Home Automation

Finally…someone put Alexa into a light switch

NEWS – I admit it I’m a sucker for smart speakers and home products. I like having the ability to control things like my lights and locks, using my voice. I own four Alexa enabled devices, and I use them all the time. Now, iDevices has taken Alexa and put her into the Instinct Smart Light Switch.

With Instinct, you get all the Alexa goodness without the clutter of cords or hubs. Instinct’s sophisticated design completely hides the technology. Alexa remains completely hidden until she’s needed. When you say the wake word (Alexa), the familiar Echo-style blue light ring will light up from behind the switches paddle switch. From there, you can ask Alexa to do things like set a timer, add to your shopping list, or get the latest news and weather updates. You can even configure the ring in the Alexa app and use it as a night light.

Instinct features a seamless modern finish and installs just like any other light switch. And it connects to your homes WiFi network.

You can even use Instinct to listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. Instinct features premium SOEN Audio technology that delivers big sound from inside the small light switch. Small openings on the Instinct’s paddle switch disperse the sound. The speaker is orientated to amplify sound by taking advantage of the space within your walls, giving you a fuller, rich sound.

If you like Alexa like I like Alexa, then this is a product and solution worth checking out.

The iDevice Instinct Smart Light Switch is $99 and is available now from iDevices or Amazon.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Alexa, Home Automation, smart home

Finally…someone put Alexa into a light switch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 28, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Etekcity Smart WiFi Light Switch review

REVIEW – We are smart home fanatics at our house. We have almost every light in our house, including ceiling fans controlled by Amazon Alexa. The few lights we don’t have under Alexa control are either lights we rarely use, or they are three-pole lights. Three pole lights are lights that are controlled by two different light switches. That means each switch has extra wires coming into it compared to a single pole switch. Up until recently, there were no smart light switches available that handled three pole switches. So when I was given the opportunity to review the Etekcity Smart Wifi Light Switch that can handle three poles, I jumped at it. Let’s see how it works.

What is it?

Etekcity makes several smart products. Two of which are smart switches. One is for a standard single pole (ESWLO1) and the other for three pole switches (ESWLO3). I received the ESWLO3. Like I stated above, a three pole switch is a switch that can control a single light or lights along with another switch.

What’s in the box?

1 x Safety Card – states that the device should only be used to control incandescent, LED, Halogen, and compact fluorescent lightbulbs. You should only use the device indoors, and turn the power off while installing. It also mentions contacting an electrician if you are in any way uncomfortable with installing the device.
1 x Facebook group foldout card – asks you to join their Facebook group
1 x Etekcitizen foldout card – will give you an extra year of warranty, free products, and exclusive deals if you join their Etekcitizen group.
2 x packages of hardware to install two light switches
2 x smart light switches including backplates. I have one facing up and one facing down so you can see the wires coming into the back of the unit.
1 x user manual

Hardware specs

The big thing to note about these switches is that they are specifically designed for three pole switches. You have to have a neutral wire, ground wire, two traveler wires, and a hot wire in your box for this device to work. Also note that even though they give you two switches, you only need to replace one of the two switches on a three-pole system for it to work. So technically, you can replace two different three pole setups with a single box.

Setup

The first thing the instructions tell you to do is to separate the face plate from the main switch. This was easily done in the picture above by just popping the switch out by pressing on it.

The picture above shows you the light switch I am replacing. Its partner switch is part of another two switch bank that I did not feel like messing with.

I did not take pictures of the actual wiring. There is a great video put out by Etekcity showing you how to install the switch. I ran into two ‘issues’ when installing this switch. My original switch had four wires coming out of it. The two traveler wires, a ground wire, and the hot wire. I had to dig into the back of the box to find the neutral wire already tied off to another neutral in the box. So I ended up adding the new switch neutral wire to an already existing neutral wire pair to have a total of three neutral wires tied together. The other issue was just the amount of wire I had to try and stuff back into the box. I have large metal boxes for my switches, but I guess I have a bunch of extra wire coming into them. I really had to stuff those wires back in order to get the large switch to fit flush into the box. The video of the install you can find on YouTube here: Etekcity Three Pole Light Switch Install Video

The picture above shows the light switch installed. You just simply touch the power button area and the light will turn on or off. You don’t feel any kind of switch movement. It is a touch sensitive plate. The WiFi indicator below helps you connect the switch to your WiFi and shows you if the switch is currently connected.

After installing the switch, the next thing I did was to install the Vesync app. This is available for both Android and iOS. In the screenshots above you can see the app first asked for an account or you can create an account. I created one with my email address. An email was sent to my account to verify it before I could continue further. Once signed in, I was asked to add my first device.

As you can see from the screenshots above there are many products from Etekcity. I chose switches and was then presented with two choices. I chose the three-way switch.

