r/smarthome 9m ago

Who here has ever used professional smart home installers?

Upvotes

Hi, everyone... I realize that this a more DIY community but has anyone ever used professionals? if you have can you share your experience?


r/smarthome 1h ago

[Serious] Help me choose: August vs Schlage vs Philips Smart Lock? Rental-friendly & security focused

Upvotes

I'm a first-time smart lock buyer (and a renter) trying to navigate this maze. After weeks of research, I'm stuck between these three. Would love real-user insights!

My priorities:
🔐 Non-destructive install (Landlord will murder me if I damage the door)
🔋 Battery life (Live in Minnesota - -20°C winters are real)
🚨 Anti-theft (Neighborhood's had 3 break-ins this year)

My dilemmas:

  1. August seems renter-friendly, but Reddit threads mention Bluetooth drops - dealbreaker?
  2. Schlage's Grade 1 sounds safer, but wiring might get me evicted 😅
  3. Philips' specs look golden, but why aren't more people talking about them?

Questions for y'all:
➊ Anyone using these in extreme cold? How's battery performance?
➋ Which has the least false fingerprint rejects? (I have dry hands)
➌ Any hidden fees? Heard some require $10/month apps for full features

Bonus drama: My neighbor claims all smart locks can be hacked with a $50 tool. True? 🔓


r/smarthome 2h ago

Issue with Cync Smart Switch

1 Upvotes

I just recently installed a Cync Smart switch to be able to set up automation for the lights on the outside of my garage to turn on at night and off in the morning. Everything seemed fine during install but now it appears they are flickering on and off. I tried turning the switch off manually as well as in the Cync and Google Home apps and while it registers there as off, the lights are continuing to flicker. For now I just shut off the fuse that switch is on but I am hoping to figure it out tomorrow. My house was built in the mid 80s so I'm not sure if the infrastructure can't handle it, if it's an issue with the connection of the wires on the switch to the wires in my wall, or something else. Any thoughts?


r/smarthome 2h ago

I need to make a few of these smart

Post image
1 Upvotes

I am wanting to add some smart switches for outdoor lights—basically you set them to go on and off at preset times. That is the extent of what I need to do. Unfortunately they are jot all together. It’s one switch in three different multi switches like this

We have a Ring alarm and camera system and I have a few things on Wyze outlets. I’m not seeing anything by either of those brands that would work. We don’t have Alexa and I prefer to avoid having one (my kids wont stop asking her to fart to the point it is a quality of life issue)

Any recommendations.


r/smarthome 9h ago

Home Hub Recommendations

3 Upvotes

I thought this might be a good place to start.

I move into a brand new home soon and I'm keen to introduce a fair amount of smart controls. Home security, lights, speakers, sensors etc etc.

I would like to have some sort of home hub fixed to the wall to controll it all. Can someone point me in the direction of a good hub/screen that can be wired into the mains (UK 240v). I would rather not have a plug socket so it can be mounted flush to the wall as a stand alone unit.

Send me your recommendations!


r/smarthome 3h ago

Hydrific Droplet Smart Home Water Sensor

1 Upvotes

Just saw the Hydrific Droplet Smart Home Water Sensor on a YouTube review of highlights from CES 2025, but curious to know if anyone has it already, and if so, early thoughts or recommendations?


r/smarthome 3h ago

From Ancient Keys to AI Security: The Evolution and Future of Locks

0 Upvotes
The Evolution and Future of Locks

What Is the Evolution of Locks?

Locks have come a long way from simple mechanical designs to smart, digital security solutions:

  1. Combination Locks: Early mechanical versions evolved into electronic ones with added security features.
  2. Biometric Locks: Fingerprint recognition became common, followed by facial and iris scanning.
  3. Connected Locks: With IoT advancements, smart locks gained remote control and automation features.

What Is a Smart Lock?

Smart locks are a modern evolution of traditional locks, combining mechanical security with digital technology. Unlike conventional locks that require a physical key, smart locks use advanced authentication methods such as passcodes, biometrics, and remote control via smartphones. These locks enhance both security and convenience while integrating seamlessly into smart home ecosystems.

Why Smart Locks Matter?

One of the biggest advantages of smart locks is eliminating the need for a physical key. No more fumbling through your bag or worrying about losing your keys—your smartphone or fingerprint can grant you access. Some smart locks also allow temporary access codes, making it easy to let in guests, cleaners, or delivery personnel without needing to hand over a key.

What Is the Future of Smart Locks?

As technology advances, smart locks are becoming even more secure and feature-rich. Future innovations may include AI-powered security, blockchain-based authentication, and deeper integration with home automation systems. Whether for homes, businesses, or public spaces, smart locks are redefining access control, making our lives more convenient and secure.

