The Complete Guide to DIY Smart Home Systems

By Grant Clauser

Smart home systems don’t need to be confusing or intimidating. You don’t have to be an expert to set up and use one, but you should understand the basics of how the technology works. This book will explain the main types of smart home systems, the wireless protocols that connect them and the devices that you’ll need or want. It also explains the importance of home automation scenes, and offers many examples of uses or projects you may want to try in your home.

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast who likes to tinker or someone who wants to set it up and then leave it alone, this book will give you the confidence that you can get the job done right.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483559957

Book preview

Apartments

SECTION 1:

GETTING STARTED

Chapter 1: What is a Smart Home?

Chapter 2: Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start

CHAPTER 1

WHAT IS A

SMART HOME?

Samsung SmartThings smart home automation products

SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY, also called home automation or connected home, is the fastest growing area of technology today, but it’s taken the longest to get noticed. Home automation and smart home products have been around for more than 20 years, yet for most people, the trend first started being noticeable only in the last couple of years. There are a few reasons for this, but primarily it’s due to the rise in inexpensive do-it-yourself (DIY) systems which have made smart home lifestyles more affordable and easier to get than ever before.

A smart home, essentially, is a home in which all (or some) of the home’s electrical subsystems (lighting, heating/air conditioning, security/monitoring, entertainment and more) or devices are all more accessible and integrated so that they work together. Smart homes systems are usually connected to the Internet via your home network, which means that you can view your system status and make adjustments (like changing the temperature or unlocking the door) even when you’re a thousand miles away. You also access your system in your house over your home network, through your smart phone or tablet. Both Apple and Android based phones and tablets are able to control smart home systems, and some systems also work with Windows-based phones.

The GE Link lighting system is controlled by the Wink app.

You can add smart home devices to your house one at a time, or design a whole system and install it in a weekend. Many people begin with something simple, like a smart thermostat or a wireless security camera, and then add devices, and eventually want to integrate them altogether. The more devices and system you integrate, the more automated your home can be. Such integration can add convenience and security to your life. Today’s technologies are much more reliable than they were in the past, and must easier to set up. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started on a smart home project.

What first attracted you to smart home systems? Was it that cool thermostat you can control with your iPhone? Were you looking for an easy way to monitor your house when you’re not home? Did you want to be able to turn off all your lights with one simple command? Whatever first got your attention, now is the perfect time to start your smart home project. Today’s smart home systems and devices are easy to install, easy to use, affordable, and can be scaled to both large and small homes, even apartments.

Smart home systems don’t need to be confusing or intimidating. You don’t have to be an expert to set up and use one, but you should understand the basics of how the technology works. This guide will explain the main types of smart home systems, the wireless protocols that connect them and the devices that you’ll need or want. It also explains the importance of home automation scenes, and offers many examples of uses or projects you may want to try in your home.

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast who likes to tinker or someone who wants to set it up and then leave it alone, this book will give you the confidence that you can get the job done right.

CHAPTER 2

9 QUESTIONS TO ASK

YOURSELF BEFORE YOU START

TODAY’S DIY SMART HOME SYSTEMS, from companies like SmartThings, Wink, Lowe’s Iris, iRule, Universal Devices, Vera, Insteon, and others are fairly easy to install, set up, and use. They’re also getting more affordable, so no longer are home automation systems only for the wealthy. Of course, there’s a difference between what a DIY smart home system can do and what a professionally installed home automation system can do, so if you’re considering doing it yourself, then consider these top questions when shopping for your first smart home system.

1. What do I want my DIY smart home automation system to do?

The first consideration is to identify what you actually want your new smart home system to do. Why do you need or want it? Do you want more home security? Many DIY home security systems double as, or overlap with, smart home systems. If home security is a priority, look for systems that are compatible with the necessary security sensors, such as door and window contact sensors, motion and noise detectors, water, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and, of course, wireless security cameras. If temperature control is your priority, make sure the system supports the home thermostats you want to use, such as