I have the Enbrighten landscape lights in our backyard and they work awesome! Just recently purchased their Flex and Cafe Lights to enhance our patio for the fall football season. Now all our lighting products indoor and outdoor are on the same Enbrighten platform! Thank you for your guidance on these new products, definitely going to check them out!
At this point in time, consumer-grade smart home is still a hobby for geeks for all the reasons you mentioned. Too many protocols that don’t work with each other, too many companies with their own closed systems, an overall lack of reliability of too many devices and systems, and so on. Not to mention, issues related to online security. So I used them for what they are most of the time; funny gadgets (even though I get frustrated a lot when an automation fails or a device disconnects). Some systems like Lutron Caseta are very reliable and offer good quality products, but they are pricey, and, they lack sensors and devices and need a hub to work with other smart home devices and systems.
I have the SwitchBot curtain 3 for the round rod and it’s been pretty good. Got rid of the magnetic strips and the useless metal transition piece and have had no problems with those 2 things not being used. In fact they work better without the magnets and transition piece.
If you want serious garden lighting, do what I do and use a few RGB 50watt pool lights. You can program automation by copying their remote codes to an IR Broadlink WiFi controller.
@@AutomateYourLife For your size nature strip, they low wattage lights would be ok. But for a large garden, (my garden is half an acre), you need alot more wattage to light up the branches of high trees. Personally, the rope light had some nice patterns, but the length is far to short. And the multilights are a good starter pack, but honestly, just low wattage junk.
Brian, I just subscribed! I am building a smart home system from scratch. Your content is top notch and I appreciate your articulate narration, which was clear and easy to understand. I will view all your videos, thanks again.
I am ready for more matter over thread. I have a HomeKit based smart home. I don’t want a bunch of extra bridges. Wi-Fi devices have disappointing stability.
Is there anyway to connect the Ring Doorbell Plus to SmartThings (and my Samsung TV)? Also as someone new to smart homes (setting mine up now), your videos are invaluable (especially the Edge Driver ones)
The feed from your doorbell, no. You could use this video to get an automation to happen in SmartThings when the doorbell is pressed or motion is detected. th-cam.com/video/1Q4X2NDvrRo/w-d-xo.html So sadly, not much to do there.
I am looking for a combination heater and fan that is compatible with smart home systems. I would like it to be matter/thread compatible but that is probably asking too much right now. I am also looking for something I can use to open/close my existing vertical blinds with the same compatibility. Can you help?
th-cam.com/video/Eh0HO6rztPo/w-d-xo.html - great heater and fan combo units You're asking a lot with the Matter and Thread thing since heaters and blind controllers aren't part of Matter!
Great video as per usual :) So most of my products are Tuya WiFi products where I use the smart life app. I'm looking for some sort of smart button, like a broadlink one on Amazon which has 4 buttons, so I can turn lights on when I walk into my house. I have an old RM Pro laying around in a drawer so was wondering if this would connect up to it. If it does can I use Google home Automations for when the button is pressed if I link my broadlink account to Google home or would I need to use IFTTT to get my tuya bulbs to come on? Unless you know of any other buttons which will work straight out the box on smart life?
Ok soooo! Lots of little buttons with Zigbee that work with smart life. Get a little tuya/smart life Zigbee hub. They work great, are tiny, and open your world up to those 4 gang buttons.
I'm maybe just naive, but I'm surprised that both of the buttons you unboxed used Thread, but only the Tuo could be used outside of the Apple ecosystem. I may go for the Tuo - since I'm mostly running my devices through Smartthings - but I'd love to have the other, 5-button, design when/if it moves fully into Matter-over-Thread... I'm still waiting (with increasing impatience) for Matter-over-Thread devices in general (smart plugs and dimmer switches especially) to start showing up on the market!
Before Matter came out, that was the case with every Thread product. They only worked with Apple, as no one else had implemented a Thread network and control through Thread. I think we'll still see a few Thread HK-Only products come through, but less and less :)
A few Aqara products work with SmartThings, not all. There are some in the add device section now, and you'll also find some additional options with this edge driver video: th-cam.com/video/D_uwxD_9-9s/w-d-xo.html
I've noticed that very few smart buttons seems to work with Alexa. Is there a reason for this? I'm currently in the alexa ecosystem but thinking of moving over to home assistant because this lack of functionality is a real pain. One doesn't always want to have to use their voice or sensors for everything. Sometimes pushing a button is easier.
