Ordered SmarThings kit today

[LiquidFX 144]

With the discount that they have going on right now I had to order a few things to get my smart home conversion going. I would like to know what the rest of you have for home automation.

https://www.smartthings.com/

 

[Guest asrequested]

I don't have "home" control, but I have an Amazon echo linked to a Harmony hub. I can turn my system on and off with voice commands. I've been thinking about added lighting control.

[pir8radio 1312]

I use the Z-Wave stuff (i know smart things does some zwave as well) Ive tried all kinds of gateways, Smart Things, Vera, staples, iris...   I keep going back to a PC based system with the aeon labs Z-wave usb stick and server software "Axial" <-Links

 

I have a decent amount of zwave devices, all of my lights, washer/dryer, bathroom fans, garage door, main door locks to the house, motorized curtains in the living room, whole home power meter, Humidity sensors in the bathrooms automatically turn on the fans.  His software also talks to my nest thermostats and smoke detectors.   

[LiquidFX 144]

I plan to expand more devices in the future. I cant wait to start getting into some advanced settings for everything. The wife just rolled her eyes as I was telling her about the great new purchase 

[mediacowboy 438]

I use the Z-Wave stuff (i know smart things does some zwave as well) Ive tried all kinds of gateways, Smart Things, Vera, staples, iris... I keep going back to a PC based system with the aeon labs Z-wave usb stick and server software "Axial" <-Links

 

I have a decent amount of zwave devices, all of my lights, washer/dryer, bathroom fans, garage door, main door locks to the house, motorized curtains in the living room, whole home power meter, Humidity sensors in the bathrooms automatically turn on the fans. His software also talks to my nest thermostats and smoke detectors.

Do you have to have a nest account for that software to work. I want to do this but not be limited to Internet. I want everything controlled in house.

[pir8radio 1312]

Do you have to have a nest account for that software to work. I want to do this but not be limited to Internet. I want everything controlled in house.

 

Yes the software uses the nest API (through the net)...   I have not dug to deep into accessing the nest stuff directly...   

[Swynol 375]

i have smartthings but not many 'things' yet. I have 3 door sensors on all my external doors which i use as an alarm and presence sensors setup on mine and my wifes phone. 

 

I then have a fibaro RGBW module for some mood lighting in the Theater and one other fibaro swtich module which i use to turn outside lights on when i come home.

[LiquidFX 144]

I too picked up 3 door sensors and got one of the outlets in the kit

[mastrmind11 722]

Do you have to have a nest account for that software to work. I want to do this but not be limited to Internet. I want everything controlled in house.

Yes, you need a nest account for authentication and web service calls.  Even the 3rd party unofficial APIs still need to authenticate to gain access to the device.

[mellomade 141]

If you want independent home automation you should look into the ISY994i from Universal Devices.  It is one of the few inexpensive (by automation standards) controllers that does NOT require internet access to use (i.e. - not cloud based).  It has a built in web server that can be configured from any computer using their Java app.  It will run any INSTEON/ZWAVE device out there and it is supported by many different smartphone automation apps.

 

The nice thing about INSTEON/ZWAVE devices is that all you typically have to change is the switch or outlet.  No need for fancy light bulbs or other compatible devices that can drive up the total cost.

[mastrmind11 722]

If you want independent home automation you should look into the ISY994i from Universal Devices.  It is one of the few inexpensive (by automation standards) controllers that does NOT require internet access to use (i.e. - not cloud based).  It has a built in web server that can be configured from any computer using their Java app.  It will run any INSTEON/ZWAVE device out there and it is supported by many different smartphone automation apps.

 

The nice thing about INSTEON/ZWAVE devices is that all you typically have to change is the switch or outlet.  No need for fancy light bulbs or other compatible devices that can drive up the total cost.

Heres the ZWave compatible one... https://www.universal-devices.com/residential/isy994izw-series/

[pir8radio 1312]

If you want independent home automation you should look into the ISY994i from Universal Devices.  It is one of the few inexpensive (by automation standards) controllers that does NOT require internet access to use (i.e. - not cloud based).  It has a built in web server that can be configured from any computer using their Java app.  It will run any INSTEON/ZWAVE device out there and it is supported by many different smartphone automation apps.

 

The nice thing about INSTEON/ZWAVE devices is that all you typically have to change is the switch or outlet.  No need for fancy light bulbs or other compatible devices that can drive up the total cost.

 

 

The one I posted above in this post is totally in house not cloud based, PC based software...     But the tie to the NEST line of products requires a net connection just because that is how the NEST company does things...  If you wanted to use a Z-wave thermostat you could buy one and be totally in house... But he was asking specifically about the nest control portion. 

[mgworek 134]

I love my Insteon setup. They have been around for a long time and it doesn't use wireless at all to talk to each other which was my main reason for going with it. I am using their hub which has cloud access but I plan on switching to  ISY994i at some point. And everything ties together nicely. Insteon, Logitech, Alexa, and my Ecobee. Once I finish installing my Monoprice Whole House Audio and adding a Pi to it so it can be controlled over the network, I am set. 

[dranderson402 31]

I started with X10 stuff a few years ago. Started with security and quickly added home automation using their AHP software. After almost a year of fiddling with the software and powerline noise, I was about to give up until I discovered the XTB-IIR repeater and the Hone Control Assistant software. Once I upgraded to that and a better wireless receiver I hardly ever touch the system, it just works.

 

So I have all most of my lights controlled by HCA and have just recently added an echo dot which has the HCA skill to control my lights by voice. I also just got the Harmony Smart Control hub and will use the echo to control my main TV and system.

