Good evening! I am very good with tech but haven't dived into smart switches yet. I own an Airbnb and there are some exterior lights that I would like to have turned on in the evening and turned off several hours later.

I'd like to be able to control this from my phone as I don't want to use something like the Honeywell Programmable Switch as renters will get into the settings.

The exterior lights are actually on two switches. One switch has 2 flood lights. The other switch has 4 flood lights. It would be great to tie these switches together if possible so you can control all exterior lights from really one smart switch

I don't have a hub, I'm not against buying one, I just don't know where to start.

Thanks in advance for the help and guidance!

We're upgrading our 3 smoke detectors to smart smoke + carbon monoxide alarms. I guess you can't put a price on safety but is Nest worth the $150 per alarm? There is a 3-pack of X-Sense Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms on sale at Amazon for $99.98 and they seem to functionally do the same thing. Does anyone here have experience with X-Sense? Or should I accept the extra cost for the peace of mind that comes with a known brand like Nest? Thanks y'all!

so let's say i have devices across various brands and protocols, will having a matter controller make them united? even if my existing devices are not yet matter compliant?

for example

1. tuya bulb
2. aqara fp2
3. tapo wifi camera
4. etc

Building a fully automated "Freetopia," where vital resources are abundant and freely available, requires a combination of advanced technologies, decentralized infrastructure, and innovative funding. Here's a breakdown of how this concept can be implemented and funded, with an emphasis on encouraging community-driven participation, such as on platforms like Reddit.

1. Technological Framework for Freetopia

A. Automated Resource Production and Management:

Food: Vertical farming and permaculture techniques powered by robotics and AI could yield large quantities of fresh produce year-round. Automated systems for hydroponics, aquaponics, and urban farming would minimize land use and human labor.

Energy: A decentralized, renewable energy grid would power the infrastructure. Solar, wind, and geothermal energy, combined with advanced battery storage, would ensure an abundance of energy without reliance on fossil fuels.

Water: Desalination plants and atmospheric water generators, fully automated, could provide clean drinking water for everyone. Water recycling systems could ensure sustainability.

Housing: 3D-printed, modular homes built by robotic systems could reduce construction costs and provide sustainable, energy-efficient living spaces.

Transportation: Autonomous electric vehicles and public transit could be part of a shared, free-to-use system powered by renewable energy, drastically reducing the need for private ownership of vehicles.

B. Decentralized, AI-driven Systems:

AI Governance: AI systems could manage resource distribution, ensuring fairness and efficiency. By utilizing data analytics and predictive algorithms, the system would optimize production and consumption patterns.

Blockchain-based Economy: Instead of money, a tokenized, reputation-based system could be implemented where people contribute ideas, maintain systems, or support the development of infrastructure. Blockchain ensures transparency and decentralization.

Circular Economy: A system based on recycling, reusing, and repairing could ensure that resources are never wasted, with robotics taking on tasks like material reclamation and recycling.

2. Feasible Funding Model

A. Crowdfunding and Grants:

Initial Seed Funding: Platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe could be used to gather initial capital. Appeal to environmentally conscious, technology-driven, and utopia-focused communities.

Government and Private Grants: Many governments and organizations offer funding for sustainable technologies, green energy, and automation. Applying for innovation grants from institutions like the U.S. Department of Energy, the EU’s Horizon 2020 program, or philanthropic tech funds could bring significant resources.

Open Source Collaboration: Encourage open-source contributions from developers, engineers, and technologists to create modular, scalable solutions. Funding could come through platforms like Patreon or GitHub sponsors for contributors.

B. Token Economy or DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization):

Create a Freetopia DAO: On Reddit and other decentralized platforms, build a DAO where contributors can participate in decision-making and governance. The DAO could issue tokens that represent a share in the future Freetopia infrastructure, incentivizing contributions.

Token Sales for Infrastructure: The DAO could raise funds through the sale of utility tokens that will be used to access advanced features within the Freetopia infrastructure, like premium services (e.g., advanced housing, personalized transportation, etc.).

Crypto and Blockchain: Use blockchain-based smart contracts to ensure that all resources are fairly distributed, and fundraising is transparent. For example, Ethereum-based contracts could be employed to ensure automated payments and resource tracking for contributors.

3. Encouraging People on Reddit to Build Freetopia

A. Form a Reddit Community Focused on Freetopia:

Subreddit Creation: Start a dedicated subreddit (e.g., r/Freetopia or r/AutomatedAbundance) where people interested in automation, sustainability, and utopian ideals can gather, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects.

Engagement with Influencers and Thinkers: Reach out to tech influencers, futurists, and sustainability advocates on Reddit to promote the vision. Engage in AMAs (Ask Me Anything), encouraging experts to provide their insights.

