After years of working with smart home tech, our company recently delivered a fully automated, HomeKit-based residence, integrating smart lighting, climate control, motorized shades, multi-room audio, and top-tier security—all running locally, with zero cloud dependencies.

From seamless automation to 100% local processing, this project showcases what’s possible when Apple HomeKit is pushed to its limits.

🔗 Watch the full HomeKit Mansion Tour: https://youtu.be/11PoemxJCqY

Curious about how it works? What’s your dream smart home setup? Let’s discuss in the comments! 👇

How can i learn about smart home systems

Anyone know of a proper (break the two beams) style driveway alarm with Google home integration?

Not motion detection, a double beam about 300mm from the ground that when broken, I get an alert that something has undeniably breaches the perimeter, lock and load 🤙

Extra points for solar powered 👌

I can only find ones that link back to a base station in the house that makes a sound. No good when I'm out of the house 🤷🏼‍♂️

TIA 👍

Just wanted to ask for experienced smart homers opinions on this light strip I'm looking to get to go up my stairs case.

I see a lot of posts saying to avoid tuya but all the light strips I'm looking at (without spending loads) seem to have tuya. I'm still not sure why I should be avoiding tuya.

For reference I have a smarthings hub2 and will be using motion sensors to trigger the light at either end of the staircase.

TIA

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226369901432?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=egue1tpcq02&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=5wKhYK5HRPW&var=525560455365&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Let's let off steam! What would you install if you were me? I'm a newcomer to the smart home world. I've bought an apartment and want to equip myself for the future.

The following is for sure:

• 10Gbps internet connection to be installed soon
• Router: Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine - Special Edition
• Smart home hub: Habitat Hubitat C-8 Pro
• Smart Home Standard: Matter
• Proton VPN

(Router and hub have not yet been purchased. Would you recommend something else? Is there anything better in this price range?)

• The apartment has two floors, so I will probably need access points. I'm still debating between Ubiquiti U7-Pro and Ubiquiti U6-Mesh WiFi 6.
• I'm a Google user, but I don't want to run as much as possible through an external cloud.

What would you do if you were me? Share your dreams :-)

Newbies who will soon be ready too: What do you have planned?

Experienced smart home users: What would you do differently today?

Has anybody seen or heard of a way to transition the speaker inside of the smart tag into a microphone? Is there a way to install any kind of microphone inside of it? I'd like to pick up audio instead of having a speaker. Thanks!

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right subreddit.

Can anyone enlighten me if there are any smart plugs for dryers that can handle 220v/30amps+

Dryer Brand is Inglis

I wish to monitor the energy usage Or if not monitor then atleast the ability to cut off the power supply after a certain time frame.

I know they have timers but was looking for something to control the power outlet from phone. The regular smart plugs are too weak. Any suggestions?

Anyone seen a Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 2 microphone & and battery mod? (Apple AirTag vs Smart Tag 2) I'm looking for the longest lasting aftermarket battery possible!

Has anybody seen or heard of a way to transition the speaker inside of the smart tag into a microphone? Is there a way to install any kind of microphone inside of it? I'd like to pick up audio instead of having a speaker. Thanks! And while I'm at it, it seems as if the Samsung Galaxy smart tag 2 has a better battery life than the apple air tag, no? Also, what's the best battery upgrade to get? The SST2 also stores location data for 7 days. Apple doesn't, correct? Although I live in the USA, so there are probably less compatible Samsung devices in my area... At least I think. Do Apple Air tags use ALL generation iPhones?

I'm looking for a energy monitoring plug for my backup sump pump. It's running on 120vac. See the red device in the picture.

Basic Requirements:

1. It can send alert when the pump draws power (>3A). Max current draw might surge to 15A.

Bonus requirements: 2. It can send alert when it detects upstream power failure 3. It doesn't have option to open the circuit, aka, always allows power thru, because I don't want to accidentally turn off the power for my pump.

But requirements 2 and 3 can be handled via a power failure alarm.

Any recommendations please?

