10 MUST KNOW Tips To Plan a Smart Home
Summary
TLDRIn this informative video, Alex shares 10 essential tips for setting up a smart home system. The advice includes choosing between smart switches and lights, wiring smart lights to L for continuous power, incorporating sensors and buttons for convenience, tapping into neutral wires for extended networks, and prioritizing smart appliances. Alex also emphasizes the importance of selecting devices that integrate well with smart home systems and the need for family approval. The video concludes with a reminder to plan smart home purchases carefully, considering the chosen system's capabilities.
Takeaways
- 😀 Consider the necessity of a switch for smart lights; only ambient lighting should require a switch.
- 🏠 Wire smart lights directly to the live wire (L) to ensure they remain online even when switched off.
- 🔧 Utilize more sensors and buttons for convenient control instead of relying solely on mobile apps or voice assistants.
- 🔌 Tap into available neutral wires near heater switches or power sockets to extend the smart home network without extensive wiring.
- 📺 Prefer smart appliances that can integrate with your smart home system and offer control over their state and settings.
- 🤖 For non-smart appliances, use IR blasters or switchboards to integrate them into smart home systems, but be aware of the limitations in automation.
- 💧 Look for robot vacuums with water piping capabilities for automatic water refill and drainage.
- 🌞 Choose motorized curtains or blinds for reliability; wired options are preferable for ease of hiding cables and power supply.
- 👨👩👧👦 Take into account the preferences and habits of all family members when setting up a smart home to ensure it meets everyone's needs.
- 🛒 Do not rush to purchase smart home devices; first decide on the smart home system that best suits your needs and then choose compatible devices.
- 🔄 Always be open to feedback and willing to adjust smart home setups to improve the experience for all users.
Q & A
What is the main difference between smart War switches and smart lights?
-Smart War switches are for controlling the on and off state of ambient lighting, which are the main general sources of light. Smart lights, on the other hand, can be bulbs or LED light strips and may include features like color temperature adjustment and dimming, which do not require a War switch.
Why should accent lighting in a smart home be automated?
-Accent lighting, such as spotlights, backlights, and corner lamps, serve a decorative purpose and should be automated to provide convenience and avoid the need for manual switching on or off.
What type of switch is recommended for smart lights that require dimming or color temperature adjustment?
-For smart lights that offer dimming or color temperature adjustment, a smart dimmer switch is recommended, with Lutron being one of the few recommended options due to its compatibility and functionality.
Why is it suggested to wire smart lights directly to the L wire instead of L1 or L2?
-Wiring smart lights to the L wire ensures they receive continuous power and remain online even if the switch is turned off, which is important for maintaining functionality and remote control capabilities.
How can smart lights improve the flexibility of home lighting control?
-Smart lights can be grouped together in a smart home app, allowing for easy adjustment of brightness and other controls across the group, which is not possible with traditional dimmable lights.
What is the significance of using sensors and buttons in a smart home setup?
-Sensors and buttons can automate and simplify device control, making a smart home more convenient and responsive to specific conditions or actions, rather than relying solely on mobile apps or voice commands.
Why is it beneficial to tap into a neutral wire for switches that are beside heater switches?
-Heater switches already have a neutral wire, so it requires less effort to extend the neutral wire to nearby light switches, allowing for more switches to be smart-enabled without extensive rewiring.
What is the main advantage of choosing smart appliances over non-smart ones for a smart home?
-Smart appliances can integrate with the smart home system, providing features like status awareness and automation capabilities that non-smart appliances cannot offer, even with additional smart devices like IR blasters.
What should be considered when choosing smart appliances to ensure they are truly 'smart'?
-It's important to check if the device can integrate with the smart home system being used and what controls are exposed through the integration. Merely having a mobile app does not make a device smart.
Why is water piping for robot vacuums considered a crucial feature in modern smart home setups?
-The ability for robot vacuums to automatically refill clean water and drain dirty water through water piping reduces manual maintenance and enhances the convenience of having a smart cleaning system.
What are the factors to consider when deciding between motorized curtains and blinds?
