As a real estate agent who has seen the damage water leaks can cause, I’m a big advocate for water valve shutoff devices such bulldog or titan from zooz. Lutron is also my go to smart switch/dimmer recommendation, having to buy the pro over the standard bridge isn’t a big deal. With hubitat you can program the picos to control smart bulbs, but for that typically I’d go with zooz, inovelli, or lesser known RGB genie Eero is a great bang for your buck and worthwhile upgrade for most people that either have a modem router combo provided by their isp or are still using an older off the shelf non-mesh based router
The one thing that Paul fails to consider is the quality of components in the power supplies. I have 6 Phillips hue BR 30's and one A19 for 7 years now. I have had other BR 30's and even non smart LED bulbs fail on me already because the power supply goes bad , likely due to cheap caps. I also have GE Z wave switches that all failed within a few months of one another ,and Sylvania lightify that failed within a couple years because of bad power supplies. These Chinese smart home products may seem nice but the real question is how long will they last. But I have a lot of dirt cheap Chinese no name stuff that works great after years and years where big name brands like GE and Sylvania have failed. Like I said the main culprit is likely bad caps or just poorly designed power supplies, nobody ever thinks about this mundane component or considers it when making a purchase though. I can say Phillips does use good components and has well designed power supplies. Though one of my A19 non tuneable bulbs had the plastic housing get discolored and develop cracks all over it for seemingly no reason. But it is a cheap $10 hue ZigBee bulb. I agree that the Hue app just sucks and doesn't even allow you to set a boot up state for no power loss turn on.
All the Yolink devices , smart buttons and sensors have been bomb proof. Their freezer alarms work from within freezer and Outdoor sensors work at long distance. Lutrons are also pain free. Never have a missed signal or routine.
Thanks Brian. My pick for near perfect smarthome device. For any room. The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen). Music, spoken google queries, homework including visuals, humble enough to be forgotten, picture frame, and alarm clock.
That's great! You know, it's nice to hear that Google's still knocking it out of the park for some folks. I do still like my 2nd gen Nest Hub for sure. Love the sleep monitoring actually.
Your channel is the best home automation channel, I appreciate your information, I use Smartthings, I am wondering what would be your opinion on what to upgrade to? or am I still ok with my system.
If you aren't super frustrated with all the changes then I would say just wait as smart things is rounding into a much better system right now. If you are looking to get out and want to put the work in then I think hubitat is a great solution
Hey Brian I am getting into Govee lights (replacing my Hue lights) what are some great motion sensors that work with Govee that I can use t o turn on whole rooms in my house?
Hey Scott! You'll want to do this through Alexa likely. They have lots of options. Here's 10: czcams.com/video/5N-IAR4l7Uk/video.html and there's a really nice, cheap one in this lineup review: czcams.com/video/ad4MQgb_cfg/video.html. If you're using Google Home to try and automate, there's only one motion sensor: Hue Motion
My favorite series of products is the RF version of the Sonoff wall switch and Basic WiFi switch called the RFR2. With a generic 433 MHz remote, I can press a button to turn them on and off, as well as use the App, Voice and manually control everything I put them on. I have 45+ of these switches around my house, including on my Echo Dots to reset them. Amazing devices.
Hi I have problem with my switch bot key pad touch the NFC scanner is not working it always shows me a ( failed to add ) in the app when I want to add a NFC I tried to reset it and pair it again but it didn't work I tried the card that came with it I tried the NFC tags that came with the lock and even tried 3rd party NFC tags but nothing works with it is there any way to fix this ?
That's an Echo speaker being controlled through standard Hue skill integration. And an Apple HomePod being controlled through Apple HomeKit through standard integration there. Both integrations require the Hue Hub!
Brian....I have an older home with 8 ft ceilings, and most rooms only have a ceiling fan light....So, I put up low profile light trays 11 inches down from the ceiling with 4 inch crown molding on the front for indirect lighting. We have been very happy with the philips hue lightstrips plus in those trays. They are RGBWW, the 2 WW's being a dedicated blueish white and a dedicated yellowish white, but when mixed together make a daylight white. But, they are really expensive. Amazon does sell a few RGBWW that are wifi capable, but , I really want to control them with the hue dimmer. I want to add these generic RGBWW to the hue ecosystem. Can that be done?
You couldn't use the dial at this point, but you could use the buttons on that dial to set 4 different settings through Alexa or HomeKit. Your other strips would have to work with that system too though, so I'm betting Alexa would work for you but not HomeKit with the types of strips you're considering. If you look at some Zigbee strips, like the ones in this video: czcams.com/video/DtsSy0b4LtI/video.html (go to 14:32) then you can connect them directly with the Hue Hub and then yes, you get full control!
Hey Chaz! Glad you liked it! The great news is it's just through the basic integration method between Hue and Alexa and/or HomeKit. I brought in the hub by adding an accessory in HomeKit and in Alexa I used the Hue Skill. That brought in the Tap Dial Switch in both cases and allowed me to use Routines in Alexa or Automations in HomeKit. It's a little tricky with HomeKit to find the Switch, and I've noticed this situation is shifting with Matter right now, but that's the gist of it!
oof, that's not something I've seen on ratings for any switch, but I haven't looked specifically Mark. I'll keep a watch out the next time I'm working with a new brand.