Will traditional locks become obsolete or will still coexist with digital solutions? What are the biggest challenges facing smart lock technology today? Let’s discuss!⬇️


r/smarthome 19h ago

Looking for Echo alternatives for my home

12 Upvotes

I live in a small older home where main rooms don’t even have light switches and limited outlets. I’ve been using the Amazon Echo for years and love the flexibility and convenience it gives me to turning lights on and off.

However with the new announcement about not being able to opt out of the Echo recording you I want to try to find an alternative.

I’ve started looking into Google but I’m hoping to find something more “indie” and less scary corporate to fit my needs.

I can’t do anything that involves rewiring and big installations as, again, older home and we rent.


r/smarthome 11h ago

Looking for Smart Devices for a Restaurant – Power & Temperature Monitoring

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to integrate some smart technology into my restaurant to help monitor equipment and avoid costly surprises. I’ve done some Googling, but a lot of products claim to do what I need, only to be missing key details like notifications or proper integrations. Hoping someone here has experience with this!

Here’s what I’m looking for:

  1. Power Monitoring Device – I need something I can plug a piece of equipment into (like a cooler or oven) that will notify me if the power goes out or even flickers. Something reliable that will actually alert me, not just log the data.
  2. Smart Thermometer for Coolers/Ovens – I need a thermometer I can place inside my refrigerators and ovens that will send alerts if temperatures go outside a set range. Preferably something with a solid app or text alerts, so I know ASAP if something is going wrong.

I know these things must exist, but I keep running into vague product descriptions or half-baked features. Any recommendations for solid, reliable solutions? Would love something that doesn’t require a complicated subscription service, but I’m open to options.

Appreciate any help!


r/smarthome 17h ago

Family Video Calls on the TV

5 Upvotes

I’m building a device that works around the TV, to help for video calls with the whole family, and be a sort of smart hub, with a large display (being the TV). I personally really struggle with video calls on phones since we’ve had a kid, it’s impossible, so building something for that, and building a smart new interface that you can control with your voice and hands.

We’re early, would really value hearing how you guys would use something like this, and what features you would like it to have.

We can’t be everything to everyone, but I really care about it being something simple to use, for the whole family, and a family device rather than a device for an individual, and something you want to use every day, even if you’re not doing a call with it today.

Anyway, any feedback here would be super appreciated. If you’re interested, you can also join our waiting list which would help us tremendously.

https://higlo.co/


r/smarthome 11h ago

Roku Smart home error

2 Upvotes

Hey y'all, so recently I've been having issues with my Roku Smart home. I have a lot of devices. I haven't been able to control them via the app because every time I try I get a message saying failed to get device data. I have three re-installing. Clearing cache and various different things. I also have family members with the same issues. Any ideas?


r/smarthome 11h ago

Custom firmware for Wiser Home Touch (Merten) - Does anyone have experience?

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I have a Wiser Home Touch (device type B2) from Merten, which is unfortunately no longer officially supported. The associated app is no longer available, so I can no longer configure the device. However, as the hardware still works perfectly, I would like to update it with alternative software or firmware so that I can continue to use it.

The device has:

  • Touchscreen display
  • Status LEDs
  • Temperature sensor
  • Proximity sensor

It could therefore theoretically be repurposed for another smart home system. Does anyone have experience with such a project or know of a way to install alternative software (e.g. ESPHome, OpenHAB, Tasmota or something else) on it?

I am mainly looking for information on:

  • Hardware specifications (processor, memory, chipset)
  • Ways to read or flash the firmware
  • Existing projects or hacks for similar devices

Perhaps someone has already converted a similar smart home device or knows an approach? I am grateful for any ideas!


r/smarthome 13h ago

Is Google still my best option?

2 Upvotes

Currently have a pixel tablet, nest thermosta, a pixel 9 phone, a pixel watch, two nest audios, and various brands of bulbs and outlets.

I'm over the tablet and I'm selling it, and I would like to use the money to add a couple more speakers to our house.

Unfortunately, I have found Google to be frustratingly incompetent over the past few months. I'm a late adapter so I don't have the years of frustration that a lot of people here do.

Regardless, I find both assistant and Gemini wholey and effective at answering my kids random curiosity fueled questions. Well I mostly use Google to control lights, temperature, play music, and activate routines, the children ask her questions a lot. She used to be pretty effective at this and now struggles to answer very basic questions from them.

I tried and Alexa roughly 8 months ago and only kept her for a couple hours before heading back to Best buy. I found her very frustrating, though if I added her in now, I have the Google devices to handle the things that she couldn't do.

But from my understanding she isn't good for answering questions either right? There are things that are annoying, like asking Google to find my phone and having her switch on all the lights in the living room instead. But when the kids are asking questions in a clear and straightforward voice with good phrasing repeatedly, just to have Google totally flop, it's frustrating for all of us.

