Smarthome Advice? Christmas gift for parents

[MikeMike]

I'm thinking of getting my parents a good start to a smart home for christmas this year.

They just redid their living areas with a ton of custom cabinetry and hardwoods and lighting but am thinking of doing the following.

Buy an echo. Not sure if Dot or standard yet.
Buy an ecobee thermostat with at least 1 sensor, maybe 2 (one in living areas, one in bedroom)
Buy a few Hue bulbs (not the color changers, just the dimmable) (to fill out the two rooms I'd need to buy like 12 bulbs, so i'm holding off on that right now and may just focus on one room and make it usable with commands like "alexa, trigger watch tv" or "alexa, trigger reading" or "alexa, trigger cleaning")
Buy a smarthome hub.

My question, is what hub? The samsung smartt hings is super powerful but possibly overkill.

They're 60/57 and can use iphone/ipad nothing fancy.

Thoughts?

 

[lxskllr]

Would they like something like that? I wouldn't. Aside from the security concerns, I prefer doing things manually. First step is to gauge their interest.

 

[MikeMike]

Would they like something like that? I wouldn't. Aside from the security concerns, I prefer doing things manually. First step is to gauge their interest.

I'm not going down security levels. Not doing deadbolt/camera/etc. only lights and temperature control with Alexa being used as the main controller

 

[lxskllr]

I'm not going down security levels. Not doing deadbolt/camera/etc. only lights and temperature control with Alexa being used as the main controller

I meant just network connected devices that may be exploitable, and may or may not ever get an update after sale. There's also privacy concerns. I realize most aren't as concerned about it as I am, but I wouldn't give corporate dependency as a gift.

In any case, I'm not your parents, but I'd still float the idea to see what they think, unless you're sure they'd enjoy it. Everyone isn't as enamored with tech, especially when they've done things the same way for ~50 years.

 

[Carson Dyle]

This would all be so they can dim the lights without getting up off the couch?

 

[MikeMike]

This would all be so they can dim the lights without getting up off the couch?

This would be the start...

The kitchen itself has 8 light switches plus 7 under-cabinet light tracks which all need to be turned on/off if you want every light on. (plus the dimmers for all lights)

The thermostat is in the front room where no one really is ever and they play with it almost daily and make it a "smart thermostat" themselves by turning on/off and changing temp.

The Echo would allow them to easily begin playing music without having to turn on the bluetooth speaker they have. Allow them to control the lights. Allow for reminders. Allow for timers... etc.

Ideally, I would go all-in, buy smart bulbs for everything and overnight install them so when they wake up it's all set up. But, that's a hefty lift.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I think we talked bout this in another thread... but don't you pretty much have to have all the switches on and the dimmers at 100% for the smart lighting to work as desired? Which mean that you essentially eliminate the manual control of the same lights. For example, if someone walks into a dark room, they have to tell Alexa to turn the lights on instead of just flicking a switch.

I could see how that might take a system that seems pretty whiz-bang cool at first, and cause it to be used less and less. Which just gets back to whether or not your parents would want that sort of control, and I'm not sure even they could say until they've lived with it for a while.

 

[shortylickens]

My mom is 60.
Work made her take an iPhone 6.

She's terrified of the thing. Always asks me to fix it. Its never broke. And I dont know how to fix iPhones anyway.




I think after a certain age you should be required to use this and nothing else:

 

[zerocool84]

My mom is 60.
Work made her take an iPhone 6.

She's terrified of the thing. Always asks me to fix it. Its never broke. And I dont know how to fix iPhones anyway.

I think after a certain age you should be required to use this and nothing else:

My mom is 64 and uses her Galaxy S6 just fine. She uses social media more than I do.

 

[MikeMike]

My mom is 64 and uses her Galaxy S6 just fine. She uses social media more than I do.

My parents are fine with iPhones. No issues there. Yes they have questions, and use only the most basic of all things, but they also have fitbits and ipads.

I think we talked bout this in another thread... but don't you pretty much have to have all the switches on and the dimmers at 100% for the smart lighting to work as desired? Which mean that you essentially eliminate the manual control of the same lights. For example, if someone walks into a dark room, they have to tell Alexa to turn the lights on instead of just flicking a switch.

I could see how that might take a system that seems pretty whiz-bang cool at first, and cause it to be used less and less. Which just gets back to whether or not your parents would want that sort of control, and I'm not sure even they could say until they've lived with it for a while.

One thing I would do as well if we get to that level, is probably buy this thing: http://www2.meethue.com/en-us/productdetail/philips-hue-tap-switch

Which does the switch itself. and then possibly buy this: http://www2.meethue.com/en-us/productdetail/philips-hue-dimmer-switch

 

[Red Squirrel]

Whatever you do just make sure you secure it properly. Last thing you want is to have the FBI knock at their door because their IoT home is part of a bot net. Then they'll really be scared of technology.

 

[dullard]

Ideally, I would go all-in, buy smart bulbs for everything and overnight install them so when they wake up it's all set up. But, that's a hefty lift.

I haven't done the smart light thing yet (haven't seen the need). But it really makes no sense to me to replace all bulbs at $15 to $50 each when you can just get a smart dimmer switch to control many bulbs at once and don't cost much at all. What am I missing?

 

[Kaido]

I'm thinking of getting my parents a good start to a smart home for christmas this year.

They just redid their living areas with a ton of custom cabinetry and hardwoods and lighting but am thinking of doing the following.

Buy an echo. Not sure if Dot or standard yet.
Buy an ecobee thermostat with at least 1 sensor, maybe 2 (one in living areas, one in bedroom)
Buy a few Hue bulbs (not the color changers, just the dimmable) (to fill out the two rooms I'd need to buy like 12 bulbs, so i'm holding off on that right now and may just focus on one room and make it usable with commands like "alexa, trigger watch tv" or "alexa, trigger reading" or "alexa, trigger cleaning")
Buy a smarthome hub.