@@AutomateYourLife Its an expensive toy, no argument. You really (we) need to ID and study where your critical power requirements are in your house. If all outlet on for 4 rooms on first floor are all on same circuit, you can't just flip a breaker to disable them if it also includes the most important ones. Houses were not traditionally wired to isolate rooms for power conservation. And its not useful unless you have energy storage/batteries you are trying to reduce the drain. Which I do.
@@AutomateYourLife Sorry, Schneider's option went over my head. Did not computer. A handy tool that is cost effective is Emporia Energy's monitoring kit. But does not give you on/off/disable/enable. Simply collect monitoring data.
It seems Amazon is dropping the Matter ball as usual when it comes to their AB smart devices. If their smart outlets, plugs and switches had Matter they would be incredible buys.
What are your thoughts on Google shafting Canada with Bard and the fold? I mostly have google ecosystem in my smart home. I know there are some issues they had with our gov’t but why punish your customers?
I have the Enbrighten landscape lights in our backyard and they work awesome! Just recently purchased their Flex and Cafe Lights to enhance our patio for the fall football season. Now all our lighting products indoor and outdoor are on the same Enbrighten platform! Thank you for your guidance on these new products, definitely going to check them out!
You’re gonna like our video Saturday! It might just feel like your home! 🤣🤣
FYI, only wooden stakes kill vampires. 🧛♂Some cool stuff in the this video!
Wait. What? No wonder they keep coming back!
At this point in time, consumer-grade smart home is still a hobby for geeks for all the reasons you mentioned. Too many protocols that don’t work with each other, too many companies with their own closed systems, an overall lack of reliability of too many devices and systems, and so on. Not to mention, issues related to online security. So I used them for what they are most of the time; funny gadgets (even though I get frustrated a lot when an automation fails or a device disconnects). Some systems like Lutron Caseta are very reliable and offer good quality products, but they are pricey, and, they lack sensors and devices and need a hub to work with other smart home devices and systems.
This is the perfect example of why chapters can be so important. Keep it up!
Thank you! Will do!
For the govee rope, the transformer wattage should be 72W, if it's 24V and 3A
You sir, are the right kind of right. Sorry for the error!
I have the SwitchBot curtain 3 for the round rod and it’s been pretty good. Got rid of the magnetic strips and the useless metal transition piece and have had no problems with those 2 things not being used. In fact they work better without the magnets and transition piece.
Actually. Me too
Thank you for your support to EVVR! We look forward to working with you to create a better smart home life for users! 🥰
Our pleasure! Great stuff! Keep going!
❤
4:20 ❤ 4:29 ❤
@@AutomateYourLife❤
If you want serious garden lighting, do what I do and use a few RGB 50watt pool lights. You can program automation by copying their remote codes to an IR Broadlink WiFi controller.
Yeah that can be a good way too. Gotta say though, I'm enjoying my new setup!
@@AutomateYourLife For your size nature strip, they low wattage lights would be ok. But for a large garden, (my garden is half an acre), you need alot more wattage to light up the branches of high trees. Personally, the rope light had some nice patterns, but the length is far to short. And the multilights are a good starter pack, but honestly, just low wattage junk.
Thanks!
Thank YOU!
Brian, I just subscribed! I am building a smart home system from scratch. Your content is top notch and I appreciate your articulate narration, which was clear and easy to understand.
I will view all your videos, thanks again.
Awesome! I'm so excited to have you hear and enjoying our content! Can't wait to hear about your place getting setup too!
@@AutomateYourLife❤
Just thank you for everything
Thank you for watching!
Looking forward to this😁
Us too!
A letterman multi tool? We are alot alike 😂
lol not for you eh?
I am ready for more matter over thread. I have a HomeKit based smart home. I don’t want a bunch of extra bridges. Wi-Fi devices have disappointing stability.
It’ll be great when it’s done for sure
Thank you, great video. Have you tested any Smart Wifi Breakers? I'm looking to be able to shut down breakers via remote control for rental property.
I haven’t actually, but the ones I’d look at are from Schneider Electric. Nice control interface and data
Is there anyway to connect the Ring Doorbell Plus to SmartThings (and my Samsung TV)? Also as someone new to smart homes (setting mine up now), your videos are invaluable (especially the Edge Driver ones)
The feed from your doorbell, no. You could use this video to get an automation to happen in SmartThings when the doorbell is pressed or motion is detected. th-cam.com/video/1Q4X2NDvrRo/w-d-xo.html
So sadly, not much to do there.