I’ve had Phillips Hue for a while and it worked great. Then I tried to set up my mom’s house with hue using the same Alexa and hue account. It doesn’t work very smoothly. I might have to use 2 separate Amazon and hue accounts. I used one so we could take better advantage of some features, but II think what I gain is outweighed by the frustrations in that case. For instance, if she has used her smart lights, I have to tap the button on my hub before mine will work, at which point, hers will cease working until she presses the button on hers. Then, of course, mine stop working again.
Sadly that feature has come available and disappeared a few times. But you can use an automation with Amazon or Apple as long as you can find the device as a trigger in automations.
You forgot to mention the Sinope sensor can also be setup to its own (reletively inexpensive) smartvalve, who also has a 'abnormal flow' sensor you plumb in with it. So works if your hub goes down (requires you configure it this way within Sinope and connect to Smartthings via cloud service instead of direct). But best valve I've seen so far (valve has plug and batt backup) .
Hi Brian Another great video. Glad to see YoLink get a mention today -- they really are great. Do you have a solution to bathrooms that have both the light and the ceiling exhaust fan wired to the same switch? Thanks 👍🏻
@@AutomateYourLife I know right? What kind of savage puts them on the same switch 😅 Looks like I'm going to have to separate the two after all. Yay. Haha thank you Brian!
Out of all my smart switch devices, Caseta has the only switch that failed. I haven’t looked into their warranty yet, but I hope they will provide a replacement, considering how expensive they are. I have to cycle the switch off and on a few times, and it might work.
Actually I do use my Caseta pico switches to control smart bulbs through Home Assistant. Each button can be configured to perform a different function. For example, I set up an automation to control the smart bulb color with the "favorite" center button on the Pico remote dimmer.
I used to use LifX and google for lighting control. It was horrible. Now since I have Philips Hue and Alexa, I have very few problems. I absolutely love Philips Hue products. Just wish I could maintain control when the internet goes down.
That's just an Alexa problem too. You should be able to use the Hue app when you're in your home to maintain control. HomeKit would let you do that too with WiFi available :)
Hey Brian, many thanks for your channel which does save me time from my weekly routines using smart functions. Its about 20 minutes a week I am saving, which gives me 20 minutes to watch your vids. hmmmmm?
I can attest to the reliability of Lutron Caseta. I have the Pro Hub in my system. Unfortunately, I can't remember at what point it became necessary to install it. But, I believe it was for Hubitat Integration. After having had the system in place for 3 years now, I don't recall a single failure and response times are fast. I control the lights through Hubitat Dashboards, Alexa Voice Commands, Scheduled Scenes and ,from time to time, the Lutron app on my phone. I have played with smart home products for several years now and the Caseta stuff is by far the most reliable. One thing not mentioned in the video, the Pico Remotes can be used as a programmable button in Hubitat. All buttons on the remote can be individually programmed. I open my garage door from inside the house with a Pico Remote. I haven't fully explored the possibilities, but it seems to me to have the potential for a very powerful little tool.
Have to have the pro hub for Hubitat. I have 2 Caseta dimmers to replace 2 different 3 way switches without Neutral wires. The only issue I have with them is when turned on they come on full brightness then dimmed manually. I'm sure that could be fixed on Hubitat but with 2 little used lights it's not worth buying the pro hub...yet.
Hey Michael, is that the case with the Diva switch now? It seems to hold it's base dim level whenever I automate with it anywhere else. I haven't been able to do the Hubitat integration cause I don't have that pro bridge yet, but I wondered!
Yeahhhh, those Pico remotes. That's the last thing that Lutron could unlock to really change how their system is used in the industry. I'd like to see that option in more systems. It's huge that Hue lets that happen with the Dial Switch, so hopefully we see more of this!
That leak detector looks great. I am also most comfortable with a long-wire sensor so I think I'll be getting one of these for the floor space underneath my shower. Does it also have a humidity sensor? In not then one can always add a separate humidity sensor but having it all in one device is more elegant so if there isn't one then I'd knock off one "perfection point" for that (in my opinion) omission.
Hi. I use SwitchBot lock. A the beginning, it lets the door open too many times. When entering the application, the lock seemed closed even though it was opened seconds ago. That seems to have been resolved. Now, about two times a week, I have to recalibrate the lock due to errors that it jammed. So, my experience has not been good with this lock.
You know Carlos, some of the early models I found had some issues. I wonder if you should chat with SwitchBot cause this newer one I got is perfect. 1 other trick? Don't remove the tape on the thumb turn adapter if you don't need to.
Hi Brian - I understand your love for Philips Hue, that was my first home automation purchase and all my lights are still Philips hue and I have not had a single failure in the years (5 at a guess) since I installed my hub and first bulbs but one thing that does bug me in a few rooms is an issue that in fairness you did mention - brightness, or lack of it. I now want to put smart bulbs into my holiday home where I already find the existing dumb 400 lumen (or at least that's manufacturer's claim on the box) GU10 bulbs a bit too dim for my liking so I'm thinking that Philips Hue GU10 smart bulbs are unlikely to make me happy there. I appreciate that Hue is top of the pile for reliability and connectivity - although in addition to the brightness issue I would also dock Philips another "perfection point" for the relatively low number of devices supported per hub - but what would you recommend as second best for smart GU10 bulbs if maximum brightness is a key consideration? (I have a strong preference for a Zigbee solution since I have found that more reliable than my ZWave stuff and I prefer not to clog up my WiFi mesh system with lots of smart bulbs.)