The app then asks to make sure the switch is installed properly. I tested this by being able to turn my lights off and on with the switch manually. My next step was to press and hold down on the power button for five seconds. After that period of time, the WiFi logo below started to blink on and off.

The app then instructed me to connect my phone’s WiFi to the switches WiFi. You can see the Etekcity WiFi name in the screen shot above. I connected my phone to that and went back to the app.

The next step which I won’t show, was me having to place my WiFi password into the app. I was then presented with the screen above that did a count up to 100% as it connected to my WiFi. Once connected I was able to rename the switch to whatever I wanted to. I chose the word Breakfast since it controlled the lights in my breakfast area.

The first screenshot above shows the main control screen in the app for my breakfast switch. The app has several nice features where you can set a schedule to turn the light off an on (great for when you are on a vacation) and a basic timer. The other screenshot shows the device in my Amazon Alexa app. I simply added Vesync as a skill and logged into my account. I then searched for devices and it found it. In Alexa, I could add the light to my group ‘all lights’ or any group I wished.

Performance

The switch has been performing flawlessly for how we use it. I have not tried any of the scheduling features. I did notice there is a firmware update, so I will be sure to update the switch when I get next to it again with my phone.

What I like

The app is really easy to use.
Setup of the app and getting it to recognize the switch was a breeze.
I like how the switch is just a touch panel and not a toggle switch.

What I’d change

Please try and not make the switch box so deep. I realize it may have a lot of technology, but it makes it difficult to install with all the extra wires.

Final thoughts

I can highly recommend this switch for anyone looking to convert a three pole switch to a smart switch. I have installed several other smart switches and it was very easy to set up app wise. Like I stated earlier, I just wish the switch box were not so big. People with small plastic switch boxes in their walls will not be able to use this switch because it will be too big with all the extra wires involved.

Price: $49.98
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Etekcity.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Home and Kitchen, Home Automation

Etekcity Smart WiFi Light Switch review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 9, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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iClever Wi-Fi smart outdoor outlet review

REVIEW – Holiday lights, landscape lighting – what do they all need? Power! Beyond that, we want those lights to turn on and off – sometimes on a schedule, sometimes with the sun, and sometimes, just because we want them to. In the ancient past, we had to rely on outdoor power strips and timers, or, heaven forbid, walk outside and throw the switch ourselves! Well, no more! The iClever smart outdoor power strip aims to end all that drudgery.

What is it?

This is a two-outlet power strip certified for outdoor use in wet spaces. It connects to your Wi-Fi network and allows you to remotely control each of the two outlets independently.

What’s in the box?

iClever plug
Warranty card
User manual
App user manual

Hardware specs

Wi-Fi Frequency: 2.4GHz only
Output: AC 125V/16A
Max Power: 2000W
Outlet Type: 2 x 110VAC outlet
Material: Flame-Retardant Polycarbonate (PC)
Waterproof level: IP44 (protected against solid objects that are bigger than 1mm and water splashing from all directions)
Weight: 211g/7.4oz
Power Cord Length: 12cm / 4.7 inches
Size: 7.87 x 2.75 x 0.98 inches(200x70x25mm)

Design and features

The power strip has two independently controlled outlets.

They are conveniently labeled with a “1” and “2” on the face of the strip.

The round black button is the master power on/off button and the Wi-Fi setup button. The small circle above that is the LED indicator.

Inside, we see two LEDs, one green and one blue. Green only indicates power on to the unit. Blue/green indicates that one or both of the outlets are energized.

At the top of the back is a hanger for mounting the stip to the wall.

I can’t tell you what the QR code is as my phone wouldn’t scan it successfully.

Setup

Setup involves plugging the strip in, downloading the Smart Life app, setting up a Smart Life account and then adding the device to the app.

After holding down the power button to put the strip into the Wi-Fi pairing mode, I tried searching for a device without success. I finally switched to manual mode and chose “Power Strip” from the large list of supported devices. Once I chose my Wi-Fi network and provided credentials, it successfully attached to my Wi-Fi network.

After adding the strip to the app, it showed up and can be controlled and configured. The two outlets have default names of “Switch” and “Switch 2”.

I clicked on the power button on the screen for switch 2 and it energized the outlet and turned the icon teal in the app.

The app also has an All-On and All-Off button at the bottom of the screen if you want to flip both outlets at the same time.

Performance

The real power with this strip and the Smart Life app is automating lighting tasks.

The app allows for scene creation. For this device, you are limited to eight possible scenes:

All on
All off
#1 on, #2 off
#1 off, #2 on
#1 on, #2 unchanged
#1 off, #2 unchanged
#1 unchanged, #2 on
#1 unchanged, #2 off

Scenes show up in the Smart screen and can become part of automation routines and can also be executed manually.