I'm looking for a smart home solution that can detect if significant current exists in 120vac cables. I searched yolink and aqara. They don't have such sensors.

Anyone know such type of sensors?

It’s 2025 and still, nothing just… works. The amount of hours I’ve spent trying to get consistency with connections and everything working properly is depressing. I should be able to buy an off the shelf mesh network and all the devices my heart desires and not have to fight with it daily. Rant complete.

I'm trying to hook up an Amazon smart thermostat but it doesn't power on when I wire it. Here's the original thermostat wiring:

https://preview.redd.it/c28kscje1mge1.png?width=1008&format=png&auto=webp&s=4f8516368e8f8217313babd4f6718f12ce2a6176

I wired rewired it according to this diagram:

https://preview.redd.it/9l4p48gs1mge1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=50a5ee4a4a0e514d2b16e3ee344bc23ea9a946f5

However, after wiring it according to the diagram the thermostat doesn't power on. I think it's an issue with the C wire, which wasn't being used in the original thermostat.

I get 10 volts when I test the C wire as you see here:

https://preview.redd.it/r7abbt842mge1.jpg?width=924&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12955cbe50799837ae0b6d5f28467459fe03117c

I get 28 when I test the other wires such as the green one shown here:

https://preview.redd.it/zxu81x382mge1.jpg?width=831&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b17e9ab8e9ec79f1710903246e44109bd34f99f

Anyone know why the blue C wire would only give me 10 volts? Amazon says it requires 24 volts to work: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J4C8871

I think its under powered and that's why it doesn't turn on. Anyone have any idea what might be going wrong or how I can trouble shoot this futher?

I'm looking for an alternative because these Philips lamps are expensive. Does anyone know of any good other products?

I recently baught a few different IR remote based small lights. Annoyingly these remotes seem to have some overlap with off on one light being white on the other. Are there any ways around this or do you have any jank ways of stopping them activating eachother

Has anyone else got a smart roller blind and figured out to connect the roller chain and keep it working.

Whatever position the “join” is in, it either goes through the spinner on the motor or the spinner on the blind, and gets stuck.

Was really looking forward to my new smart blind 😢

Hi guys

We still heat our (newly purchased) house with fuel oil. I'm investigating which meter (connected via wifi to network) to install in the fuel tank, to gauge the volume of fuel still inside.

What do you guys use to to fill such a need?

I was having a thought of how to possibly pause the TV when I get up from the sofa and play again when I sit down (this could be doubled if I'm watching with someone else)

I have looked in the smarthings app for device control related to my TV but the pause/play option is not a thing (at least here it isn't)

I can currently ask Alexa to pause or play the TV so perhaps I would have to run this through Alexa instead of my smarthings hub.

I assume it would need pressure sensors, or them really smart presence sensors that knows where you are in a room.

This is just an idea as I'm slowly starting to get into smart homing. TIA

We've got an autistic kid who will destroy everything she can get to. The easiest solution, placing tall safety latches on doors, is problematic because we have other kids who are on the shorter side, and their mom is short, and can't reach them. It's a 2 story house + basement, we can't be everywhere at once. Also, our autistic kid is going to be tall (I'm 6'4). Keys would probably get lost.

I tried Schlage and Yale, but they are not the proper fit for an interior bedroom door, and I had to return them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK1L4PRP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

I bought a several of these and have installed two as a test run for about the last 3 days. Last night, for no good reason, neither of our fingerprints, nor the app were registering and I had go find the key to get my daughter to bed. Along with that, my firewall keeps telling me I'm visiting a known fishing site from a China IP every time I open the app.

Is there a better smart solution I just can't seem to find?

Hey everyone!

I'm about to buy a (small-ish) flat in a building that is probably done in early 2026.
Since I've never had/tried making a smart home, I thought this would be the perfect time to try it out.

My question:
Is there anything, during the construction phase that I should do?
I haven't deep dove into smart homes yet, but if possible I would like to avoid mistakes and hard times that a already built home could give.