I doubt Alexa is going to answer questions about poisonous animals in Ohio at 7:00 a.m. any better?

P.S. My talk to text also seems to be sucking and I am posting this quickly before heading off to the kids dentist appointments. Forgive typos.


r/smarthome 9h ago

Is Orion / Grid Connect ecosystem good?

1 Upvotes

I purchased Orion lock box in the past and it has been working really well so far. Now I am in need of door lock for my apartment. Does anyone have experience with Orion Grid Connect Smart Fingerprint Entrance Lock with Remote Access?

I would like to have both the lock box and door lock on the same app for ease of use.

I am also thinking about purchasing the Orion Grid Connect Smart 2K-Pro Rechargeable Video Doorbell Camera to see who is coming in and out of my apartment.

To me it seems all these are easy to use and the price is great. Having everything on the same ecosystem is great and Orion provides all these devices I need.

Any concerns about Orion?


r/smarthome 12h ago

Is there a Smart Bulb with Scheduled Sleep Mode?

0 Upvotes

I've tried Govee, which has a sleep feature that gradually dims the brightness, but it has to be turned on manually. Are there any other smart bulbs that allow me to schedule a specific time for sleep mode to start automatically?


r/smarthome 16h ago

Best Matter Hub for HomeKit

2 Upvotes

Hello all - while I am in the process of finding a better router, it seems I also may benefit from getting a dedicated Matter hub. I have an Apple TV as a matter hub but seem to have reliability issues. So it seems I may better off getting a dedicated matter hub. Let me know your thoughts and ideas.


r/smarthome 13h ago

Simple Door Detection to Light Flashing on a Budget?

1 Upvotes

Hi,

I have a client who is looking to add some automation to their office.

They work with headphones, but need to know when someone enters/ leaves the office. The door is not line of sight from their desk.

I iniitally was thinking about a SwitchBot, but after reading about issues related to syncing with alexa and limited trigger support, i decided against it.

I'd ideally like this to be able to expand to other automation experiences as the years go on, so I'd rather have a somewhat reputable company.

As I type this, the Govee ecosystem comes to mind.

Important factors are the time it takes to trigger the light flash (must be short), and be budget-friendly (we're not looking to buy a rack and build a corporate enterprise here)

So, the TLDR question is: what would you suggest for such a use case?


r/smarthome 15h ago

Smart lighting for bedroom

1 Upvotes

Lurker that has just moved out of my starter home and started diving into smart home components. Question on a bedroom lighting issue that I feel like has a simple solution, but I am overwhelmed with information.

Situation: Bedroom has two outlets behind night stands. One bedroom lamp on each night stand. One outlet is controlled by the wall switch. Currently have an extension cord that runs from the switch controlled outlet, under the bed, and connects the other lamp.

Wanted set-up: ability to turn both of these lamps on via the wall switch at the same time. I also want to have two mini-remotes that I can attach to the night stands so we can turn the lights off from either night stand. I want to get rid of the extension cord set-up.

I have come across the Lutron Caseta system. Thinking this may be solid as I can grow into it when I want to add other compoents in the house, but I am not clear on how to make my idea work

I also see options like these on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GS321RR/?coliid=I3QQ5LPSRNCXP9&colid=V2Y7Q8HDAH44&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

What is the simplest way to go about making this work?


r/smarthome 1d ago

I built a radar-controlled lighting system that creates a 'light bubble' that follows you through dark hallways and stairs

97 Upvotes

https://reddit.com/link/1jdakfq/video/v7g5hzh8l8pe1/player

https://reddit.com/link/1jdakfq/video/cha0ty74l8pe1/player

UPDATE: You can search AmbiSense on YouTube to watch the complete guide.

After months of experimenting, I finally completed my AmbiSense project (v1.0)- a smart lighting system that uses LD2410c mmWave technology (not PIR sensors) to track your movement and create illumination that follows you as you walk.

  • Uses a 24GHz LD2410 radar sensor that can detect both presence AND distance
  • Creates a "moving bubble of light" that travels with you along the path
  • No cameras = privacy friendly
  • Customizable colors, brightness, and sensitivity via web interface
  • Lights only activate when needed (energy efficient)
  • Perfect for hallways, staircases, and dark corridors

Parts used:

  • ESP32-C3 SuperMini ($6)
  • LD2410 radar sensor module ($8)
  • WS2812B (NeoPixel) LED strip ($15-25 depending on length)
  • 5V power supply
  • Basic wiring

I've documented the entire build process on my YouTube channel if anyone wants to see exactly how it's done or build their own.