Yeah I do wish we could get more bulbs on to one hub! As for GU10 bulbs...that's tough for me. I don't actually have a GU10 outlet at the moment in my place. So I haven't done much testing there at all. :( Sorry!
I agree for the most part about Hue… but I have about 5 dead Hue bulbs. Maybe it’s because they are the cheaper white only bulbs but they are still hue bulbs that died on me. The way they die isn’t great either, flickering lights, refusing to dim to 0, buzzing, I’ve seen it all. All this and somehow I still find myself buying more hue…
I think I'm about to bite the bullet on the Lutron Diva system. I have Smartthings, do I need the Pro version of their bridge? What are the pro/cons of the standard bridge?
@@AutomateYourLife I have an Echo and a Smartthings, should I add it to both of them or just 1 of them. I do my routines with Amazon Echo, so would it be best to add it to Echo? I don't want to confuse it or myself LOL!
Have installed 4 leak sensors as leak sensors and 2 as water presence sensors (for a humidifier and to control bath/immersion routines). Just spent an afternoon playing chase the little mourning geckos - managed to collect four of the 4" ballistic missiles (that can jump a ft without trying and walk on the ceiling) and they're safe in new home. PS as I understand it, Lutron stuff works on 110v - so it isn't safe for the UK.
How exactly can you have the Hue Tap dial switch control Philips Hue + Alexa + Homekit at the same time? I have this switch, and if I choose "configure in another app" it stops working with the Hue app.
Through the basic integration with the whole Hue Hub, the switch shows up in both Amazon and Homekit for control and automation use. No further steps required. There will be some funny stuff with Matter going on in the next little while so we could see it work and then not work over the course of a week. But it'll work with basic integrations generally
That would be interesting to try. I'd think through Siri Shortcuts maybe but you'd have to work around the request for codes to unlock. The NFC is probably an easier option with the phone
HI Brain, another great video. Question why don't reviewers talk about Brilliant lights switches and controllers. I have the system with 2 single controllers and 16 smart switches and it can do way more than the Lutron system. I dont think any reviewers look deep enough into its functionality especially the controllers touch screen and what it can do.
Brilliant is an interesting thing. I think what happened with them is they came out with a bang and most people rejected their cost structure. That's what got me, but I've shown it a few times on the channel when the updates or new products were applicable! Glad you're happy with it though, and thanks for sharing!
Hi Brian thank you for the reply. The only costly thing is the controller. But it does a lot without having to use the app and it has a huge wife approval. The switches are the same price as Lutron...But every switch has motion,dimming,and you can set them up to double tap to run scenes! Orginally I was a Insteon user which was before Lutron. Lutron uses the same transmission as the Insteon.. I swear they were the same company before Insteon went out of business. That is when I switched to Brilliant.
@Automate Your Life have pretty much everything, what I like about Lutron is reliability great customer service and tons of possibilities, I was able to connect their picos with mysmyrtblinds using Smartthings, and your "amazing device" thing 😎
Unfortunately it does matter what door you do have because many doors in the UK have it so that if there is still a key in the inside side of the lock you can not insert a key into the outside one and open it.
I love my Amazon purchase gas and water valves. For 4 years they have reliability turned off my water when no one is home and my outdoor kitchen and fireplace gas valve to ensure no one leaves it off. The problem I had Lora and other was the looseness of the handle Connection. I modified to make the bolt directly to handle
@@AutomateYourLife I still have a lot to do. I use geolocation to shut water off/on but I need to get washer power sense so I can leave it on until washer shuts off. My wife has been less than happy when she runs to store and washer doesn’t finish while she gone.
I've never had one Russ, but seeing them at shows, knowing a few folks who've had them, and having worked in pipelines for many years, I can tell you that a system like that has to be calibrated VERY well. They seem to have it right, but I imagine very small leaks are something they can't detect. They're also WiFi based I believe, so that can be tricky to keep connected in some homes. However, from what I've seen, people are very happy anytime they've installed that device so overall, I think it's good. Just not for me.
Hey Brian, overall great info & agree with almost everything. The EERO seems like a great system, but with needing to pay a subscription fee for some nice features make it a non buy. I’ll continue to take Paul Hibberts advice on the over priced & underwhelming Philip Hue products. The Lutron products seem to be a very interesting piece of gear if your willing to pay the high prices for their equipment.
@@AutomateYourLife such as? Currently the Hue site says "Each button on the Tap dial switch can cycle through scenes, and each button can control a separate Room or Zone. The dial dims or brightens one Room or Zone." So that makes it sound like you can control 4 different lights or groups of lights with each button
Hey Ben, I think I'll let Ry Crist answer this. He did a LOT of work to come out with a great table in this article: www.cnet.com/home/internet/yes-your-router-collects-data-on-you-heres-how-to-protect-your-privacy/ In general, it's Amazon so do I think they're using data? Yes, internally. However, there's a lot they've done with Eero that's right. Ry's article explains it better than I could here.
I thought my 4-button Nodon Soft Remote (Z-Wave) was perfect. Then they went and made a BATTERY-LESS version! Then, for some reason, they all completely disappeared from the market.
I would advise against any smart locks. They mostly are advertising on buzzword of smart locks and IOT, not providing any security that is even available on cheapest home lock. Your choice of smart lock may mean that your home is easier to break into, some even faster entry than any standard lock.
