OT Do You Have A "Smart" Home?

[ABM]

My brother-in-law has about every smart home gadget and Amazon-controlled appliance/light known to man.

Us? Not so much.

However, we did receive a free home energy audit today from our electric company (highly recommend!) and, while our home is newer and overall energy-efficient, she did recommend a smart thermostat. Some will even sense when there's no movement in the house (gone/sleeping, etc.) and adjust the temperature accordingly. She said it would absolutely pay for itself in a short amount of time. She also said that if, for whatever reason, we needed to change the temperature manually, only do it one degree at a time. Otherwise, the "emergency" mode (I think that's what she called it) will kick in, using more energy in doing so.

Anyway, I think I'll go ahead and invest in a smart thermostat. This is the one she uses in her home.

Amazon product ASIN B09XXS48P8

 

[crandc]

I'm a smart person.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

My brother-in-law has about every smart home gadget and Amazon-controlled appliance/light known to man.

Us? Not so much.

However, we did receive a free home energy audit today from our electric company (highly recommend!) and, while our home is newer and overall energy-efficient, she did recommend a smart thermostat. Some will even sense when there's no movement in the house (gone/sleeping, etc.) and adjust the temperature accordingly. She said it would absolutely pay for itself in a short amount of time. She also said that if, for whatever reason, we needed to change the temperature manually, only do it one degree at a time. Otherwise, the "emergency" mode (I think that's what she called it) will kick in, using more energy in doing so.

Anyway, I think I'll go ahead and invest in a smart thermostat. This is the one she uses in her home.

Amazon product ASIN B09XXS48P8

Aren't you renting?

You should talk to your landlord first. Once you wire the thermostat into the house it now belongs to him.

 

[ABM]

Aren't you renting?

Nope. We only rented between selling our former house and purchasing this one. We've been here since February.

 

[Phatguysrule]

My brother-in-law has about every smart home gadget and Amazon-controlled appliance/light known to man.

Us? Not so much.

However, we did receive a free home energy audit today from our electric company (highly recommend!) and, while our home is newer and overall energy-efficient, she did recommend a smart thermostat. Some will even sense when there's no movement in the house (gone/sleeping, etc.) and adjust the temperature accordingly. She said it would absolutely pay for itself in a short amount of time. She also said that if, for whatever reason, we needed to change the temperature manually, only do it one degree at a time. Otherwise, the "emergency" mode (I think that's what she called it) will kick in, using more energy in doing so.

Anyway, I think I'll go ahead and invest in a smart thermostat. This is the one she uses in her home.

Amazon product ASIN B09XXS48P8

PGE paid for my smart thermostat... Google Nest. It's pretty good.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I have Wyze plugs and cameras. Google nest speakers for voice commands.

 

[ABM]

For sixty bucks, I'm gonna go with this. I don't need a bunch of bells and whistles.

Amazon product ASIN B08J4C8871

 

[donkiez]

My home is pretty smart. I like my gadgets and toys. The three things that are worth it are a thermostat, smart bulbs and a keyless entry lock.

The thermostat is great because I can change it on my phone, or my voice and I can check the temperature history. I also added some Google temp sensors that I put in other rooms of my house, so I can monitor the temp and set heating and cooling to that rooms temp. The only issue I ever had was when Volvo had a commercial on TV and said "hey Google, turn up the temp." My house got hot AF a few times before I figured out it was the TV doing it.

The lights are nice because I can turn on the kitchen and dinning room with my voice, which is way more convenient than you imagine. My wife made fun of me for installing them now she never uses the switch. You can also set them up on timers so the lights go off when you go to sleep or come on before you wake up. I also put smart lights in my outdoor lights and they come on at sunset. In the TV room we added multicolor lights and for movies I'll turn them all a soft blue or red for mood lighting.

The keyless entry is my favorite feature. Out house auto locks itself after 5 minutes and everyone has their own code. I can let people in or give temporary codes to cleaners or maintenance people. It keeps a track of who opens the door and when they do it.

Also we have the video doorbells and lots of outside cameras. I'll be at home doing yard work and my wife often will check in and say hi to me on the outdoor cams.

 

[ABM]

The keyless entry is my favorite feature. Out house auto locks itself after 5 minutes and everyone has their own code. I can let people in or give temporary codes to cleaners or maintenance people. It keeps a track of who opens the door and when they do it.

I'm looking into that. I see there are a LOT of choices/features/prices out there. Any recommendations you can make....all things considered? Thanks!

 

[donkiez]

I'm looking into that. I see there are a LOT of choices/features/prices out there. Any recommendations you can make....all things considered? Thanks!

Google nest is good for us. I like to stick to one companies infrastructure as much as possible, rather than piecing a bunch of products and accounts together.

For the thermostat I don't think you need to over think it much. The only feature we really use is being able to change and check the temp remotely. The eco feature is nice and probably saves a few bucks but I don't notice it much.

 

[ABM]

Google nest is good for us. I like to stick to one companies infrastructure as much as possible, rather than piecing a bunch of products and accounts together.

For the thermostat I don't think you need to over think it much. The only feature we really use is being able to change and check the temp remotely. The eco feature is nice and probably saves a few bucks but I don't notice it much.

It has started.......

 

[barfo]

It has started.......

View attachment 50924

Remember, cut the red wire first, then the green one. Otherwise, it explodes immediately.

Or was it green, then blue?

Well, good luck anyway.

barfo

 

[ABM]

Remember, cut the red wire first, then the green one. Otherwise, it explodes immediately.

Or was it green, then blue?

Well, good luck anyway.

barfo

That's about it.

Anyway, the instructions HIGHLY advised I take this pic prior to pulling these wires.