Community Challenges: Launch challenges on the subreddit where people can design and prototype aspects of Freetopia (e.g., designing a vertical farm, building an open-source robot for food production). These could be backed by small grants or rewards funded through the DAO.

B. Open-Source Collaborations:

Encourage Redditors to Contribute Code and Design: Open-source platforms like GitHub could be linked directly to the Reddit community, allowing developers, engineers, and creators to build the technology needed for Freetopia.

Hackathons and Competitions: Organize online hackathons through Reddit to spur innovation in key areas such as automation, AI for resource management, and energy-efficient housing.

Documentation and Tutorials: Create guides, blueprints, and educational materials on how to build decentralized automated systems, making it accessible for people at various skill levels to contribute.

C. Gamification and Rewards:

Token-Based Incentives: Offer community members rewards (like DAO tokens) for contributing to discussions, sharing innovative ideas, or working on technical projects.

NFTs for Contributors: Reward significant contributors with unique NFTs that represent their participation in building Freetopia, incentivizing creative and technical input.

4. Sustainability and Scalability

A. Pilot Projects:

Start with small-scale pilots in communities where automated agriculture, housing, or transportation can be implemented. These pilots will serve as proof of concept for larger investors and government partnerships.

Showcase these pilots on Reddit, providing live updates, videos, and data to attract more interest and potential collaboration.

B. Long-Term Vision:

Global Scaling: As technology and infrastructure improve, scale the Freetopia model to more locations. Open-source hardware and software would make it easier for other communities to replicate the model.

Autonomous Expansion: In the future, AI and robotic systems could self-replicate, further reducing costs and increasing the scalability of the concept.

By creating a Freetopia community on Reddit and utilizing crowdfunding, open-source collaboration, and blockchain-based governance, this vision could attract people from diverse backgrounds. The key is to begin with small, achievable projects, demonstrate success, and build momentum for a global movement focused on automated abundance for all.

I’ve had the eufy smart lock for about 3 months now. No issues until the past few days. When I try to leave and lock up in the morning by using the external keypad, it won’t work. It seems like the deadbolt is getting partially blocked or just won’t extend all the way. The app says “unable to lock, the dead bolt may be blocked”. I am able to lock/unlock with no problem manually from the inside. I also don’t have the physical key with me at the moment to lock it externally that way, so it’s a cause for concern that my house was left unlocked all day

The WiFi signal is good, the battery status says they are full, so don’t think either of those is an issue.

The only possible idea I have is perhaps it’s due to cold air temperature? It’s been unusually cold in the mornings lately (about 30 degrees cooler than usual), and I’ve only had a problem with it on these cold days. By the time I get home in the afternoon and the temperature has warmed up, it works just fine. However the early AM temp is not even an extremely low number, somewhere in the 50s, so I would be surprised to know if that were causing this problem.

Can anybody give their 2 cents on if the temperature is the issue, or if it’s something else? Or any ideas how to fix it?

TLDR; eufy smart lock suddenly won’t lock via keypad from the outside in the mornings on colder days. Batteries good, wifi signal fine. Is this a weather related issue or something else?

Guys, I am getting so frustrated! I have the LSC app for the lights to be able to connect. However my ledlights never flicker like they have to. What am I doing wrong? I keep clicking them on and off. Mine don’t connect 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

LSC from action

https://youtu.be/OroLVq0eW2w?feature=shared

I have a lighting situation in my kitchen... 5-10 different switches scattered around controlling various lights. Turning off the lights at night requires a ridiculous marathon around the room.

So the question: Can anyone recommend a workaround using smart bulbs and a single wall switch that can switch off all the lights at once? Or even better, two switches that can both do the same thing so I can place one at either entrance? Hoping to avoid Alexa or Echo-type stuff, or options that require an app other than for initial set up. Does this exist? Thanks!

I recently installed the Aqara Video Doorbell G4. Since I live in an apartment I didn’t want to remove and rewire the old doorbell, so I’m running the G4 on batteries. Problem is, I still have delivery drivers using the old doorbell! Is there any type of covers I could buy to dissuade people from using the original doorbell? I found a few options on Amazon but they all include messages like “do not use” or “no soliciting” … I would like either a blank cover, or one that mentions to use the video doorbell (if one is even available).

Any help would be greatly appreciated

I've been exploring how AI could revolutionize home automation and would love to hear the community's thoughts! We all know smart homes are already great for convenience, but I'm curious about the next level of automation powered by AI.

• How do you think AI could further enhance home automation systems (security, energy management, personalization, etc.)?
• What are the biggest benefits you're expecting from AI in this space?
• Can AI-powered features (like predictive maintenance, human detection, or personalized controls) really simplify our lives and reduce the hassle of managing everything manually?

Would love to hear your ideas, experiences, and any must-have AI features you're looking forward to in your smart home setup!

