When it comes to testing smart locks, I focus on two aspects: 1) does the lock do what it’s told to do when commanded by the hub; and 2) does the lock tell the hub what happened (locked, unlocked, which user, etc.). My goal is for these tests to be as automated as possible. The more…
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The Zooz Zen30 Double Switch is ideal for those single-gang boxes that have two switches. This is often found in bathrooms where you have a double-switch that controls a light and a fan, or a normal light and a heat lamp. The Zen30 has a single dimmer switch (top) and an on/off switch that controls…
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Automating window treatments is an important aspect of home security, energy efficiency, and the overall ambiance of your home. The issue, until now, is that this has not been very affordable. iBlinds has an affordable DIY solution for controlling 2 – 2.5 inch horizontal blinds and offer an additional solar panel to make this a…
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Inovelli Red Series Dimmer Inovelli Black Series Dimmer Overall Rating The Inovelli LZW31 comes in two flavors, red and black. The Black Series dimmer is the utilitarian little brother of the Red Series dimmer. It’s nice that they decided to provide a basic version (that’s still very capable) for those customers that don’t want or…
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Update April 2020 – Wink employees have been active again on their Facebook and Twitter pages. I see that people are getting support. Wink also announced a mandatory firmware upgrade, which is encouraging. Unfortunately there’s not much other news available. Wink has been silent. Very silent. According to one article, they already have. So if…
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Inovelli Red Series Switch Inovelli Black Series Switch Overall Rating The Inovelli LZW30 on/off switch comes in two flavors, red and black. The Black Series switch is the utilitarian little brother of the Red Series switch. It’s nice that they decided to provide a basic version (that’s still very capable) for those customers that don’t want or…
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Overall Rating These are one of the favorite lights in my home. The family loves them. It’s not just about the color, it’s how clear the light and vibrant the lights are. I know everyone has heard that Osram intends to stop the production and support of their cloud service. But never fear. These are…
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Zooz Zen26 on/off Switch Zooz Zen27 Dimmer Switch Overall Rating The Zooz Zen26 and Zen27 are two reliable Z-Wave Plus S2 switches. The Zen26 is a scene capable on/off switch, and the Zen27 is a scene capable dimmer. Being scene switches, they both support double-tap and multi-tap functions. The offer most of the capabilities you’d expect from…
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Pairing the Schlage Z-Wave Connect Deadbolt with Hubitat Elevation Smart Home Hub can be a difficult task. This video was made before Hubitat pulled the lock from their supported device list. If you are having trouble, this video will help. It provides full instructions for factory reset, Z-Wave Exclusion & Inclusion, solving common problems…
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Aeotec Range Extender 6 Aeotec Range Extender 7 Overall Rating A strong mesh network is the backbone of Z-Wave Plus home automation. While it’s true that under normal circumstances you should not need a range extender/repeater, most normal humans probably do. This is a religious war, especially for those who would say you don’t. My…
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