phrase : "2 Way DiY WiFi Smart Light Switch Relay Module Smart Home Smart Life/Tuya APP Remote Control Work With Alexa Echo Google Home"

I'm not sure on the electrical compliance for NZ but mine is just in my shed as a test until I'm happy then I'll expand out to rooms in the main house, the hallway is going to be interesting with wall switches at either end of the hall, but I found a few devices that should handle it .. just haven;t bought yet.

jnimmo

1096 posts

Uber Geek

#2580632 7-Oct-2020 13:27

I chose Z-Wave Fibaro dimmers where I wanted smart lighting, as long as your bulbs are dimmable. Being able to use the regular light switch to switch them on or off was essential for me. I used Home Assistant for the automation side

Paul1977

4982 posts

Uber Geek

#2582030 9-Oct-2020 16:43

When I had Philips Hue lights at my last house, I removed the original light switch and used cable connectors to wire them permanently "on". I then put the Philip Hue Dimmer switch over the hole. That way no-one can accidentally turn off the main switch, and I didn't have to have two switches cluttering the wall.

I wasn't 100% sure if it was compliant, but when we had an electrical inspection done prior to selling the house I showed the inspector and he had no issues with it.

In our new house we've gone with Z-Wave behind the switches. To be honest I found Hue a lot easier and more user friendly, but I think they only have one model of downlight. With Z-Wave behind the switches you can use whatever lights you want.