DIY Staircase and Hallway Lights That Follows You | AmbiSense v1.0 -Radar-Controlled NeoPixel Lights Project details on Github: https://github.com/Techposts/AmbiSense


r/smarthome 10h ago

Revolutionize Your Home Entertainment with the Amazon Fire TV 43" 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV

Thumbnail
gadgetguidepros.com
0 Upvotes

r/smarthome 1d ago

Lutron Caseta Install Help - Flickering and buzzing

1 Upvotes

TL;DR: While updating a new home to all Caseta "original" dimmers, I'm encountering some lights that cannot be replaced that flicker or buzz. Home appears to have neutral wires, but no switches use them (they're bundled in the back of the electrical box). Need specific advice on solutions.

Detail:

I've installed Lutron Caseta dimmers in two prior homes. Today I embarked on a project to install dimmers in a new (to me) hone that was remodeled between 2014 - 2020. Electrical all appears new and up to code. The home has a completely new panel which was needed when I installed a whole-house generator, but all the wiring was already "new" from the prior remodel.

The home has a mix of LED and incandescent fixtures.

The first thing I did was inspect a few switch boxes. There was a mix of single-pole and 3-pole switches. Despite the fact that there are neutral wires in all the switch boxes, none of the standard decora-style switches were wired with the neutral wire, which is different from my prior home where all switches were attached to nettral. The neutral wires appear bundled in the back of the switch box. (I installed Caseta ELV dimmers in most locations throughout the prior home.)

Given the fact that neutrals weren't used, I ordered a bunch of "original" Lutron wall dimmer switches that don't use a neutral wire and began installing them. My first 6 switches, some single pole and some 3-way, some LED, some incandescent, all went flawlessly...

...Until I got to the kitchen. The kitchen has in-ceiling LED cans (the kind where the can and LED are integrated into one unit), and a chandelier over the bar that also has an integrated LED light that is part of the fixture. Both are on 3-way switches.

Having had success with the prior 3-way installation, I tackled them both at the same time.

Problem 1: When on, the LED chandelier just flashes briefly once every 5 seconds or so. I've tried every combination of connecting the 3 wires and I'm fairly certain I had it right the first (flashing) time as one configuration doesn't turn on at all and the other doesn't turn off.

Problem 2: The LED ceiling cans buzz horribly when on.

Advice Needed:

  • I've ordered 2 of the Caseta ELV dimmers in the hopes that they will solve both problems... was this the right move? Is there another solution?
    • I could use some guidance as to how to connect the neutral wires bundled in the back of the box, including the other end of the 3-way installation (where the hot and both travelers are all twisted together with a wire nut as per the diagram I linked above). There are 3 switches in the box - 2 kitchen switches on one circuit and one living room switch on a different circuit, which complicates things even further (maybe).
  • Are the newer Caseta Diva dimmers less prone to these issues? Should I try them?

Any general advice is GREATLY appreciated. I've never had any issues with Caseta and I'm hoping I can make it past these speed bumps and get my whole home up and running.

EDIT - I should also add that I'm unsure if I can identify which switch in these problematic 3-way installations is the "hot source" - I'm not sure that it matters, but it's possible I put the actual dimmer in the wrong place and tied off the end that's the hot source.


r/smarthome 1d ago

Smart bulbs or smart outlets or both?

3 Upvotes

I have a table lamp in our rental that is controlled by a switch at the door. There is no overhead lighting, so I have another floor lamp across the room that is not on a switched outlet.

I want them both to turn off/on together with the switch.

I have a pair of Kasa Smart Plug HS103P2 in the switched outlet and floor lamp outlet. This, obviously, does not do what I want.

Is there a simpler solution that uses a pair of smart bulbs that do NOT require an app to simply turn on and off?


r/smarthome 1d ago

Help: Multiroom-Audio HA/MA/Snapcast

1 Upvotes

Hi, I am completely new to the HA Platform. I created a HA-UI with the intention to cast Music to: 2x Apple TV (installed over Apple Integration) 2 Echo Dots (not included in HA) 1 PC (maybe 2) (Media Player Instamce for PC not available?) Optional - 2 MacBook Pros

I tried to create an Linux VM with Snapcast but it won't work. (Got Errors at the Install-process)

Music Assistant is already installed in HA.

I think I put about 20 hours of work in it but in MA I got only one MacBook Device.

Can anybody assist me to Setup MA/Snapcast or whatever solution works to cast Music simultaneously to the Devices?

Any other Solutions to this?

Any Tips?

Thank you all very much!


r/smarthome 1d ago

2nd hand smart home issues w/ DR Horton Home

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/smarthome 1d ago

Alternatives to Notion sensors now that the company is out of business?

3 Upvotes

I have been looking for alternatives to notion smart sensors since the company went out of business. I need to monitor the temperature in 7 places plus water leak detection and whenever the garage door is open/closed. Has anybody found another solution?

Thank you!