Uploaded August 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Trying to figure out where to start your smart home.Today we are going to review Part 2 of how to start your smart home with Lighting and Switches.
In Part 1 of the how to start your smart home series we talked about the need for a smart hub. In that video I mentioned that a great place to start your DIY smart home automation was with lighting. The reason for this is because lighting is the most versatile of all smart home features.
== Amazon Affiliate Links ==
Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer: amzn.to/2fi8gg9
GE Z-Wave Smart On/Off Switch: amzn.to/2v9mCTS
GE Z-Wave Smart Dimmer Switch: amzn.to/2v9erXV
GE Z-Wave Outdoor Plug-in Module: amzn.to/2v7npq6
Leviton Z-Wave Smart Switch: amzn.to/2v9fl6u
Inovelli Show Home Plug-in Module: amzn.to/2vsiWzp
GE Connected Smart Light Bulb: amzn.to/2vrWAh7
OSRAM Lightify Smart RGBW A19 Bulb: amzn.to/2vrNdhE
OSRAM Lightify Smart RGBW LED Strip: amzn.to/2whA08w
Watts Hot Water Recirc Pump: amzn.to/2hxuGuC
iHome Control Plug-in Module: amzn.to/2v948TD
Ecobee3/4 Smart Thermostat: amzn.to/2fhB6xi
Sensative Strips Open/Close Sensor: amzn.to/2v7dq4e
Philips Hue: amzn.to/2ueil4A
Where I buy Domain Names: bit.ly/2m7zuEd
== Video Links ==
Part 1 - Start Your Smart Home: youtu.be/xEMcqQE6Rlc
Stringify Flows: youtu.be/lJb5J6nRQQU
Install GE Smart Switch:
Install Smart 3-Way Switch: youtu.be/HOp3Ro4hL9s
Install Leviton Z-Wave Switch: youtu.be/VI346efxVF4
Install Lutron Caseta Smart Switch: youtu.be/ATmI5c1J_fU
Install Watts Hot Water Recirc Pump: youtu.be/JXTuYuQjTSk
Install Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat: youtu.be/QkCAklUSTfo
Install Sensative Strips Open/Close Sensor: youtu.be/NwR-l4FhaQE
Install OSRAM Lightify RGBW LED Light: youtu.be/aLqWUcGjyDs
Review Inovelli Smart Plug-in Module: youtu.be/5sKRvF4nt6k
Review Google Home Assistant: youtu.be/Ou7BwTTQOak
Review Amazon Echo: youtu.be/UYLY6hnCWuk
Review GE Plug-in Module: youtu.be/eqjvq5Z2yrI
Review iHome Control WiFi Plug-in Module: youtu.be/s__3lT_LV-s
In my thinking, there are five categories of smart home solutions, being Lighting, Energy Savings, Entertainment Control, Home Security and Environmental Control.
When we look at the relationship between lighting and the other four categories, it’s pretty easy to see that more efficient control over lighting can be used to enhance the comfort of your overall living environment.
This is because lighting is a simple way to enhance your home entertainment experience, help save on your energy bill and improve your home security.
Also in part 1 I also talked about how it is essential to ensure that you have a plan that will keep your smart home simple to use for other people that may be trying to control things inside your home.
This is especially true with lighting.Remember, having manual control over your smart home is an essential consideration.
One question that I get quite often is about when to use a smart light bulb, a smart switch or a regular light bulb.
In general, I don’t like controlling anything that benefits from constant power, like a smart light bulb, with a switch. This is because a smart light is already smart and turning off the switch removes the control.
Also, most smart lighting reverts back to a default color, usually white, when the power is restored.Also, this diagram is posted on my Facebook page, which is @DIY Smart Home Guy.Personally I don't like this idea since it takes away manual control, which I believe is very important in a smart home.My suggestion is to design a smart lighting experience that incorporates colored lighting in such a way that it can’t be interrupted with any kind of switch, smart or not.
Now, smart light bulbs are probably the easiest smart home products to install, next to the smart plugin outlet.They just turn on and off through my home automation setup, so I really don't think about them much. The entire light set includes my tv backlighting, my under bar accent lights, the bar shelf accent lights and the backlighting on the guitar case.
My preferred method of manual control is voice automation using either the Google Home or the Amazon Echo.
DIY Smart Home Guy Websites:
Website: azhb.com
Facebook: facebook.com/diysmarthomeguy
Twitter: twitter.com/diysmarthomeguy
Trying to figure out where to start your smart home.Today we are going to review Part 2 of how to start your smart home with Lighting and Switches.