I get the perspective here. I see it like this: if someone wants to break in with that SwitchBot lock on the door, they'd have to know it was there. If they know it's there, that's commitment to getting in my place. No door or lock is stopping them. And here's the only time I've been broken into: I left my car door unlocked by accident and someone was testing doors. That lock solves me or anyone ever leaving the door unlocked or opened. So I feel good about that choice! It's not changing anything door lock wise. But to each their own!
Any kind of lock on a door be it smart or not just keeps out the honest criminal. If someone really wants into your home they are putting through a window. I use the SwitchBot lock myself and find it fantastic and not to mention the wife approval factor it has for the many ways of locking/unlocking including the SwitchBot buttons I have scattered around my house and also a button on the new fire tv pro remote.
Anybody looking to break into your home is kicking the door or breaking a window. Most criminals test your door, and if it’s locked, move to the next door. It’s easier to simply open an unlocked door 4 houses down than to wake someone up kicking a door or breaking a window. Also companies like Schlage make good regular locks and use the exact same mechanisms in their smart locks (I know cause I swapped my dumb lock tumbler into my Schlage smart lock so I wouldn’t have to rekey). Anybody smart enough to hack into your lock probably makes big money somewhere and isn’t interested in stealing someone’s TV.
Our complex has replaced the mutual door from an actually secure lock to one of those smart locks and there has been someone breaking in every week now. Not someone kicking in door, not someone breaking windows. Just some punk kids breaking in and doing graffiti in the common areas now. I saw it happen, they just push something into the lock that's not a key and open it quicker than a key did when we had to use keys before going to the rf tokens
@@drrenard1277 Tuya zigbee dshk-38 self defense auto mount by Moes 😂😂👌🤦♀️ - you *know* someone's going to do it - just hope the face recognition is *perfect.*
I've been looking, perhaps in vain, for a way to control my speaker groups. Miss A, as you so politely refer to my platform, allows me to adjust speakers with flic buttons to a designated press, double press etc. It would be great to use a dial like the one in this video. I would love to switch between speakers and dial in the volume. Otherwise, I'd love to see a mixer board type display on my phone or tablet to dial in the right levels. I'm betting both are non-existent?
As a real estate agent who has seen the damage water leaks can cause, I’m a big advocate for water valve shutoff devices such bulldog or titan from zooz.
Lutron is also my go to smart switch/dimmer recommendation, having to buy the pro over the standard bridge isn’t a big deal. With hubitat you can program the picos to control smart bulbs, but for that typically I’d go with zooz, inovelli, or lesser known RGB genie
Eero is a great bang for your buck and worthwhile upgrade for most people that either have a modem router combo provided by their isp or are still using an older off the shelf non-mesh based router
This video is definitely Brandon approved!!😃😃
Another helpful video, Brian! (one of many that I've rewatched !)
Thanks Big Bear!😃
And, by the way Brian, with all the Phillips Hue accolades, I think I just heard Paul Hibbert unsubscribe all the way from GB to Tennessee .
I don't know why that's so funny 🤣 - I guess it just works, doesn't it ;)
😂
One heckuva click!! 🤣🤣🤣
The one thing that Paul fails to consider is the quality of components in the power supplies.
I have 6 Phillips hue BR 30's and one A19 for 7 years now.
I have had other BR 30's and even non smart LED bulbs fail on me already because the power supply goes bad , likely due to cheap caps.
I also have GE Z wave switches that all failed within a few months of one another ,and Sylvania lightify that failed within a couple years because of bad power supplies.
These Chinese smart home products may seem nice but the real question is how long will they last.
But I have a lot of dirt cheap Chinese no name stuff that works great after years and years where big name brands like GE and Sylvania have failed.
Like I said the main culprit is likely bad caps or just poorly designed power supplies, nobody ever thinks about this mundane component or considers it when making a purchase though.
I can say Phillips does use good components and has well designed power supplies.
Though one of my A19 non tuneable bulbs had the plastic housing get discolored and develop cracks all over it for seemingly no reason. But it is a cheap $10 hue ZigBee bulb.
I agree that the Hue app just sucks and doesn't even allow you to set a boot up state for no power loss turn on.
Andrea's getting it there. Huge reason for loss of lights period.
All the Yolink devices , smart buttons and sensors have been bomb proof. Their freezer alarms work from within freezer and Outdoor sensors work at long distance. Lutrons are also pain free. Never have a missed signal or routine.
It's pretty wild stuff isn't it? That's how it works in cities for smart applications there!
Excelente video Brian, muy clarificador como siempre!
Thanks so much Christian!
Great video Brian. I can’t knock the SwitchBot lock or hue lighting myself, just wish the hue bridge could fit more devices than the current limit.
No kidding hey!? I want to see that Hue Bridge fit it all in. I figure we're getting a new version yet, so maybe then.
Thanks Brian. My pick for near perfect smarthome device. For any room. The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen). Music, spoken google queries, homework including visuals, humble enough to be forgotten, picture frame, and alarm clock.
That's great! You know, it's nice to hear that Google's still knocking it out of the park for some folks. I do still like my 2nd gen Nest Hub for sure. Love the sleep monitoring actually.
All fun and games, until your account gets hacked and your bedroom door start unlocking by itself
Great information as always!
Thanks again Keith!
Your channel is the best home automation channel, I appreciate your information, I use Smartthings, I am wondering what would be your opinion on what to upgrade to? or am I still ok with my system.
