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ISBN: 978-1-4835599-5-7

Published by

Electronic House Publishing, Inc

111 Speen Street, Suite 200, P.O. Box 989

Framingham, MA 01701

508 663 1500

www.electronichouse.com

SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY, also called home automation or connected home, is the fastest growing area of technology today, but it’s taken the longest to get noticed. Home automation and smart home products have been around for more than 20 years, yet for most people, the trend first started being noticeable only in the last couple of years. There are a few reasons for this, but primarily it’s due to the rise in inexpensive do-it-yourself (DIY) systems which have made smart home lifestyles more affordable and easier to get than ever before.

A smart home, essentially, is a home in which all (or some) of the home’s electrical subsystems (lighting, heating/air conditioning, security/monitoring, entertainment and more) or devices are all more accessible and integrated so that they work together. Smart homes systems are usually connected to the Internet via your home network, which means that you can view your system status and make adjustments (like changing the temperature or unlocking the door) even when you’re a thousand miles away. You also access your system in your house over your home network, through your smart phone or tablet. Both Apple and Android based phones and tablets are able to control smart home systems, and some systems also work with Windows-based phones.

You can add smart home devices to your house one at a time, or design a whole system and install it in a weekend. Many people begin with something simple, like a smart thermostat or a wireless security camera, and then add devices, and eventually want to integrate them altogether. The more devices and system you integrate, the more automated your home can be. Such integration can add convenience and security to your life. Today’s technologies are much more reliable than they were in the past, and must easier to set up. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started on a smart home project.

What first attracted you to smart home systems? Was it that cool thermostat you can control with your iPhone? Were you looking for an easy way to monitor your house when you’re not home? Did you want to be able to turn off all your lights with one simple command? Whatever first got your attention, now is the perfect time to start your smart home project. Today’s smart home systems and devices are easy to install, easy to use, affordable, and can be scaled to both large and small homes, even apartments.

Smart home systems don’t need to be confusing or intimidating. You don’t have to be an expert to set up and use one, but you should understand the basics of how the technology works. This guide will explain the main types of smart home systems, the wireless protocols that connect them and the devices that you’ll need or want. It also explains the importance of home automation scenes, and offers many examples of uses or projects you may want to try in your home.

TODAY’S DIY SMART HOME SYSTEMS, from companies like SmartThings, Wink, Lowe’s Iris, iRule, Universal Devices, Vera, Insteon, and others are fairly easy to install, set up, and use. They’re also getting more affordable, so no longer are home automation systems only for the wealthy. Of course, there’s a difference between what a DIY smart home system can do and what a professionally installed home automation system can do, so if you’re considering doing it yourself, then consider these top questions when shopping for your first smart home system.

The first consideration is to identify what you actually want your new smart home system to do. Why do you need or want it? Do you want more home security? Many DIY home security systems double as, or overlap with, smart home systems. If home security is a priority, look for systems that are compatible with the necessary security sensors, such as door and window contact sensors, motion and noise detectors, water, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and, of course, wireless security cameras. If temperature control is your priority, make sure the system supports the home thermostats you want to use, such as the Nest and Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi thermostats (read more about those in section 3). If you want a system to control your lights, look for one that offers the different kinds of light switches and dimmers you need (and is compatible with the light sources, such as CFL and LED, you need). If you want your system to control audio and video devices, such as your TV and music, then your choices are much more limited, and you may be better off with a professionally installed system.

Most DIY smart home systems communicate on wireless networks. Sometimes they rely on your home’s Wi-Fi for some features, but mostly they set up their own mesh networks using protocols such as Z-Wave, Zigbee, ClearConnect and others. An updated version of Bluetooth is also catching on, and soon Apple’s HomeKit system and Thread will be available. Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start

While a lot of the gadgets you can use in a smart home system are simple plug-and-play devices, (such as wireless security cameras, motion detectors, smart bulbs, and outlet adaptors), others will need a little wiring know-how. With wiring, there’s always risk unless you know what you’re doing. Most wireless dimmers and light switches, and all smart Wi-Fi thermostats need to be hard-wired into your home. If you’re not comfortable with home electrical wiring, either ask for help, or looks for solutions that don’t need wiring. For instance, this Bluetooth light switch attaches via magnets.

The explosion of smart home devices that have emerged from crowd-funding campaigns such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo has resulting it great variety and choice for smart home hobbyists. It also has created a lot of start-up companies with limited experience in the market. Some of those companies have and will go on to produce great things for the industry, and other will stumble, make mistakes and fail. A certain amount of caution may be required when investing a lot of your home’s security or control to a company that’s only been around a few months. Of course, the same can be said sometimes for large established companies. Still, a track record instills a bit of confidence.

You need to know what communication systems your smart home hub uses (see #2) because that will dictate what accessory devices you can add to your system. If you go with an Insteon hub you’ll be limited to Insteon accessories (unless you get the upcoming HomeKit Insteon hub); however, Insteon offers such a wide variety that you may be perfectly happy. Some smart home hubs use Z-Wave, some Zigbee, and others use a mix.

You may not need a whole smart home system. Maybe all you’re interested in is motorizing a few blinds or wirelessly accessing a security camera or two. If your needs are small, you can buy individual devices and operate them with their individual apps. If you want a more integrated system, then you’ll need a central smart home hub and a centralized app to control all your devices.

Your home network is going to be critical for any smart home system. The more devices tapping into it, the more Wi-Fi products pulling at it, and the more your network will be strained.

Some DIY smart home systems require a monthly fee, some, like Lowe’s Iris, offer additional services for a fee, and others have no fee at all. Understand how the fees work and what you get for them before you buy any hardware. Generally, the fees cover monitoring of the system for home security, but others, such as Lowe’s Iris, requires a fee before the users can access any of the advanced integration features.