My question, is what hub? The samsung smartt hings is super powerful but possibly overkill.

They're 60/57 and can use iphone/ipad nothing fancy.

Thoughts?

The Wink Hub is about the easiest you can get. I like Lutron Caseta light switches, but they are $60 a pop. A Schlage Century deadbolt is cool...lets you unlock the door from your iPhone, key, or with a PIN code. Chamberlain makes a garage door adapter to open from a smartphone. Lots of stuff to integrate:

http://www.wink.com/

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I have both the SmartThings hub and the Wink hub, along with over 100 devices at last count. Some devices I have which are connected to my HA hubs:

1. Hue Bloom bulbs (color)
2. Osram color bulbs, including the Osram mini garden lights
3. Lifx color bulbs
4. GE Link, Osram, and Cree connected bulbs (regular white or tunable white bulbs)
5. Ecobee thermostat (just got it yesterday and haven't installed it yet)
6. Dozens of sensors (open/close, temperature, relays, motion, multisensors, etc)
7. Harmony hubs
8. 8 Amazon Echos/Dots
9. Lutron Casetas
10. Smart power switches
11. Blink camera ecosystem

Personally, I wouldn't go down this road for a relative unless they're pretty tech savvy. These things are cool and fun to play with, but they're not 100% reliable and unless you want to be tech support for them, I'd figure something else out.

Also, if you're using a smart bulb in a socket controlled by a switch, that switch must remain in the "on" position so that the bulb receives enough power to stay connected to the HA hub. The way around this is to use a smart switch with regular bulbs instead, but smart switches can be pricey ($25-$50 depending on features) compared to smart bulbs (usually $15 and up). If you just want dimmable smart bulbs, the Cree are $15 each and much cheaper than Hue.

Things I won't buy:

1. Smart garage door openers
2. Locks on exterior-facing doors

There have been reports of garage doors opening themselves and locks unlocking themselves, so I won't ever use smart devices in those places unless the reliability improves.

I think we talked bout this in another thread... but don't you pretty much have to have all the switches on and the dimmers at 100% for the smart lighting to work as desired? Which mean that you essentially eliminate the manual control of the same lights. For example, if someone walks into a dark room, they have to tell Alexa to turn the lights on instead of just flicking a switch.

Yes, if you use smart bulbs, this is correct. You can replace the switches with smart switches instead (and use regular bulbs) and won't need to keep the switches in the "on" position. You could also flip the switch or use Alexa to power them on.

 

[MikeMike]

I have both the SmartThings hub and the Wink hub, along with over 100 devices at last count. Some devices I have which are connected to my HA hubs:

1. Hue Bloom bulbs (color)
2. Osram color bulbs, including the Osram mini garden lights
3. Lifx color bulbs
4. GE Link, Osram, and Cree connected bulbs (regular white or tunable white bulbs)
5. Ecobee thermostat (just got it yesterday and haven't installed it yet)
6. Dozens of sensors (open/close, temperature, relays, motion, multisensors, etc)
7. Harmony hubs
8. 8 Amazon Echos/Dots
9. Lutron Casetas
10. Smart power switches
11. Blink camera ecosystem

Personally, I wouldn't go down this road for a relative unless they're pretty tech savvy. These things are cool and fun to play with, but they're not 100% reliable and unless you want to be tech support for them, I'd figure something else out.

Also, if you're using a smart bulb in a socket controlled by a switch, that switch must remain in the "on" position so that the bulb receives enough power to stay connected to the HA hub. The way around this is to use a smart switch with regular bulbs instead, but smart switches can be pricey ($25-$50 depending on features) compared to smart bulbs (usually $15 and up). If you just want dimmable smart bulbs, the Cree are $15 each and much cheaper than Hue.

Things I won't buy:

1. Smart garage door openers
2. Locks on exterior-facing doors

There have been reports of garage doors opening themselves and locks unlocking themselves, so I won't ever use smart devices in those places unless the reliability improves.



Yes, if you use smart bulbs, this is correct. You can replace the switches with smart switches instead (and use regular bulbs) and won't need to keep the switches in the "on" position. You could also flip the switch or use Alexa to power them on.

Do smart switches fit into the same size box as regular switches?
- Can I fit 4 smart switches into the same sized wall-box as 4 regular switches?

Do the smart switches allow for two way switches?

This sounds like an interesting play as well.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Do smart switches fit into the same size box as regular switches?
- Can I fit 4 smart switches into the same sized wall-box as 4 regular switches?

Do the smart switches allow for two way switches?

This sounds like an interesting play as well.

The smart switches are generally a 1:1 fit, but they're usually deeper so you won't have as much room at the back of the gang box.

GE (and others) make add-on switches which pair with their regular smart switches for 2/3 way control. If you go with something like Wink, you can use Lutron Casetas for one switch and then mount the included pico remote in a bracket and faceplate for the other switch location.

 

[MikeMike]

The smart switches are generally a 1:1 fit, but they're usually deeper so you won't have as much room at the back of the gang box.

GE (and others) make add-on switches which pair with their regular smart switches for 2/3 way control. If you go with something like Wink, you can use Lutron Casetas for one switch and then mount the included pico remote in a bracket and faceplate for the other switch location.

Well... I have absolutely no way of determining if they used 14-3 or 12-2 when wiring the new lighting without directly asking... so that's going to be a fun one to figure out.

Not all of the lights are 3-way but most are, which leads me to believe 14-3 was probably used throughout... But not guaranteed.