What Is Home Automation?
It allows you access to control devices in your home from a digital device.
The term is used to make your home smart with IOT devices, like thermostats and sprinkler systems, but home automation more accurately describes homes in which nearly everything — lights, appliances, electrical outlets, HVAC systems are hooked up to be remotely controlled via a network.
It doesn’t mean you will never have to do anything manually in your home again. But the most common routines, including those for smart lights, smart locks, and smart outlets, can make your life a little easier.
What can it do?
It focuses on several key devices:
- Lights
- HVAC systems
- Utilities
- Home security equipment
- Appliances
- Electrical outlets
- Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors
- Locks
Technically, any device that can connect to smart home network (also WiFi) could be considered as home automation. Anything from a smart light bulb to a smart refrigerator can contribute to a home automation system.
These devices “automate” your home by obeying rules you set for them. Instead of having to turn lights on manually with a regular light switch, you can set your lights to come on automatically when you open the front door. Instead of having to manually adjust your thermostat when leaving for work. You can have it automatically adjust it based on if any one is home.
Why Home Automation?
Making a smart home will give you many benefits to make your life easier. Here are four good reasons to make your home smart.
1. Make Tasks More Convenient
Many tasks that are repetitive in the house hold can be accomplished automatically or with fewer steps using home automation. Instead of adjusting four different lights when you want to watch a movie, it allows you to accomplish this task with one button or a simple phrase.
2. Saving Money on Utilities
It can turn off lights or lower the thermostat automatically when you aren’t using them and easily lower your utility bills by 15% to 25%.
3. Home Security & Safety
It can automatically turn lights on in closets, stairways, and other dark places when you enter and decrease the chance of accidents. Home security is a priority for everyone, Just having a standard security system doesn’t give you that full peace of mind. A smart security system can send you notifications when someone enters an area when your not home. It can also turn on lights, activate sounds as well as send you a live video feed of the area in question.
4. Peace of Mind
Never worry about your home while you’re away. Using a smart home video system and an internet connection, you can check on the status of your home, kids or pets from anywhere in the world using a PC or smart phone.
How does it work?
Home automation works using three main functions:
- Scheduling
Schedules are simple routines you create yourself. For example, you can have your lights turn on when the sun goes down. - Self-learning
These capabilities really put the “smart” in smart home devices. Self-learning is a step up from scheduling and makes your smart home feel actually smarter. For example, with self-learning systems, you go from setting schedules for your thermostat to having your thermostat set the schedules itself because it’s learned when you are and aren’t home. - Remote control
This is the most basic aspect of home automation. It lets you control your smart home devices using a smart phone, tablet or even your voice.
Now that you know what Home Automation is, what's next?
Flash Tasmota on the KULED Smart Switch
Flash Tasmota on the Sonoff Basic
