Next, the reader specifically said they’re familiar with the $250 Ecobee SmartThermostat, our favorite of all the best smart thermostats. If you’re not comfortable with wiring, you’ll also need an electrician to replace your standard switches with a Brilliant panel, but even then, you should still be able to save at least $200. Of course, Brilliant’s app turns any smartphone into a mobile smart home remote of sorts. I personally prefer a stationary, in-wall screen, yet you might be attracted to the freedom Control4’s tablets allow. When I installed smart switches instead of smart lights, this was one thing I splurged on.īy comparison, both Control4’s entry-level wall panel and entry-level tablet cost $950, but you hypothetically only need one or the other. A 3-gang panel costs $399, although you could get a single switch panel for $299. The most apt DIY analogue is the Brilliant Smart Home controller, a touchscreen smart switch that not only lets you turn your lights on and off, but can be used to manage other smart devices in your house, such as smart speakers and smart plugs. Control panelĬentral to Control4 and other professionally installed smart home systems is a control panel, which lets you manage everything in your house. They wanted a system that could manage a smart door lock, smart thermostat, motion sensors and “possibly” a couple of cameras for their driveway and an ocean view.ĭefinitely not because I’m hoping to secure a beach rental for the summer, I wanted to see how much it would cost to create a Control4-type experience using off-the-shelf smart home devices. A new hub should not require you to install 12 new switches in your home.The reader even provided a short list of products they want connected in the home. Uprading will eventually require a new hub to account for new technologies so new hubs must be backwards compatible. This means the hubs must be designed with enough power to allow new software to run without becoming sluggish. Much like cell phone upgrades, home automation upgrades should be done quickly and easily. In most cases, upgrades to a system should be done via software updates sent over the internet. This leads us to the next point, which is upgradability, since new products may require new control software. Systems should be able to adjust in the future by offering new features and products. We don’t know what is coming down the road in the future. Systems should also be able to expand into other products in the future. Large homes should be just as easy to expand as small apartments. However, systems controlled by Bluetooth or WiFi do have limits to the distance they can transmit commands to. Most smart home hubs can control 200 or more devices – many are theoretically unlimited. It shouldn’t be a hobby that you are always having to tweak. To put it simply, your smart home should just work. The control app should also provide a full view of your home from the control panel – one glance should tell you the lights are on, the garage door is down, and the temperature is set to 72 degrees. You shouldn’t have to open one app to adjust the lights and another to adjust the thermostat. One app should be all you need to operate your home. One app is all you needįinally, controlling the system must be simple. The product manufacturer has failed if you have to spend an entire Saturday installing and configuring a light switch. Ideally, it should take less than an hour, but when it comes to home improvement, things always take longer. You should also be able to install a new component and program it within a couple of hours. The system is far too complex if it takes a specialist to install or modify. You should never have to invite a technician to your home to install or tweak your system. This really shouldn’t have to be on the list because we think every home automation system should be simple to use – there is no reason to have a complicated system, but they are out there.
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