If you aren't super frustrated with all the changes then I would say just wait as smart things is rounding into a much better system right now. If you are looking to get out and want to put the work in then I think hubitat is a great solution
Hey Brian I am getting into Govee lights (replacing my Hue lights) what are some great motion sensors that work with Govee that I can use t o turn on whole rooms in my house?
Hey Scott! You'll want to do this through Alexa likely. They have lots of options. Here's 10: czcams.com/video/5N-IAR4l7Uk/video.html and there's a really nice, cheap one in this lineup review: czcams.com/video/ad4MQgb_cfg/video.html.
If you're using Google Home to try and automate, there's only one motion sensor: Hue Motion
My favorite series of products is the RF version of the Sonoff wall switch and Basic WiFi switch called the RFR2. With a generic 433 MHz remote, I can press a button to turn them on and off, as well as use the App, Voice and manually control everything I put them on. I have 45+ of these switches around my house, including on my Echo Dots to reset them. Amazing devices.
That's a LOT! Cheap devices though, so not a huge investment (other than the time thing)
Hi I have problem with my switch bot key pad touch the NFC scanner is not working it always shows me a ( failed to add ) in the app when I want to add a NFC I tried to reset it and pair it again but it didn't work I tried the card that came with it I tried the NFC tags that came with the lock and even tried 3rd party NFC tags but nothing works with it is there any way to fix this ?
I'd try adding it with a different phone or tablet and then talk to SwitchBot if it doesn't work
Hi. If I understand you correctly, you are using the Hue tap dail switch to controll Sonos via Amazon app?
Is there a easy way to do this?
That's an Echo speaker being controlled through standard Hue skill integration.
And an Apple HomePod being controlled through Apple HomeKit through standard integration there.
Both integrations require the Hue Hub!
A-ha! Thought it was a Sonos One on your left side. Sorry, my mistake.
Thank you for your reply.
Best Jarle
Brian....I have an older home with 8 ft ceilings, and most rooms only have a ceiling fan light....So, I put up low profile light trays 11 inches down from the ceiling with 4 inch crown molding on the front for indirect lighting. We have been very happy with the philips hue lightstrips plus in those trays. They are RGBWW, the 2 WW's being a dedicated blueish white and a dedicated yellowish white, but when mixed together make a daylight white. But, they are really expensive. Amazon does sell a few RGBWW that are wifi capable, but , I really want to control them with the hue dimmer. I want to add these generic RGBWW to the hue ecosystem. Can that be done?
You couldn't use the dial at this point, but you could use the buttons on that dial to set 4 different settings through Alexa or HomeKit. Your other strips would have to work with that system too though, so I'm betting Alexa would work for you but not HomeKit with the types of strips you're considering.
If you look at some Zigbee strips, like the ones in this video: czcams.com/video/DtsSy0b4LtI/video.html (go to 14:32) then you can connect them directly with the Hue Hub and then yes, you get full control!
Thank you sir.
Thank you sir!
Love the Hue button just wish you could use the dial for brightness on smartthings & Google home as I really don't like Philips hue app & controls.
We can dream about that!
Brian, can you please explain specifics how you created the routine for the Hue Tap to play music? That is awesome!
Hey Chaz! Glad you liked it!
The great news is it's just through the basic integration method between Hue and Alexa and/or HomeKit. I brought in the hub by adding an accessory in HomeKit and in Alexa I used the Hue Skill. That brought in the Tap Dial Switch in both cases and allowed me to use Routines in Alexa or Automations in HomeKit. It's a little tricky with HomeKit to find the Switch, and I've noticed this situation is shifting with Matter right now, but that's the gist of it!
@@AutomateYourLife Thanks so much!
Thanks for another great video. Do you know of any devices/companies that provide aluminum rated switches?
oof, that's not something I've seen on ratings for any switch, but I haven't looked specifically Mark. I'll keep a watch out the next time I'm working with a new brand.
@Automate Your Life thank you!
I’ve had Phillips Hue for a while and it worked great. Then I tried to set up my mom’s house with hue using the same Alexa and hue account. It doesn’t work very smoothly. I might have to use 2 separate Amazon and hue accounts. I used one so we could take better advantage of some features, but II think what I gain is outweighed by the frustrations in that case. For instance, if she has used her smart lights, I have to tap the button on my hub before mine will work, at which point, hers will cease working until she presses the button on hers. Then, of course, mine stop working again.
Yeahhhhh it sounds like you are right when you say you need to separate the accounts out. Big job though!😳
I really like the Sinope water leak detector cable. I have never been comfortable with just a sensor with pins.
Yeah it's definitely a solid way to do detection when you have that whole cable!
How did you control music with the hue dial?
Sadly that feature has come available and disappeared a few times. But you can use an automation with Amazon or Apple as long as you can find the device as a trigger in automations.
You forgot to mention the Sinope sensor can also be setup to its own (reletively inexpensive) smartvalve, who also has a 'abnormal flow' sensor you plumb in with it. So works if your hub goes down (requires you configure it this way within Sinope and connect to Smartthings via cloud service instead of direct). But best valve I've seen so far (valve has plug and batt backup) .
Those are great points! Absolutely right about it all
Hi Brian
Another great video. Glad to see YoLink get a mention today -- they really are great.
