Uploaded January 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
If you're considering adding an iHaper Light Strip to your smarthome, please consider using my amazon.com affiliates link which helps to support me in continuing to create content.
iHaper LED Light strip amzn.to/2QS6GCK. ( amazon.com)
amzn.to/2SYo3j1. ( amazon.ca )
iHaper Product Webpage: ihaper.com/product-g_7.html
iHaper is the latest addition to the vendors who are jumping into the homekit ecosystem and their first product is the iHaper L3 LED Light strip. This USB powered strip is exactly what it says on the box. It's 16M colours, 2m (6.6') long and works with Apple homekit. Things you want to be aware of is that the cable is pretty short on this, so you're going to need to use a USB extension cable to install it in most locations. As well, the app is not stable. Really not stable. Like it crashes... a lot... On the bright side, this is the magic of the Apple Homekit ecosystem. We don't care if the vendors app doesn't work as we can always use our favourite Homekit compatible app instead.
If you're considering adding an iHaper Light Strip to your smarthome, please consider using my amazon.com affiliates link which helps to support me in continuing to create content.
iHaper LED Light strip amzn.to/2QS6GCK. ( amazon.com)
amzn.to/2SYo3j1. ( amazon.ca )
iHaper Product Webpage: ihaper.com/product-g_7.html
iHaper is the latest addition to the vendors who are jumping into the homekit ecosystem and their first product is the iHaper L3 LED Light strip. This USB powered strip is exactly what it says on the box. It's 16M colours, 2m (6.6') long and works with Apple homekit. Things you want to be aware of is that the cable is pretty short on this, so you're going to need to use a USB extension cable to install it in most locations. As well, the app is not stable. Really not stable. Like it crashes... a lot... On the bright side, this is the magic of the Apple Homekit ecosystem. We don't care if the vendors app doesn't work as we can always use our favourite Homekit compatible app instead.
![Smarthome Planning and Projects [2021Edition]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XQ60fdJHeSQ/mqdefault.jpg "Smarthome Planning and Projects [2021Edition]
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If youre interested in adding some new devices to your smarthome, please consider using my Amazon.com shop as a starting point https://www.amazon.com/shop/netmanchris
2021 is a New Year and after the dumpster fire that was 2020, Im looking forward to working on my Smarthome and focusing on projects that help the house take care of the people who live here and visit.
My projects for 2021
1) Healthy Lighting
With the extra time at home during 2020, one of my focus areas was improving my health, starting with my sleep. After spending a lot of time reading ( I highly recommend the book Why we sleep by Matthew Walker Phd ( affiliates link https://geni.us/hkgwhywesleep ) Ive become a little obsessed with making sure that my family and I get the right amount and type of light at the right time of day.
Smart lighting can definitely help with keeping sure your circadian rhythms in line. Basically it means that it will reset your body clock and help to make sure you get sleepy at the right time of day.
Apples Adaptive lighting was supposed to be a step in this direction, but unfortunately, it fell short of expectation.
Apple Adaptive Lighting Explained - https://youtu.be/Ra4Svk4Go1o
On the bright side, Ive been running the beta of Follow the Sun by developer Matt Corey ( https://www.homemadeautomation.com ) which has some me seeing some light at the end of this tunnel ( see what I did there!!! )
Follow the Sun macOS App - https://homemadeautomation.wordpress.com/2021/01/08/fts-coming-soon/
2) Air Quality
2020 has taught us the importance of air quality and making sure you take care of what goes in your lungs. Fortunately, 2020 has also been a great year for Homekit enabled smart devices which help to take care of your environment. For more on some of these devices check out these reviews
Rio Arc Electric Heater - https://youtu.be/ZXKe_ZhtJYc
Vocolinc PureFlow Air Purifier - https://youtu.be/vwqk2NwHbIk
Using my Awair Air sensors as my main feedback loop, Im going to continue to work towards having the house always working towards keeping the air fresh for everyone in the house.
3) Intentional Design
As my Smarthome has matured, Ive realized that much of it was put together with what I politely call organic growth. 2021 is going to be the year of re-designing my smarthome with intention. A place for everything and everything in its place. Im still working on the actual requirements, but I be documenting the whole process and really looking forward to sharing the journey with all of you.
4) Electricity Reduction
Ive had the sense.com electrical sensing system now for a couple of years. Although the device is great, what Ive realized is that you need to feed it with additional devices to be able to really get the most out of it. Smartplugs with electrical sensing always feel like half a solution to me as the graphing and data analysis piece always feels half-baked. By combining TP-Kasa HS300 power sensing power strips with the Sense platform, Ive getting close to identifying the great majority of the electrical draw in my house. Now that I know whats there, the plan is to start figuring out whats drawing power when it shouldnt be and shutting it down.
Those are the four big projects for me for 2021. Its ambitious and will take up most of the year but Im really hoping to be able to make a dent on all four of these by the time that Santa jumps back in his sled.
If you want to let me know what youre working on in 2021, Id love to hear about it in the comments!
#homekit #smarthome #projects")
