Home Automation

[Neophyte]

I'm falling into the rabbit hole that is Home Automation. Nothing serious too serious yet but a little bit of stuff.

Amazon Echo Dots for Alexa Voice controls
Samsung Smartthings Hubs for a mesh network and device control
10 Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Mini Plugs

I have just programmed some basic lighting scenes around the house and set up voice control for my Fire Sticks.
I also have an Ecobee thermostat with sensors for each bedroom upstairs.

I am looking at setting up some dedicated hardware to run Home Assistant because I want to do some more advanced things with motion sensors, as well as tie in devices that won't talk to either Smartthings or Alexa (my damn garage door!).

Is anyone else playing with home automation?

 

[MikefromOH]

Google nest.

For someone who doesn't trust our government and hates technology, my phone and dots will turn on/off anything. And, my security system can record a squirrel peeing on a leaf at 500 yards lol

But, it allows music in whatever room we program it from, pictures to be saved, watching security, and the boys can facetime the grandparents in Oz whenever they want.

 

[Chris]

I wouldn’t like to live without Alexa voice controls with most of my household lights, ceiling fans, and Nest thermostat.

I have also set-up accent lighting in the kitchen, master bedroom , and living room wall unit.

 

[Neophyte]

Forgot my thermostat. I have an Ecobee controlling the HVAC upstairs and I'll be adding one for the ground floor in the next few weeks.

This is more than just convenient, btw. I can see savings in my electric bill and this was the first summer since we moved in here that I haven't experienced a freeze-up on the AC compressor during the worst of the summer heat.

 

[Boone]

I control my golf simulation software with voice commands using a program called 'Voice Attack'. Pretty cool. That's all I got.

 

[Neophyte]

Hey, automation is automation, brother. This is a judgment-free zone.