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chris-red |
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chris-red Have you considered a TDM?
Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 12:55 - 02 Jan 2018 Post subject: Anyone doing much Home Automation? |
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We got an Amazon Echo and a couple of dots last year, soon after I started looking into the various home automation options, we have a Tado Smart thermostat that integrates slightly with it but I wanted to do a load of the lights.
I grabbed a couple of TP-Link Kasa Bulbs and was very impressed I think they were about £13 each and work as expected. I also bought a TP link plug socket, which this year we used to turn off and on all the Christmas lights.
I wanted to fit some undercounter lights in the kitchen I wasn't going to make them 'smart' initially but I found these...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Control-Automation-Intelligent-support/dp/B0732T1KZ2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1514889858&sr=8-2&keywords=sonoff
I was looking at a light kit that cost £25. Instead for only a couple of quid more I made my own using LED strips the sonoff relay and a 12v Transformer, It works really well.
I wired the other relay into my Porch spotlights as it can go up through a spotlight hole like the transformers. Again straight out the box it worked with Minimal effort. I now have it set to work on a timer. I doubt you could get a timer switch for £8 let alone a smart switch you can control with apps/voice etc.
Only issue with the sonoff stuff is if the internet is out your lights won't work* unless you push the button on the unit. As the unit is designed to be hidden this would obviously be a pain if you used it for your main lights. However on things like porch and kitchen counter lights I'm happy to take the risk.
The TP link bulbs will will come on if you turn the switch off and on which is a much better design IMO.
I have been considering trying to build alexa controller curtain rail but you can probably take these things too far.
What I really want is a wifi Lightswitch that can dim my LED GU10's unfortunately the one available all require a neutral wire.
Anyone else done anything interesting?
*Won't turn on, if they are already on they will stay on. You can turn them off with the normal switch which kills power to the unit. Once you flick the switch on however the 'default state' is off. ____________________ Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything. |
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Monkeypony |
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Monkeypony World Chat Champion
Joined: 21 Sep 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 13:06 - 02 Jan 2018 Post subject: |
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I'm also using various echo dots
I've got the Philips Hue smart lighting system throughout (including super pimp lighstrip lighting in my bed! ). Super easy to set up and they make most of the popular fitments, including GU10s .
I also have a full compliment of Sonos speakers throughout the house, that are also voice controlled by Alexa
Next step will be a Hive/Nest system.
On the whole, voice control is great. It's not 100% there yet, but it is certainly at a point where having it can actually make life easier, rather than just frustrating! ____________________ Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU) |
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chris-red |
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chris-red Have you considered a TDM?
Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 13:22 - 02 Jan 2018 Post subject: |
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Monkeypony wrote: | I'm also using various echo dots
I've got the Philips Hue smart lighting system throughout (including super pimp lighstrip lighting in my bed! ). Super easy to set up and they make most of the popular fitments, including GU10s .
I also have a full compliment of Sonos speakers throughout the house, that are also voice controlled by Alexa
Next step will be a Hive/Nest system.
On the whole, voice control is great. It's not 100% there yet, but it is certainly at a point where having it can actually make life easier, rather than just frustrating! |
I priced up Hue for my downstairs lighting. It was about £500
A switch makes more sense than bulbs when you have loads of them! I personally preferred the TP bulbs because they are roughly the same price as hue and do not require the bridge.
I have some Yamaha Musiccast stuff, Still waiting for the Alexa Update that should have been out Q3 of 2017 according to them.
I find Alexa is 95% right, however my missus is worse at it, I'm not sure if it is the tone of her voice or if she is too quiet.
Definitely consider Tado along with Hive/Nest. I'm very impressed with ours. ____________________ Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything. |
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panrider_uk |
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panrider_uk World Chat Champion
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supZ |
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supZ World Chat Champion
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panrider_uk |
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panrider_uk World Chat Champion
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Im-a-Ridah |
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Im-a-Ridah World Chat Champion
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chris-red |
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chris-red Have you considered a TDM?
Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :
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panrider_uk |
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panrider_uk World Chat Champion
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Lord Percy |
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Lord Percy World Chat Champion
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
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Monkeypony |
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Monkeypony World Chat Champion
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panrider_uk |
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panrider_uk World Chat Champion
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linuxyeti |
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linuxyeti World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Karma :
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Posted: 16:00 - 02 Jan 2018 Post subject: |
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Suntan Sid wrote: |
I imagine most people would class it as "shit you don't need"!
Great advertising though which has achieved its aim of extracting money from punters.