In Part 1 of the how to start your smart home series we talked about the need for a smart hub. In that video I mentioned that a great place to start your DIY smart home automation was with lighting. The reason for this is because lighting is the most versatile of all smart home features.
== Amazon Affiliate Links ==
Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer: amzn.to/2fi8gg9
GE Z-Wave Smart On/Off Switch: amzn.to/2v9mCTS
GE Z-Wave Smart Dimmer Switch: amzn.to/2v9erXV
GE Z-Wave Outdoor Plug-in Module: amzn.to/2v7npq6
Leviton Z-Wave Smart Switch: amzn.to/2v9fl6u
Inovelli Show Home Plug-in Module: amzn.to/2vsiWzp
GE Connected Smart Light Bulb: amzn.to/2vrWAh7
OSRAM Lightify Smart RGBW A19 Bulb: amzn.to/2vrNdhE
OSRAM Lightify Smart RGBW LED Strip: amzn.to/2whA08w
Watts Hot Water Recirc Pump: amzn.to/2hxuGuC
iHome Control Plug-in Module: amzn.to/2v948TD
Ecobee3/4 Smart Thermostat: amzn.to/2fhB6xi
Sensative Strips Open/Close Sensor: amzn.to/2v7dq4e
Philips Hue: amzn.to/2ueil4A
Where I buy Domain Names: bit.ly/2m7zuEd
== Video Links ==
Part 1 - Start Your Smart Home: youtu.be/xEMcqQE6Rlc
Stringify Flows: youtu.be/lJb5J6nRQQU
Install GE Smart Switch:
Install Smart 3-Way Switch: youtu.be/HOp3Ro4hL9s
Install Leviton Z-Wave Switch: youtu.be/VI346efxVF4
Install Lutron Caseta Smart Switch: youtu.be/ATmI5c1J_fU
Install Watts Hot Water Recirc Pump: youtu.be/JXTuYuQjTSk
Install Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat: youtu.be/QkCAklUSTfo
Install Sensative Strips Open/Close Sensor: youtu.be/NwR-l4FhaQE
Install OSRAM Lightify RGBW LED Light: youtu.be/aLqWUcGjyDs
Review Inovelli Smart Plug-in Module: youtu.be/5sKRvF4nt6k
Review Google Home Assistant: youtu.be/Ou7BwTTQOak
Review Amazon Echo: youtu.be/UYLY6hnCWuk
Review GE Plug-in Module: youtu.be/eqjvq5Z2yrI
Review iHome Control WiFi Plug-in Module: youtu.be/s__3lT_LV-s
In my thinking, there are five categories of smart home solutions, being Lighting, Energy Savings, Entertainment Control, Home Security and Environmental Control.
When we look at the relationship between lighting and the other four categories, it’s pretty easy to see that more efficient control over lighting can be used to enhance the comfort of your overall living environment.
This is because lighting is a simple way to enhance your home entertainment experience, help save on your energy bill and improve your home security.
Also in part 1 I also talked about how it is essential to ensure that you have a plan that will keep your smart home simple to use for other people that may be trying to control things inside your home.
This is especially true with lighting.Remember, having manual control over your smart home is an essential consideration.
One question that I get quite often is about when to use a smart light bulb, a smart switch or a regular light bulb.
In general, I don’t like controlling anything that benefits from constant power, like a smart light bulb, with a switch. This is because a smart light is already smart and turning off the switch removes the control.
Also, most smart lighting reverts back to a default color, usually white, when the power is restored.Also, this diagram is posted on my Facebook page, which is @DIY Smart Home Guy.Personally I don't like this idea since it takes away manual control, which I believe is very important in a smart home.My suggestion is to design a smart lighting experience that incorporates colored lighting in such a way that it can’t be interrupted with any kind of switch, smart or not.
Now, smart light bulbs are probably the easiest smart home products to install, next to the smart plugin outlet.They just turn on and off through my home automation setup, so I really don't think about them much. The entire light set includes my tv backlighting, my under bar accent lights, the bar shelf accent lights and the backlighting on the guitar case.
My preferred method of manual control is voice automation using either the Google Home or the Amazon Echo.
DIY Smart Home Guy Websites:
Website: azhb.com
Facebook: facebook.com/diysmarthomeguy
Twitter: twitter.com/diysmarthomeguy