 

I also have the X10 door and window sensors programmed in to HCA so I can trigger certain lights when a door opens. For example, if I open the front door HCA will turn on a light in the back of the house so I know the door was opened. I have an old house and no central air so in the summer the room is closed off and we can't hear the chime when the door is opened and my wife wanted to know when the kids were coming and going.

 

I also have HCA to sound a chime when someone steps on the porch using a motion sensor which will also turn on the porch light if it's dark outside.

 

I'm now working on triggering programs in HCA to run a sound file that will use text to speech to announce what door or window was just opened. And since the door/window sensors check in every hour with their status, HCA will tell me which door or window is still opened.

 

THe best thing I love about HCA (Home Control Assistant) is that I can not only use X10, I can run other protocols and devices like Insteon, zwave and others all in conjunction with each other. I can for example and an X10 motion sensor turn on an Insteon light. The possibility of expansion is endless.

[Swynol 375]

So over the last few days been messing with smartthings. i currently have

 

3x Door sensors

2x presence sensors (mobile phones)

1x fibaro 2x 1.5kw relay

1x fibaro RGBW controller

1x Water leak sensor

1x zwave plug

1x motion sensor

 

I have various apps and automation setup. for example all door sensors are linked to home security which alerts me if any of them open while me or the wife arent home. it also arms itself after a certain time at night. Also setup that if its between sunset and sunrise and the front door opens, turn on outside lights and porch lights. Also works with presence sensor that if i arrive home between sunset and sunrise turn on outside and porch lights for 10 mins. i have lights on my stairs, motion sensor sense lux and if its getting dark and between 7pm and 10pm turn on stair lights also if motion detected after 10pm until 1 hour after sunrise turn on lights.

water sensor is below my fish tank, mainly incase it leaks. RGBW lighting in my theater room around the pool table.

 

my plan is to add 2 smoke detectors and a few more lighting control around the house, maybe some more smart plugs (would of been good for the christmas tree lights). I also have a fibaro door sensor which i will get around to hooking up to my door bell so that when mu door bell rings it will notify me phone etc.

 

i also use the smart tiles app. highly recommended, you can access your smartthings in anyweb browser, handy for tablet control. 

 

[mastrmind11 722]

I'm interested in thoughts on zwave vs insteon.  I know the technical differences, so I'm looking more for feedback based on personal use (reliability of network, hub, good/bad phone app, installation, etc).  

[mediacowboy 438]

I want to do some home automation as well. I was thinking of using castle OS. Anyone using that software?

[leebo 12]

I don't have "home" control, but I have an Amazon echo linked to a Harmony hub. I can turn my system on and off with voice commands. I've been thinking about added lighting control.

There is a new Echo app for the Harmony hub. Just released Thursday I believe.

It allows more control, like audio control and channel changing, play movie, etc. It's a different app (skill) than the one you've been using, but still put out by Logitech. You have to uninstall the old app for it to work, at least in my experience.

[CashMoney 94]

Thought this might be of interest to some in this thread.

 

http://bwssystems.com/#/habridge

 

It's a java app that pretends to be a phillips hue bridge, which you then furnish with custom commands from your device. So for example, I can setup my bedroom light (MiLight/EasyBulb/LimitlessLED RGBW) to turn on, off or dim as though it was a Phillips Hue device. I too have a smarthings hub so I plan on using HABridge to bridge the two incompatible systems. Others have used it get Alexa to voice control their lights.

 

http://codecorner.galanter.net/2016/05/12/full-control-of-your-limitless-ledmilight-bulbs-from-amazon-echo/

 

That's where I got the info and adjusted it to my uses; guessing their is some in this thread who may find it useful too.

[Swynol 375]

Thought this might be of interest to some in this thread.

 

http://bwssystems.com/#/habridge

 

It's a java app that pretends to be a phillips hue bridge, which you then furnish with custom commands from your device. So for example, I can setup my bedroom light (MiLight/EasyBulb/LimitlessLED RGBW) to turn on, off or dim as though it was a Phillips Hue device. I too have a smarthings hub so I plan on using HABridge to bridge the two incompatible systems. Others have used it get Alexa to voice control their lights.

 

http://codecorner.galanter.net/2016/05/12/full-control-of-your-limitless-ledmilight-bulbs-from-amazon-echo/

 

That's where I got the info and adjusted it to my uses; guessing their is some in this thread who may find it useful too.

 

thats really interesting. so can you fully control the milight stuff from Smartthings? does the RGBW and 2 way communication?

[CashMoney 94]

thats really interesting. so can you fully control the milight stuff from Smartthings? does the RGBW and 2 way communication?

 

It takes a bit of messing about, but yes. The HABridge software only does on/off/dim so for the colours I've set them up as seperate bulbs. Turn on bedroom light and then another "bulb/location" to turn on blue bedroom light for example. Honestly though, I rarely use the colours, just white and dimmed so it works for me. My son uses the presence tag for Smartthings so it's set to turn on his lights in his room when he gets home (he works a night shift). We've only recently set this up (couple of days now) but it's working fine for us. Since it still uses the MiLight bridge as well, all our original control apps work still, which means tasker and autovoice still give us okay google control of the lights, and the Kodi plugin still dim's the lounge bulbs when we play a movie. 

Edited December 21, 2016 by CashMoney

[Swynol 375]

mmm, tempted to give that a go. i would probably only need to turn them on/off from smartthings and like you said use their native apps to control the colour. time to shop for some 5050 rgbw lighting