Chances are you've spent more time posting about it than you'll ever save in a lifetime! |
Yep, not only that, but, in the brave new IoT, then, you need to make sure you setup your network security as best you can.. Oh, and if you think Alexa, Siri, Google, even Sonos now, are for your own good, they're not, they harvest as much information as possible about you, and send it back to the mother ship !!
Don't forget, unless you unplug it, Alexa is always on, and always listening ____________________ Beware what photos you upload, or link to on here, especially if you have family members on them |
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panrider_uk |
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panrider_uk World Chat Champion
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Karma :
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Posted: 16:03 - 02 Jan 2018 Post subject: |
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linuxyeti wrote: |
Yep, not only that, but, in the brave new IoT, then, you need to make sure you setup your network security as best you can.. Oh, and if you think Alexa, Siri, Google, even Sonos now, are for your own good, they're not, they harvest as much information as possible about you, and send it back to the mother ship !!
Don't forget, unless you unplug it, Alexa is always on, and always listening |
Or press the microphone off button.
Also your phone is always listening too so... ____________________ Current bike: Honda ST1100 |
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Monkeypony |
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Monkeypony World Chat Champion
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Posted: 16:05 - 02 Jan 2018 Post subject: |
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linuxyeti wrote: | they harvest as much information as possible about you, and send it back to the mother ship !!
Don't forget, unless you unplug it, Alexa is always on, and always listening |
Unless you're building a bomb, or part of the tinfoil hat brigade, why would anyone care? ____________________ Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU) |
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Tracey Suntan-King |
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Tracey Suntan-King World Chat Champion
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Im-a-Ridah |
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Im-a-Ridah World Chat Champion
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rpsmith79 |
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rpsmith79 World Chat Champion
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Posted: 16:09 - 02 Jan 2018 Post subject: |
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https://i.imgur.com/ZtacKhz.jpg ____________________ Current Bike: Honda CG125 ES4 // Honda CB600FS Hornet // Triumph Street Triple R |
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panrider_uk |
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panrider_uk World Chat Champion
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The Shaggy D.A. |
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The Shaggy D.A. Super Spammer
Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 17:03 - 02 Jan 2018 Post subject: |
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We've got an Echo and an Echo Dot, connected to WeMo switches and bulbs, and Hive. A handful of the Wemo lights are dimmable, but I tend to just leave them set at the same intensity.
The sound quality is quite good, can't remember the last time I turned the hifi on. ____________________ Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5 |
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panrider_uk |
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panrider_uk World Chat Champion
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Im-a-Ridah |
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Im-a-Ridah World Chat Champion
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Stalk |
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Stalk Brolly Dolly
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bladerunner |
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bladerunner World Chat Champion
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Posted: 23:55 - 02 Jan 2018 Post subject: |
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yup i got an echo and a hue starter kit for christmas ( 2 white bulbs and hub) now have 4 bulbs and motion sensor ( ideal for the landings as it lights up when you step thru the front door or out of any of the upstairs rooms. only come on when its dark enough and after bed time they only come on as a night light to save burning your eyeballs out like the std bulbs did. I also had one of the eary early sonoff switches that I lost the wifi account details for 3 years ago and had it running a dehumidifier via the 433mhz radio tab. I was rather impressed that it hooked straight upto the echo and hey presto works via alexa and the app again!
I've ordered 3 more power plugs as £20 for 3 of them and a 5m RGB+W led strip to go under the kitchen counters with the home magic pro app so again voice control or phone or motion sensor or IR lol £19 for the 5050 size including the power supply and hey new toy
IFTTT quick play now things get fun! if I ring my "Ring" doorbell it will flash the hue lights to say someone at the door OR if its at night it will put the front door light on for a minute meaning whoever is outside isnt in the dark and I'm able to see them better than just the IR lights on the bell
Also impressed that anymote app controls my old 720p samsung tv and LG TV with volume/mute/sleep/on/off etc via alexa so well to.
As for sonoff switches needing the internet your right, HOWEVER you can flash the memory easily and they work with the HUE hub if you have on meaning local network control and no having to use silly skills.
Another thing for anyone looking to do this at home is maybe look at wifi dimmer switches as they are a lot cheaper than the lights and you have them powered up all the time and keep std bulbs.... handy if you have old type light fittings which take 3 or 5 bulbs each like I do!
all just a bit of fun but its a lot more fun than fitting new drain pipes or whatever usual run of the mill DIY stuff ____________________ Current bikes...cbr929, KDX200's, Rd125lc mk2, RGV250's |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 6 years, 155 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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