-Factors include reliability, the ability to hide cables, the presence of a power socket, and whether the device can be powered wirelessly or through a solar panel.
Why is it important to involve family members in the decision-making process for a smart home setup?
-Different family members have different living habits and requirements, so involving them ensures that the smart home setup meets everyone's needs and is more likely to be adopted by all.
What is the primary advice given for those who are new to setting up a smart home?
-The advice is to decide on the smart home system first before purchasing any devices. This prevents compatibility issues and ensures that the chosen devices will work well within the selected system.
Outlines
💡 Smart Lighting and Switch Basics
Alex introduces the concept of smart lighting and the importance of understanding the difference between ambient and accent lighting. He suggests that only ambient lights, which serve as the primary source of light, should be controlled by a smart switch. Accent lights, such as spotlights and backlights, are considered decorative and should be automated, eliminating the need for manual switching. Alex also explains the necessity of smart lights for those who wish to adjust color temperature or dim the lights, recommending smart dimming switches for such purposes. He emphasizes the importance of wiring smart lights to the live wire (L) to ensure they remain online even when the power is cut off, allowing for better integration and control through smart home apps.
🔩 Enhancing Smart Home Functionality
The second paragraph delves into the practical aspects of setting up a smart home. Alex advises using sensors and buttons for more convenient control, rather than relying solely on mobile apps or voice assistants. He provides examples of how contact sensors can automate the operation of devices like air conditioners and how placing buttons in strategic locations can simplify the control of multiple devices. Alex also discusses the potential of tapping into neutral wires available near heater switches to extend the smart home network and the preference for smart appliances that can integrate seamlessly with smart home systems, offering more advanced controls and automation capabilities.
🛒 Smart Home Device Selection and Considerations
In the final paragraph, Alex offers guidance on choosing smart home devices. He stresses the importance of selecting smart appliances that can provide real benefits, such as integration with smart home systems and the ability to control various settings. Alex warns against devices that merely have a mobile app, as they may not offer true smart home integration. He also discusses the latest features in robot vacuums, such as the ability to connect to water pipes for automatic refilling and draining, and the advantages of motorized curtains or blinds. Additionally, he touches on the importance of considering family preferences and habits when setting up a smart home, as well as the need to plan and choose a smart home system before purchasing devices to ensure compatibility and functionality.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Smart War Switch
💡Ambient Lighting
💡Smart Lights
💡L-Wire
💡Smart Home App
💡Sensors
💡Smart Appliances
💡IR Blaster
💡Neutral Wire
💡Robot Vacuum
💡Motorized Curtains/Blinds
💡Family Approval
💡Smart Home System
Highlights
Smart switches versus smart lights: Smart lights should be automated and don't require a wall switch.
Ambient lighting versus accent lighting: Ambient lights need a switch; accent lights like spotlights and backlights should be automated.
Wiring smart lights to L: Ensures the device always receives power and remains online.
Grouping smart lights: Use smart home apps to group and control multiple lights together for flexibility.
Smart fans: Wire them to L for continuous power and connectivity.
Use sensors and buttons: Incorporate sensors and buttons for convenient smart home controls instead of relying on mobile apps.
Neutral wire availability: Identify switches that already have neutral wires, such as heater switches, to extend the smart network easily.
Smart appliances preference: Opt for smart appliances like ACs and water heaters for better integration and automation.
Choosing smart appliances wisely: Ensure devices can integrate with your smart home system and offer comprehensive controls.
Robot vacuums with water piping: Look for models that automatically refill clean water and drain dirty water for convenience.
Motorized curtains or blinds: Prefer motorized options for reliability and ease of use, and choose wired over wireless if possible.
Family approval factor: Consider the different habits and needs of family members when setting up a smart home.
Flexible and adaptable setup: Be open to changes and feedback to improve the smart home experience for everyone.
Decide on a smart home system first: Choose a system before buying devices to ensure compatibility and avoid complications.
Avoid rushing into purchases: Take time to understand your needs and the smart home system's pros and cons before buying devices.