Automation is pretty powerful in this app.

You can set one or more conditions to be met and then carry our automated actions. You can also provide time windows for those automations to happen,

The list of conditions is pretty comprehensive and can even tie in local weather.

Finally, the Smart Life app supports a bunch of automation tools like Google Home, Alexa, and IFTTT.

Before I connected in the Smart Life skill to Alexa, I renamed the two outlets.

As you can see, after many hours of thought, I cleverly named them, “Plug 1” and “Plug 2”. OK, OK, I know they are actually outlets or sockets, and plugs go into sockets, but “Plug 1” is just easier to say.

After adding the skill to Alexa, I could say things like:

Alexa, turn on Plug 1
Alexa, turn on dual plug (turns on both )
Alexa, turn off Plug 2

What I like

Good for outdoor use
Great automation and integration options

What needs to be improved

LED status indication is not very distinct
The automated setup didn’t work for me

Final thoughts

This is a great little power strip. Being to independently control each outlet brings flexibility to your outdoor power needs. With comprehensive scheduling and home automation integration options, the iClever Wi-Fi smart outdoor outlet deserves a place in your outdoor power arsenal.

Price: $28.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by iClever.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Home Automation

iClever Wi-Fi smart outdoor outlet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Gosund Mini Smart Plug review

REVIEW – If you live in an older home that doesn’t have a bunch of smart home features built into it, you can find all sorts of products that will help you update your home to be smarter. One way to do it on the cheap is to add smart adapters to your existing wall outlets. Today I’m going to show you the Gosund Mini Smart Plug. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Gosund Mini Smart Plug is a small 3-prong adapter that goes between the wall outlet and the device’s power cord. Once connected and configured, you have full control of the outlet when you are home or even when you’re not.

What’s in the box?

Gosund smart power socket
Instructions

Design and features

The Gosund smart plug has a white plastic housing with a power button on the side that has a built-in LED that shows the status of the adapter. When it’s red, it’s powered on and when it’s off, it’s powered off.

The smart plug is small enough that it will not block the other outlet.

What can it control?

The Gosund plug works great with lamps, a crock pot, fans, Christmas lights, and other small devices. It is not suitable for the appliances whose power is more than 1100 watts (eg: air conditioner, microwave oven, induction cooker etc.).

The Go Smart app

To use the smart plug, you have to have a 2.5GHz wireless network and you need to set up each smart plug using the Go Smart app on your iOS or Android device.

The pairing/setup process is quick and easy. Once completed, you will see a listing of adapters and their status. From this home screen, you can tap the power button to toggle the status of the adapter.

You can also go into the settings of each adapter to set up timers and schedules for the Gosund adapters to automatically turn on and off.

If you want to get even more complex, you can set up scenes of multiple Gosund adapters. For example, if you have 3 adapters in your kitchen, you can make a kitchen scene and assign an automation to it to trigger based on a condition like weather or time.

In addition to setting up triggers, you can also control the Mini Smart Plug with your voice using Alexa or Google Assistant.

I tested the smart plugs with a lamp and it worked perfectly.

What I like

Does not require a hub
Easy to set up
App allows for a variety of automation

What needs to be improved

Only works on 2.4GHz wireless network

Final thoughts

The Gosund Mini Smart Plug is an easy way to get started making your home smarter. Configuring the plugs takes only a few minutes and the app is straight forward and easy to understand. Although this is a basic device, it does offer advanced features such as compatibility with voice control and automation triggers. If you haven’t wanted to spend a lot of money on a system that requires a hub and complicated setup, these smart plugs are an easy way to get started.

Price: $9.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Gosund.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Home Automation, Power

Gosund Mini Smart Plug review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 3, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Wyze just launched their next home security product

NEWS – I’ve been keeping an eye out for the next product from the makers of the Wyze Cam with hopes that it would be an outdoor version of their popular affordable security cameras. Well, today is the day that Wyze announced a new product, but it’s not what I thought it would be. Their latest product is Sense. It’s a sensor system consisting of contact sensors, PIR motion sensors and a bridge that links everything together.

The starter kit includes a bridge that plugs into the back of an existing Wyze Cam or Wyze Cam Pan, two contact sensors, and one motion sensor. The contact sensors are used to send an alert to you when a door, cabinet, window, or another thing and closes. The motion sensor is used to detect motion and can then trigger a camera on the system to record video so you can see who came in the house or into a room.

The Wyze Sense starter kit is priced at a very affordable $20 and will start shipping in May. If you’re already a Wyze Cam user, you can pre-order directly thru the app. You better hurry though, it’s only while supplies last. I just ordered two kits.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Home Automation, Home Security

Wyze just launched their next home security product originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 27, 2019 at 12:52 pm.

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