Do you have a solution to bathrooms that have both the light and the ceiling exhaust fan wired to the same switch? Thanks 👍🏻
The same switch!? No...I think I'd have to split that out to make something decent happen. Sorry!
@@AutomateYourLife I know right? What kind of savage puts them on the same switch 😅
Looks like I'm going to have to separate the two after all. Yay. Haha thank you Brian!
Enjoy the job! You'll make a great experience for you and yours after you split it out!
Out of all my smart switch devices, Caseta has the only switch that failed. I haven’t looked into their warranty yet, but I hope they will provide a replacement, considering how expensive they are. I have to cycle the switch off and on a few times, and it might work.
Brutal! Yeah check in on that.
Actually I do use my Caseta pico switches to control smart bulbs through Home Assistant. Each button can be configured to perform a different function. For example, I set up an automation to control the smart bulb color with the "favorite" center button on the Pico remote dimmer.
Great!
might be a stupid question but would you belive the Hue tap switch thing would be able to control Govee lights and strips?
Through Alexa, it can. :) Not the dial though. For that, you'll need a Flic Twist.
I love the hue system. The least problems I've had with a system in my smart home
A very common statement about it!
I used to use LifX and google for lighting control. It was horrible. Now since I have Philips Hue and Alexa, I have very few problems. I absolutely love Philips Hue products. Just wish I could maintain control when the internet goes down.
That's just an Alexa problem too. You should be able to use the Hue app when you're in your home to maintain control. HomeKit would let you do that too with WiFi available :)
What's your thoughts on hubitat? I've been looking into that.
Hubitat is really good. Would never complain about anything but the interface and some lower compatibility. :)
Hey Brian, many thanks for your channel which does save me time from my weekly routines using smart functions. Its about 20 minutes a week I am saving, which gives me 20 minutes to watch your vids. hmmmmm?
It seems to balance out! I'll have to help you save even more time then!
@@AutomateYourLife by making longer videos 😃
I can attest to the reliability of Lutron Caseta. I have the Pro Hub in my system. Unfortunately, I can't remember at what point it became necessary to install it. But, I believe it was for Hubitat Integration. After having had the system in place for 3 years now, I don't recall a single failure and response times are fast. I control the lights through Hubitat Dashboards, Alexa Voice Commands, Scheduled Scenes and ,from time to time, the Lutron app on my phone. I have played with smart home products for several years now and the Caseta stuff is by far the most reliable.
One thing not mentioned in the video, the Pico Remotes can be used as a programmable button in Hubitat. All buttons on the remote can be individually programmed. I open my garage door from inside the house with a Pico Remote. I haven't fully explored the possibilities, but it seems to me to have the potential for a very powerful little tool.
Have to have the pro hub for Hubitat. I have 2 Caseta dimmers to replace 2 different 3 way switches without Neutral wires. The only issue I have with them is when turned on they come on full brightness then dimmed manually. I'm sure that could be fixed on Hubitat but with 2 little used lights it's not worth buying the pro hub...yet.
Hey Michael, is that the case with the Diva switch now? It seems to hold it's base dim level whenever I automate with it anywhere else. I haven't been able to do the Hubitat integration cause I don't have that pro bridge yet, but I wondered!
Yeahhhh, those Pico remotes. That's the last thing that Lutron could unlock to really change how their system is used in the industry. I'd like to see that option in more systems. It's huge that Hue lets that happen with the Dial Switch, so hopefully we see more of this!
That leak detector looks great. I am also most comfortable with a long-wire sensor so I think I'll be getting one of these for the floor space underneath my shower. Does it also have a humidity sensor? In not then one can always add a separate humidity sensor but having it all in one device is more elegant so if there isn't one then I'd knock off one "perfection point" for that (in my opinion) omission.
It doesn't Julian. That's just a pure Zigbee Humidity Sensor! :)
Hi. I use SwitchBot lock. A the beginning, it lets the door open too many times. When entering the application, the lock seemed closed even though it was opened seconds ago. That seems to have been resolved. Now, about two times a week, I have to recalibrate the lock due to errors that it jammed. So, my experience has not been good with this lock.
You know Carlos, some of the early models I found had some issues. I wonder if you should chat with SwitchBot cause this newer one I got is perfect.
1 other trick? Don't remove the tape on the thumb turn adapter if you don't need to.
Kool!
😃😃😃
Hi Brian - I understand your love for Philips Hue, that was my first home automation purchase and all my lights are still Philips hue and I have not had a single failure in the years (5 at a guess) since I installed my hub and first bulbs but one thing that does bug me in a few rooms is an issue that in fairness you did mention - brightness, or lack of it. I now want to put smart bulbs into my holiday home where I already find the existing dumb 400 lumen (or at least that's manufacturer's claim on the box) GU10 bulbs a bit too dim for my liking so I'm thinking that Philips Hue GU10 smart bulbs are unlikely to make me happy there.
I appreciate that Hue is top of the pile for reliability and connectivity - although in addition to the brightness issue I would also dock Philips another "perfection point" for the relatively low number of devices supported per hub - but what would you recommend as second best for smart GU10 bulbs if maximum brightness is a key consideration? (I have a strong preference for a Zigbee solution since I have found that more reliable than my ZWave stuff and I prefer not to clog up my WiFi mesh system with lots of smart bulbs.)
Yeah I do wish we could get more bulbs on to one hub!
As for GU10 bulbs...that's tough for me. I don't actually have a GU10 outlet at the moment in my place. So I haven't done much testing there at all. :( Sorry!