(Its my university major research project)

Thank You Everyone

I have three smart plugs from DELTACO for different lamps which works great with Google Home. I want to add an automation so that the light in the dressing room automatically comes on when someone enters, so I bought a motion sensor from DELTACO (a SH-WS01). Problem is that the device doesn't show in the DELTACO SMART HOME-app.

Anyone with experience in the matter? Advice is greatly appreciated.

Hey all, I have a small problem that I think can be solved by some clever smart home integrations, just not sure how. Here's the gist. I live in a house shared with multiple roommates. The washer and dryer are in the basement. We have a bit of a trend of clothes being left in the washer and dryer and forgotten. The time on the washer and dryer cannot be trusted as they are smart enough to add time to the cycle if the clothes need it. At the moment, I have a smart plug for each to monitor current, which I then use to trigger a helper in Home Assistant on my Dashboard so I can see which are in use. I also have it send me push notifications for when each load is complete.

How can I go about letting my roommates be informed about this? Since I live with roommates, I don't want to be too intrusive with my automations. Any ideas? I'm on somewhat of a budget so I'm looking for the most cost effective solution here. Thanks!

I am staying in student halls and have bought 2 RGB LED E14 bulbs. They require wifi access however my building only has 5ghz and the bulbs won't connect. is there any work around for this or have I just got 2 useless bulbs?

I'd like to explore options to have a motion activated display at home to show me widgets like stock market, Google calendar, Tasks, weather. There's a multitude of ways to do it and I'd like your help to figure out the most straightforward.

• Mini pc (home server I'm setting up) with Google sheets/looker always open & streaming Chromecast to an LCD (motion sensor on/off). I already own all of these, would just have to set it up

• cheap android tablet with a launcher that would somehow contain these widgets. Always on and I'd tap it to awaken.

• the pc solution could also work with a cheap projector to a kitchen wall instead of an lcd (I have a projector here for movies/gaming)

Hi Everyone,

Looking for a bit of advice for turning dumb plug sockets smart.

We are in UK & have recently moved into our new home & will be doing some renovations & want to turn the sockets smart rather than having to put in smart plugs as even the smallest ones are still quite bulky.

I know there Shelley’s and Aqura have one as well but I’m wondering what the best option is for my criteria?

Criteria •Has to work in Apple HomeKit/Matter

•ideally thread based, but not opposed to zigbee

•Doesn’t cost the earth, as I’ll need a few of them

Also if the socket has usb in it would you need 2 relays in there to get the usb charging functionality as well?

Many Thanks

I’m using SLZB-06 as zigbee coordinator in ZHA, I bought a Tuya zigbee device which is recognised by ZHA but not all its features are available, is it possible somehow to use my existing config (ZHA + SLZB-06) to pair the device with Tuya app and control the other features from there?

It's been a while now since Ambi's demise. I was hoping some enterprising enthusiast may have figured out a way to reuse the hardware locally, but a recent search didn't turn up anything.

Have I missed something? I hate throwing them in the bin, but if there's no hope of resurrection then also no point keeping them.

Hello. I am seeking advice on an issue I’m having. I tried drawing a picture to help. My home currently has two Alexa dots 5th gen. One is in the living room, and the other is in the bedroom (I forgot to draw that one). An Apple TV in the living room. The router is in the foyer (TP-Link AX3000). I also have SwitchBot Hub 2 in the bedroom. From my experience, when using nanoleaf, I had to use Apple Home before it worked on Alexa, so I did that.

I have been having issues getting Bedroom Lights 1 recognized in Apple Home. It seems it does not reach that far. I purchased the SwitchBot Hub 2, thinking I could use it as an “extender” for the matter/Apple home, but I haven’t been able to achieve that, and now I'm not quite sure it is possible. In general, the bedroom lights have a weak and inconsistent connection, so I did this thinking it would fix the issue. Everything appears to be working fine, aside from the bedroom lights. Does anyone have advice on how I can get this to work better?

Note: SwitchBot Hub 2 is linked to the Apple home.

There is a slightly insignificant problem; when I request Alexa to turn off the living room lights, it turns on 1 and 3 but not 2.

Hi all. This question will almost certainly reveal my inexperience with hardware haha.

I’m assuming the basic function of the hardwired button on a garage door opener is to bridge the two terminals it is connected to. With that in mind, is there any reason I couldn’t (or shouldn’t) use the GPIO pins on a RPI or similar device to supply 5v to the unpowered terminal on the garage door?

If that isn’t a viable option, is the cheapest alternative to buy a relay to actually bridge the two connections?

Building a new house and want to stick with the Lutron Caseta setup throughout. Currently have a handful of original Lutron switches throughout the house and haven’t even had to think about them since I installed probably 5 years ago.

Now I’m thinking through the new Diva and Claro switches and trying to plan the house out. Here are my thoughts and questions - let me know if anything sounds off.