Currently I'm planning smart lights - motion detection on/off, smart plugs, temperature control, sound system and shutters. May add more when I research this in the coming months.
If you have more suggestions please do not hesitate to share! :)

Is there any way to turn lights OFF when a movie starts and then turn them back ON when it ends automatically I have smart lighting with matter and a TCL google tv

Has anyone find yolink vibration sensor is too sensitive? YS7201.

Even though the app allowed to adjust the sensitivity from 1 to 10, the lowest sensitivity is still too high. Has anyone found a solution to that?

The only thing I can think is to wrap the sensor with some foam or rubber to physically damp the vibration. But it still picking up noise.

Thank you for any solutions

Morning all, hope you're well.

I'm looking to start with a smart thermostat. I currently have a Grant oil combi boiler with an analogue 2 wire thermostat. I'm trying to understand how i could replace this thermostat with a wireless one that can be moved around the home and turn the heating on and off.

What would you recommend? I've seen the hive mini and Tado wireless p

Thanks,

Phil

Hi all,

So I run a small business and want my employees to be able to access the garage for work. I figured a keypad is probably the easiest thing and would also let UPS/Fedex do pickups/dropoffs in there instead of piling mountains at my front door. So right now I have a basic CHamberlan, with a older MyQ opener that I despise.

What I THINK I want (open to suggestions) is a keypad that would allow me to setup unique codes for different people AND limit the times when those codes would work. So like my main manager could have 24 access with his code, but the random temp would only have access during their scheduled hours. Thoughts on how to go about this/suggestion on a system that would work? I don't REALLY want to get super fiddly with it, but will if it's "jump through hoops or spend thousands on this one specific product that does what you want" lol. Thanks in advance.

Hello all, im looking for some led lights for my bedroom and the living room. Need to be 20m each set. Need them smart and to be able to be controlled through google home. Would also like them to not change colour after a month 😂 Anything good quality, that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Maybe £40 each set? (GBP)

Looking to replace a damaged Nest Thermostat E (UK model) and the info online has me wondering if I should ditch Nest/Google altogether.

This community post from a Google product expert says the 3rd gen is not for distribution anymore and the 4th gen is not released here.

The 3rd gen and E are both still on the Google Store, but, does this info mean Google might sunset the products in the UK?

I'd get another brand but it's for an elderly family member and the Nest thermostat's simple interface seems to agree with her

Hi all.

I have a hallway in my house that has a lightbulb socket that’s connected via cord to the wall. The problem is that the only way to turn it on/off is through either taking the power cord out of the wall every time, or unscrewing the lightbulb a little bit so it turns off but doesn’t fall off.

Is there some sort of smart lightbulb that I can buy that has a wireless light switch I can just stick on the wall?

I’m not too knowledgeable on electrical stuff so I hope I explained it correctly.

Thank you.

I have a small hallway, with two downlights. I'd like to make the lights smart and add motion sensors. The two existing downlights are low voltage integrated fittings. I don't have neutral wires to my light switch so I can't fit a smart switch.

Which of the following do you think I should do?

1. Fit a wifi receiver in the ceiling. I've fitted a Quinetic one in another room and it works really well (https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/QURW01.html). Cost = £44

2. Replace the two downlights with new downlights/GU10 holders and then fit smart GU10s. Cost = £31

I'm not bothered about the RGB of smart bulbs, so should I stick with the low voltage lights and add a wifi receiver, or change the lights to mains voltage and add smart bulbs?

I just got yolink vibration sensor. I'd like to use it to monitor a machine, which vibrates during operation.The normal running cycle of the machine is <5min. If it's longer than 5min, there is something wrong.

I don't want the sensor to send me anything if the machine vibrate less than 4 or 5 min. Only send me alerts when it detects vibration for longer than 5 min. Is there a way of doing that?

Thank you

Are any smart lock cylinders compatible with home assistant? I am not talking about locks which have a motor that physically turns the lock (like Dana lock etc), but the smart cylinder type (euro profile) of lock e.g. Bold lock. I would also need a keypad to work with this that supports multiple pin codes / pin code management in home assistant.

Are there any options with work well with home assistant?