Transcripts
[Music]
hey what's up Alex here first tip we go
back to the basic smart War switch
versus smart lights so this can be buls
or LED light strips doesn't matter just
smart lights in general so look at all
the lighting feature that you have or
plan to have and ask yourself whether
you need a switch for it there's
something called asent and ambient
lighting ambient lights are your main
General source of Lights those are the
only lights that will require a war
switch in my opinion others like this
Spotlight you see over here uh my TV
backlight the standing lamp at the
corner the light strip behind my desk
the light behind my plant and even the
lights under my top kitchen cabinet
these are considered essent lighting
they're there like a form of decoration
you shouldn't need to intentionally go
and switch them on or off they should be
all automated so you don't really need a
w switch for all of them another way to
tell is whether you want to be able to
change the color temperature or be able
to dim the lights if yes then I'll
recommend getting smart lights I know
many of you likes to get those uh fancy
and expensive designs that comes with
dumb lights and with diing controls for
those you can't use a normal light
switch to control them right similarly
you can't use a normal smart War switch
to control them because a smart War
switch is only controlling the on and
off State you will need something called
a smart demon switch in which there are
very limited options out there the only
one I recommend is Lutron but they are
expensive tip number two why are your
smart lights to L so you know the
problem with smart lights is if the
power is cut off the device is
considered offline and wouldn't work
anymore so instead of wiring them to L1
or L2 which are your switch buttons
right just wi them directly to L this is
where your Live Wire the source of
electricity is wired to this means that
the connected device will always receive
electricity power and will always be
online another good point of using smart
lights is you can easily group lights
together via your smart home app within
a light group you can easily adjust
brightness on or off or any other
controls you won't have such flexibility
with dumb dimable lights okay so wiring
to L can also apply to Smart fans as
well same idea you want them to be
always online tip number three use more
sensors and buttons some people like to
promote about having a smart home
whereby they can now control it with a
mobile phone that's nonsense okay
realistically that's not convenient at
all Nobody Does that at home using voice
assistant is all right but for me I
actually s use it for device controls
anymore so incorporate more sensors to
your setup for example if I want to
switch on my living room AC I will have
to go ahead and close all the windows
and all the room doors anyway right you
don't want the Co Air to escape out
since I'm not using the service yard
door for any purpose I put a contact
sensor there so I would just go ahead
and close the door whenever I want to
switch on the AC likewise the AC
automatically switches off once I open
this door I also seldom go and
physically press my w switches anymore
instead I like to place buttons at
convenient places so with a press of a
button it will automatically switch on
my TV my ceiling fan as well as the TV
backlight so if it's like very bright in
the day like now I'll press the button
and it will then close my living Shades
so very easy press and press and hold
and it will automatically open up my
shades
[Music]
again tip number four there are some
neutral wire that you can easily tap on
to your switches hdb by default does not
have neutral wire to all your light
switches and it's a lot of work for
electrician to pull neutral wire to
every single point however there are
some points that doesn't require much
effort such as those that are beside
your heater switches heater switches
already have neutral wire up so you can
either as electrician or even do it
yourself if you're confident enough
neutral wire are blue in color just
simply do a looping over to your light
switches those W power socket also have
neutral power over there so if it's near
to the light switch like this over here
the electrician can still do conceal
over to the point so if you're looking
to extend your ZB Network at the very
minimum you are able to do so at the
switches beside your heater switch tip
number five smart appliances are
preferred so what smart plers am I
referring to things like your AC water
heater fan or this if you don't have any
preference then I suggest as far as
possible get the smart models unless
there is a specific brand or model that
you die die only one that so for example
you only like KDK fans but let's say KDK
don't sell smart fans but it's okay just
go ahead and buy the KDK fan you want
technically you still can make them
smart using an IR R Bluster or a
switchboard the problem with that is
your smart home system does not know the
current state of the device so for
example my AC here is not smart when I
switch it on with my remote it doesn't
know it's on if it's a smart Appliance
like my water heater here when I
physically press the on button it will