I agree for the most part about Hue… but I have about 5 dead Hue bulbs. Maybe it’s because they are the cheaper white only bulbs but they are still hue bulbs that died on me. The way they die isn’t great either, flickering lights, refusing to dim to 0, buzzing, I’ve seen it all. All this and somehow I still find myself buying more hue…
Yikes!
I think I'm about to bite the bullet on the Lutron Diva system. I have Smartthings, do I need the Pro version of their bridge? What are the pro/cons of the standard bridge?
SmartThings just requires the regular bridge William! I don't know that with ST there's any pro/con vs. It's more devices on the pro though.
@@AutomateYourLife I have an Echo and a Smartthings, should I add it to both of them or just 1 of them. I do my routines with Amazon Echo, so would it be best to add it to Echo? I don't want to confuse it or myself LOL!
Is the WiZ Portable Button good? 🤔
I don't know, sadly. Never been able to get one
Have installed 4 leak sensors as leak sensors and 2 as water presence sensors (for a humidifier and to control bath/immersion routines).
Just spent an afternoon playing chase the little mourning geckos - managed to collect four of the 4" ballistic missiles (that can jump a ft without trying and walk on the ceiling) and they're safe in new home.
PS as I understand it, Lutron stuff works on 110v - so it isn't safe for the UK.
Yeah that's a whole topic in itself! Actually, both of your comments are. :D
How exactly can you have the Hue Tap dial switch control Philips Hue + Alexa + Homekit at the same time? I have this switch, and if I choose "configure in another app" it stops working with the Hue app.
Through the basic integration with the whole Hue Hub, the switch shows up in both Amazon and Homekit for control and automation use. No further steps required.
There will be some funny stuff with Matter going on in the next little while so we could see it work and then not work over the course of a week.
But it'll work with basic integrations generally
@@AutomateYourLife Thanks. What about Google Home? This is what I am using but I do not see the switch listed.
@@thcyprus not available in Google
Can you set up the switch bot lock to unlock when an AirTag gets close?
That would be interesting to try. I'd think through Siri Shortcuts maybe but you'd have to work around the request for codes to unlock. The NFC is probably an easier option with the phone
@@AutomateYourLife thanks for your thoughts! I was hoping a proximity lock would be possible.
Echo Buttons are very useful for allowing the elderly (or anyone with disabilities) to trigger requests for support
Absolutely! I just wish Amazon would sell them. It's been off and on and also not outside the US
HI Brain, another great video. Question why don't reviewers talk about Brilliant lights switches and controllers. I have the system with 2 single controllers and 16 smart switches and it can do way more than the Lutron system. I dont think any reviewers look deep enough into its functionality especially the controllers touch screen and what it can do.
Brilliant is an interesting thing. I think what happened with them is they came out with a bang and most people rejected their cost structure. That's what got me, but I've shown it a few times on the channel when the updates or new products were applicable! Glad you're happy with it though, and thanks for sharing!
Hi Brian thank you for the reply. The only costly thing is the controller. But it does a lot without having to use the app and it has a huge wife approval. The switches are the same price as Lutron...But every switch has motion,dimming,and you can set them up to double tap to run scenes! Orginally I was a Insteon user which was before Lutron. Lutron uses the same transmission as the Insteon.. I swear they were the same company before Insteon went out of business. That is when I switched to Brilliant.
Always gotta be careful with over cranking
It can be a big pain.
@@AutomateYourLife massive in my case
Lutron Caseta is perfect for me!
You gotta love that system!
@Automate Your Life have pretty much everything, what I like about Lutron is reliability great customer service and tons of possibilities, I was able to connect their picos with mysmyrtblinds using Smartthings, and your "amazing device" thing 😎
@@paul9387 I gotta look into that!
I'm getting tired of Alexa not hearing us properly. Does anyone know if the hue button works with Bond Bridge?
Hue is going to require the Hue Bridge I believe. I tried to directly put it into some other ZigBee hubs and haven't had any luck this far
Unfortunately it does matter what door you do have because many doors in the UK have it so that if there is still a key in the inside side of the lock you can not insert a key into the outside one and open it.
Watch Paul Hibbert's video on the SwitchBot lock :)
@@AutomateYourLife where he proceeds to say the same caveat I just mentioned lol
I love my Amazon purchase gas and water valves. For 4 years they have reliability turned off my water when no one is home and my outdoor kitchen and fireplace gas valve to ensure no one leaves it off. The problem I had Lora and other was the looseness of the handle
Connection. I modified to make the bolt directly to handle
Sounds like you've done some work to make things great. Good job!
@@AutomateYourLife I still have a lot to do. I use geolocation to shut water off/on but I need to get washer power sense so I can leave it on until washer shuts off. My wife has been less than happy when she runs to store and washer doesn’t finish while she gone.
@@Alphasig336 LOL you can't make the wife angry! You're gonna have to fix that one. Maybe a bypass button to press on the way out?
I haven’t found a way to get the Hue Tap dial to fully work in apple homekit…the main thing, THE DIAL, doesn’t work
It’s been back and forth with HomeKit…I think it’s just a transitory time for Hue in general
@@AutomateYourLife is there another Dial button you recommend that works with Homekit?
Lutron and Hue just works.
Totally!
What do you think of the Moen Flo?