I am looking for a combination heater and fan that is compatible with smart home systems. I would like it to be matter/thread compatible but that is probably asking too much right now. I am also looking for something I can use to open/close my existing vertical blinds with the same compatibility.
Can you help?
th-cam.com/video/Eh0HO6rztPo/w-d-xo.html - great heater and fan combo units
You're asking a lot with the Matter and Thread thing since heaters and blind controllers aren't part of Matter!
The ring 4 has preroll, the plus doesn't
Correct. Which is totally annoying!
Great video as per usual :)
So most of my products are Tuya WiFi products where I use the smart life app. I'm looking for some sort of smart button, like a broadlink one on Amazon which has 4 buttons, so I can turn lights on when I walk into my house.
I have an old RM Pro laying around in a drawer so was wondering if this would connect up to it. If it does can I use Google home Automations for when the button is pressed if I link my broadlink account to Google home or would I need to use IFTTT to get my tuya bulbs to come on?
Unless you know of any other buttons which will work straight out the box on smart life?
Ok soooo! Lots of little buttons with Zigbee that work with smart life. Get a little tuya/smart life Zigbee hub. They work great, are tiny, and open your world up to those 4 gang buttons.
Thank you for the reply I'll look at a little tuya ZigBee hub then :)
I'm maybe just naive, but I'm surprised that both of the buttons you unboxed used Thread, but only the Tuo could be used outside of the Apple ecosystem.
I may go for the Tuo - since I'm mostly running my devices through Smartthings - but I'd love to have the other, 5-button, design when/if it moves fully into Matter-over-Thread...
I'm still waiting (with increasing impatience) for Matter-over-Thread devices in general (smart plugs and dimmer switches especially) to start showing up on the market!
Before Matter came out, that was the case with every Thread product. They only worked with Apple, as no one else had implemented a Thread network and control through Thread. I think we'll still see a few Thread HK-Only products come through, but less and less :)
Hi Brian, great video. Can you check if Aqara works with Smart things?
A few Aqara products work with SmartThings, not all. There are some in the add device section now, and you'll also find some additional options with this edge driver video: th-cam.com/video/D_uwxD_9-9s/w-d-xo.html
I've noticed that very few smart buttons seems to work with Alexa. Is there a reason for this? I'm currently in the alexa ecosystem but thinking of moving over to home assistant because this lack of functionality is a real pain. One doesn't always want to have to use their voice or sensors for everything. Sometimes pushing a button is easier.
Amazon has changed how that works twice in the last 3 years...so it's tough for companies to keep up. That's my take on why.
I think if the smart home was Amazon's (and Google) most profitable business that we would see everything working as WE want it to.
Though not as handy as a smart button, smart plugs (on and off) could be used to trigger routines. And no batteries to replace.
Alexa is meant to be a voice system. Make a simple voice routine you can use whisper at night. “Alexa, bedtime”
Bryan, I am considering having the Span Panel installed. Have you thought about those kinds of products?
Yeah, but I’m not sure of the worth on that. Seems pricey for what it does.
@@AutomateYourLife Its an expensive toy, no argument. You really (we) need to ID and study where your critical power requirements are in your house. If all outlet on for 4 rooms on first floor are all on same circuit, you can't just flip a breaker to disable them if it also includes the most important ones. Houses were not traditionally wired to isolate rooms for power conservation. And its not useful unless you have energy storage/batteries you are trying to reduce the drain. Which I do.
@obijuan- I just personally like Schneider’s option! Just a better electrical company is all!
@@AutomateYourLife Sorry, Schneider's option went over my head. Did not computer.
A handy tool that is cost effective is Emporia Energy's monitoring kit. But does not give you on/off/disable/enable. Simply collect monitoring data.
It seems Amazon is dropping the Matter ball as usual when it comes to their AB smart devices. If their smart outlets, plugs and switches had Matter they would be incredible buys.
If only with those. They are great little WiFi products
@@AutomateYourLife this reminds me of how they gave us sidewalk but never released a simple set of motion, temp or contact sensors to use it.
What are your thoughts on Google shafting Canada with Bard and the fold? I mostly have google ecosystem in my smart home. I know there are some issues they had with our gov’t but why punish your customers?
I share this stuff on X/Twitter all the time, but very frustrating. I don’t know what’s up but it could be as simple as what you said.
🔔🔔🔔
... you said "rod thrust"... huh-huh, huh-huh
lol!!