then show it as on without knowing the
state you will have some limitations
when you want to set up the automation
rules so let's say if I'm shopping for a
new AC now I'll most likely get a smart
AC from dyin tip number six talking
about smart appliances please choose
them wisely having a mobile app for a
device does not make it smart back to
the point that I mentioned just now it
is not convenient at all to go and wrap
your phone access an app just for that
one device ask them questions like
whether the device can integrate with
the smart home system that you're using
what kind of controls are exposed as
part of the integration if they are
unable to answer these kind of questions
it really shows how much they know about
their own products not to mention
whether they even know what a smart home
is about so for me it makes no sense to
buy products from such a company okay so
taking AC as an example besides the on
and off controls if the integration does
not include settings like changing the
temperature and fence speed then at
least it should be able to configure
scenes and those scenes must be able to
sync over to your smart home platform
tip number seven water piping for Robot
vacuum if you're not aware of the latest
tag that is available for Robot vacuum
they're now able to hook up to your
water pipes to automatically refill the
clean water and drain away the dirty
water this is the number one feature
that you should look out for when
choosing a robot vacuum for me I'm not
even interested anymore if you ask me to
check out a robot vacuum that doesn't
have this feature so plan ahead and try
to allocate a spot where you can hide
away all the exposed water piping okay
so what options do you have as of today
for dreamy there are l10s l20 x30 Ultra
this is x30 master and their latest x40
for eov VX will be the X2 and T30 Pro
for robot all they are qrio Max V and S8
Max V Ultra but both models seems to be
currently on pre-order or if you want to
try out something different there is the
switchboard S10 I've have not tested
this yet so I'm not sure whether it
works okay people always like to ask
whether they can buy it directly from
China topa because it's a lot cheaper
there for me I don't want to risk buying
any home appliances that are more than
$500 s dollars without any warranty
support especially for robot vacuums
where there's so many moving Parts tip
number eight go for motorized curtain or
blinds between retrofit and Moto if you
cannot decide what to get then I can
tell you 100% motorized they are far
more reliable and consistent between
wired or Wireless aut wire is better
because you don't need to worry about
the battery power and charging it but
you need to factor in the Aesthetics
whether you are able to hide away the
ugly cables for curtain since it is
easier to hide away the cables you can
go wired but remember to have the power
socket at the inside of the curtain if
this is using Zig B you can also use it
to extend your Zig B Network for blinds
if it's hard to hide away the cables
just go with wireless If the product
allows you to connect to a solar panel
you can also consider that if not just
charge it once every three or 4 months
it's fine actually tip number nine is
the wife or family approve Factor you
need to remember that everyone in the
family is staying the same smart home as
you but everyone's living habits are
different and you not setting up the
smart home just for yourself because of
that there are different use cases and
requirements that you kind of need to
solve so for example my other half has
the habit of not switching off the fans
and lights every time so this is
something that I will need to figure out
a solution for it always try to get some
feedback after you have implemented
something new be flexible and open to
change things up configure a customized
dashboard for each of the family member
teach them the controls all these small
little things can contribute to having a
better smart home for everyone last
final tip I think this is the most
important and it's also something that I
have stressed many times in my other
videos don't rush to buy any smart home
devices decide on which smart home
system you want to use first a lot of
times people will share me a list of
devices they already bought they ask me
how to integrate them together so for
example uh I bought aara switches from
China Shi sec cameras Sonos
speakers prism smart fan mc2 blinds s
Lin smart
lights okay then you have to pretty much
go with home assistant or maybe homie
can also work then you realize home
assistant is too complicated for you you
end up with a bunch of ads one ad to
control one device there are no
automation rules configured in the end
you feel that a smart home is useless
for you because those smart home devices
are not smart at all every smart home
system has their own pros and cons
assess what is important to you decide
on that system after that you know
exactly what smart home devices to buy
already all right that's all the 10 tips
from me if you have any tips to share
please comment below so that everyone in
this community can benefit from it
thanks for watching and I will see you
in the next one bye
oh
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