For me – talking about Wink is a little akin to talking about a ex high school sweetheart. Fond memories of beauty, excitement and passion that ended for no other reason than we grew apart and our life directions no longer aligned. That was me and Wink. As an old X10 guy, Wink was everything…
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The Inovelli 4-in-1 Sensor model LZW60 is Inovelli’s first venture into the sensor world. I find the decision to go after the 4-in-1 market to be a good idea. The sensor offers Motion, Temperature, Humidity and Light detection. What else would you need? In true Inovelli form, this is a highly configurable device and requires…
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Homes with existing alarm system wiring can provide your home automation system with a multitude of sensors. The problem to date is that there have not been really good options to take advantage of the wired sensors. Until today that is. In late 2018, Fibaro released the Smart Implant which is a Z-Wave plus device…
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The Yale YRD256 line provides options for all home automation enthusiasts regardless of your platform. There are options for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Z-Wave Plus which aligns it with Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Hubitat, Connected by August and other popular platforms. You can even use it with an app or no automation at all. Connected by…
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This page is a work in progress. As I test more locks, they will be added here. Thank you for your patience. Make/Model Protocol Install Complexity Proximity Unlock Motor Noise Power-fail Backup Hub Command Reliability Lock Status Report Reliability User Report to Hub Reliability Alfred / DB1 Bluetooth Z-Wave Low Yes Low USB High High…
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If you’re a dedicated Z-Wave enthusiast or you’re looking for reliable Z-Wave lock to integrate with your security system, this lock deserves a serious look. While it doesn’t have all of the cool features contained in the YRD256, this lock (YRD156) contains the functions required to ensure your smart home is safe and secure. Buy…
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Here is the How behind the What. Since I use the Hubitat Elevation (HE) Home Automation Hub, all examples are based on HE and Alexa.
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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