I've never had one Russ, but seeing them at shows, knowing a few folks who've had them, and having worked in pipelines for many years, I can tell you that a system like that has to be calibrated VERY well. They seem to have it right, but I imagine very small leaks are something they can't detect. They're also WiFi based I believe, so that can be tricky to keep connected in some homes.
However, from what I've seen, people are very happy anytime they've installed that device so overall, I think it's good. Just not for me.
@@AutomateYourLife I'm having one installed soon. I'll let you know my experience.
Hey Brian, overall great info & agree with almost everything. The EERO seems like a great system, but with needing to pay a subscription fee for some nice features make it a non buy. I’ll continue to take Paul Hibberts advice on the over priced & underwhelming Philip Hue products. The Lutron products seem to be a very interesting piece of gear if your willing to pay the high prices for their equipment.
I hear ya Dan! And I'm reeeeeaaaalllyyyyy excited to see Govee and a few others do more in the smart lighting space this year.
WHY DOES THE HUE DIAL SWITCH THING ONLY CONTROL UP TO 3 ROOMS OR ZONES BUT IT HAS 4 BUTTONS FFS
That's where you should use it with some other platforms
@@AutomateYourLife such as? Currently the Hue site says "Each button on the Tap dial switch can cycle through scenes, and each button can control a separate Room or Zone. The dial dims or brightens one Room or Zone." So that makes it sound like you can control 4 different lights or groups of lights with each button
Can you see if a company called Plume which is used by a lot of ISP's in N America will send you a unity to review?
Interesting one there. Let's see!
Aren't there a bunch of potential privacy issues with Eero? They have been black listed by a few reviewers.
Hey Ben, I think I'll let Ry Crist answer this. He did a LOT of work to come out with a great table in this article: www.cnet.com/home/internet/yes-your-router-collects-data-on-you-heres-how-to-protect-your-privacy/
In general, it's Amazon so do I think they're using data? Yes, internally. However, there's a lot they've done with Eero that's right. Ry's article explains it better than I could here.
@@AutomateYourLife Ok thank you very much! I will definitely read this article.
I thought my 4-button Nodon Soft Remote (Z-Wave) was perfect. Then they went and made a BATTERY-LESS version! Then, for some reason, they all completely disappeared from the market.
That's a neat one! Yeah, sometimes it's not about the device...the company can just disappear :(
11:40 $190 to control 2 lamps!? What is the compelling reason I need to pay that much? I just don't get it.
It's expensive! For sure.
That locking system has to be the most hideous thing to look at!
*buys 3*
@@AutomateYourLife haha fair one, just don’t look the best on the door in my eyes.
@@gilesyone all good! I didn't design it 😂. It's just more fun to make people laugh
I would advise against any smart locks. They mostly are advertising on buzzword of smart locks and IOT, not providing any security that is even available on cheapest home lock. Your choice of smart lock may mean that your home is easier to break into, some even faster entry than any standard lock.
I get the perspective here. I see it like this: if someone wants to break in with that SwitchBot lock on the door, they'd have to know it was there.
If they know it's there, that's commitment to getting in my place. No door or lock is stopping them.
And here's the only time I've been broken into: I left my car door unlocked by accident and someone was testing doors.
That lock solves me or anyone ever leaving the door unlocked or opened. So I feel good about that choice! It's not changing anything door lock wise.
But to each their own!
Any kind of lock on a door be it smart or not just keeps out the honest criminal. If someone really wants into your home they are putting through a window. I use the SwitchBot lock myself and find it fantastic and not to mention the wife approval factor it has for the many ways of locking/unlocking including the SwitchBot buttons I have scattered around my house and also a button on the new fire tv pro remote.
Anybody looking to break into your home is kicking the door or breaking a window. Most criminals test your door, and if it’s locked, move to the next door. It’s easier to simply open an unlocked door 4 houses down than to wake someone up kicking a door or breaking a window. Also companies like Schlage make good regular locks and use the exact same mechanisms in their smart locks (I know cause I swapped my dumb lock tumbler into my Schlage smart lock so I wouldn’t have to rekey). Anybody smart enough to hack into your lock probably makes big money somewhere and isn’t interested in stealing someone’s TV.
Our complex has replaced the mutual door from an actually secure lock to one of those smart locks and there has been someone breaking in every week now. Not someone kicking in door, not someone breaking windows. Just some punk kids breaking in and doing graffiti in the common areas now. I saw it happen, they just push something into the lock that's not a key and open it quicker than a key did when we had to use keys before going to the rf tokens
@@drrenard1277 Tuya zigbee dshk-38 self defense auto mount by Moes 😂😂👌🤦♀️ - you *know* someone's going to do it - just hope the face recognition is *perfect.*
Lost me at Phillips hue hub
lol kk
Who would want something the size of a brick stuck to your door?
If I ever need a brick to throw, cause say there's some angry guy complaining about everything, at least I'll have one
@@AutomateYourLife lol touche
I've been looking, perhaps in vain, for a way to control my speaker groups. Miss A, as you so politely refer to my platform, allows me to adjust speakers with flic buttons to a designated press, double press etc. It would be great to use a dial like the one in this video. I would love to switch between speakers and dial in the volume. Otherwise, I'd love to see a mixer board type display on my phone or tablet to dial in the right levels. I'm betting both are non-existent?
Yeah not that I know of yet. There's some ways to do some of that, but definitely no analog control of volume at the moment. I'm watching though!