• One concern I have is with the difference between some of the dumb Lutron switches not having the same look or feel as the smart ones. Does this bother anyone?

• Caseta Diva switches in hallways, living room, bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, etc. Being able to dim lights in any room and hallway sounds incredible, is this overkill?

• Caseta Claro accessory switches at any place I have 3 way or 4 way switches. Is there a benefit to accessory switches vs dumb switches?

• Caseta Claro for exterior and garage lights. Don’t see myself dimming these.

• Dumb fan switches in bedrooms and bathrooms. Is there a better solution here? Would prefer not to use the old style Caseta switch

• Caseta Motion switches in bathrooms and closets. Are these even worth going Caseta, or would the normal Lutron motion switches suffice?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I need some help from those with experience. I'm trying to set up a smart switch on the singular switch in my living room. The apartment maintenance guys seem to have set up the two ceiling LED units to both be wired onto the same switch in the kitchen. I'm not an electrician and don't want to try to separate them out into two switches but from some searching it seems I can find a smart switch that can sense that there are two lights? Is this a common feature or does anyone have a fix or recommendation of a brand to assist me with this? Preferable if it's fairly easy to reverse and put back on the original switch when I eventually move out. It's driving me wild to have both lights turn on every time I enter the room. For context, there are no bulbs in these ceiling lights. They're like generic round units that have an LED panel under the dome and they have no smart capability as the whole unit is a single product. TIA.

Hey everyone,

I’m really interested in setting up a smart home system starting with thermostats and smoke alarms. My main concern is getting immediate alerts on my phone if there’s ever a fire or smoke.

Currently, my house has Honeywell thermostats (two independent HVAC systems). What would you recommend—should I switch to Nest or other for a single brand smart home setup, or is sticking with the Honeywell thermostats and getting nest protect alarms something to consider?

Appreciate any advice—Thanks!

Hi everyone!
I’m looking to set up a wired bus-based home automation system for my apartment in Italy. However, I’m open to evaluating radio protocols like Zigbee if needed, based on your suggestions. I’ve been recommended Urmet and Vimar devices, but I haven’t found a wired solution from them that meets all my requirements.
I have also read about having an Home Assistant hub to centralize all the controls, but I need to learn a little more on that.

Here are the key criteria I’m looking for:

• Wired bus system is my first preference, but I’m open to Zigbee or other futureproof radio protocols if needed.
• I want to maintain physical controls with traditional switches.
• An Ethernet-connected hub to manage devices via an app (both locally and remotely).
• Reliable and well-structured app, ideally avoiding Chinese apps like e-welink.
• Compatibility with Google Assistant or Alexa.
• The system should be easily expandable and integrable with future devices.
• I’m aiming for a cost-effective solution, considering the limited scale of my system.

Devices to control:

• 1 dimmer for a dimmable LED strip
• 2 dimmable light points
• 5 electric shutters with up/down controls
• Control of non-priority loads, ideally with energy monitoring.
• Honeywell evohome system (kind of the only choice for my home heating system)

Do you have any suggestions for a wired bus system that balances cost and functionality, or should I explore radio based systems further? What systems have worked for you (available in Italy/Europe)?
Thanks in advance!

Hi Everyone, I have just joined as I have been a smart home lover for many years, but since introducing Home Assistant I have gone to another level. Ha ha!

Question I have is more related to NFC, but basically I want to create a music wall with album cover art, so when you tap on the appropriate NFC tag hidden behind the frame (both Apple Music and Spotify), it starts playing that particular album.

Question I have is... How can I set it up so the album plays on the Sonos speaker in the room I'm in only. And I also want guests to be able to use this as well.

On your marks... Get Set... Go!

I have an (old) Came garage door opener.
This has a physical switch connected to it.
I have cut the cable for this switch and connected a Punxasl Smart Relay Switching Module to it.
This works perfectly with Home Assistant.
However it would be nice if the old switch would still be functional.
Is this possible or should I buy another physical switch that can also be connected with Home assistant to trigger the module?

Sorry if this question is not technical enough.
Feel free to ask questions.

Currently building a new home and was going to use Google Nest for everything. Just saw they discontinued a lot of their products. I would prefer to have one app that will handle everything. I would like thermostats (4 needed, 1 to control forced air heat and AC, 3 to control in floor boiler system), smoke alarms (3 smoke, 4 smoke and carbon monoxide. must be 120V hard wired with battery back up), door bell cam, security cam, door lock, garage door opener.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 Hi! I have two guinea pigs in a shared house with roommates. The roommates have cats and a dog so I always keep my door closed but recently my partner has had a hard time remembering to close the door on their way out. Is there any cheap door/window sensor on the market that is app connected, doesn’t require a subscription, and this one is a long shot but has a feature to turn of the alarm or set a grace period before it turns on? (think how the fridge alarm only goes off if it’s been open for more than 5 minutes)