[Official] Home Automation Thread

[wira]

hi all
am starting my reno soon and will be planning to set up a simple automation

My requirement is simply :
1. use smart switches and able to control all lights via app and setup automation via google home, ie can ask google to switch off all lights or on/off specific room lights

2. Use motion sensors to turn on/off lights

3. control ceiling fans via app and google home

4. Control aircons via IR blaster

5. Control curtains using Switchbot

What would the experts here recommend ?
Would it work if i use Aqara switches, motion sensors and Aqara Hub ?
A friend also recommended to use Tuya instead. any comments ?

Also do i need to place a hub at each floor/ room ?

 

[comcrepe]

hi all
am starting my reno soon and will be planning to set up a simple automation

My requirement is simply :
1. use smart switches and able to control all lights via app and setup automation via google home, ie can ask google to switch off all lights or on/off specific room lights

2. Use motion sensors to turn on/off lights

3. control ceiling fans via app and google home

4. Control aircons via IR blaster

5. Control curtains using Switchbot

What would the experts here recommend ?
Would it work if i use Aqara switches, motion sensors and Aqara Hub ?
A friend also recommended to use Tuya instead. any comments ?

Also do i need to place a hub at each floor/ room ?

I use the Aqara M2 hub, switch, and sensors to control my light switches.
Also have hue light bulbs. I use homekit and out of curiosity used google home too. All works well.
If your house is big, then maybe you might need more than 1 hub but if you need security cameras, then Aqara has the G2H and G3 cameras that double up as hubs to extend the zigbee range.

Aircon - I use ambiclimate. If you have two aircons in the same place, you can use 1 ambi climate to control both aircons. I use it for my living room. Only problem is you can't adjust each aircon individually.
THe M2 hub can also control the aircon but i don't use it because it does not show up on homekit.

 

[wira]

I use the Aqara M2 hub, switch, and sensors to control my light switches.
Also have hue light bulbs. I use homekit and out of curiosity used google home too. All works well.
If your house is big, then maybe you might need more than 1 hub but if you need security cameras, then Aqara has the G2H and G3 cameras that double up as hubs to extend the zigbee range.

Aircon - I use ambiclimate. If you have two aircons in the same place, you can use 1 ambi climate to control both aircons. I use it for my living room. Only problem is you can't adjust each aircon individually.
THe M2 hub can also control the aircon but i don't use it because it does not show up on homekit.

thanks.
just wondering if limiting myself to just Aqara devices is sufficient for my needs.
do you also use the Aqara smart door lock ?

 

[comcrepe]

thanks.
just wondering if limiting myself to just Aqara devices is sufficient for my needs.
do you also use the Aqara smart door lock ?

No problem.
Aqara should suit your needs.

As for smart door lock, I use the August smart lock.
chose this lock because it is discreet. Don’t need the finger print, key pad or smart card technology.

plus you can still use your key if the lock run out of battery if you’re out.

 

[wira]

hi
am researching now and comparing Aqara with Tuya.

it seems Tuya smart switches are much cheaper ? like for eg below only cost $15.99 and does not even need a hub ? this switch would work directly with Smart life or Tuya app and i can then control via google asst ? Am i missing something here ?

Tuya Smart Switch Shopee

 

[batniss]

hi
am researching now and comparing Aqara with Tuya.

it seems Tuya smart switches are much cheaper ? like for eg below only cost $15.99 and does not even need a hub ? this switch would work directly with Smart life or Tuya app and i can then control via google asst ? Am i missing something here ?

Tuya Smart Switch Shopee

Tuya is more flexible offering (the majority seen) are WIFI (which uses your home router as a "hub") or Zigbee.

Zigbee requires a hub unless your router supports zigbee. Yes i have no problem using Google Home with my Tuya devices.

If you only need switches, wifi is good enough. If you want to play with sensors, i will recommend to use Zigbee for a more instant experience. You can have wifi for switches and sensors with zigbee at the same time and your experience will not be affected as well.

 

[Alphas]

Tuya is an app that has a large ecosystem for smart devices and IoT. Aqara and zigbee are communication protocols that integrates the low bandwidth devices to the network. So it’s possible to have Tuya Zigbee and Tuya wifi devices depending on its application. I rather have one app to control all my smart devices than 10 different app to control 10 different brand of devices.

 

[Shadowlite]

Both Tuya and Aqare are their own ecosystems.

Some difference is that Tuya mainly provides/licences the platform and don't really manufacture the hardware themselves, thus you'll see a lot of different china manufacturers under the Tuya / Smartlife platform ( e.g. Tuya, MOES, etc). Aqara on the other hand, manufactures their own hardware.

Another difference is that Tuya products uses a wide variety of protocols like WiFi, Zigbee, BLE for communication (Only WiFI don't need a hub), whereas Aqara mainly makes Zigbee devices, with a few BLE ones thrown in (To the best of my knowledge).

Do note that all ecosystems has their own app / platform to control, most of them with the ability to link the account with the big 3 (Google, Amazon, Apple). Do note that even with the linking of the account, you'll still need the app to add new devices. Linking to Google and etc only allows you to control them.

In terms of Smart Home communication protocol, there's WiFi, Zigbee, ZWave and BLE. Only WiFi do not need a hub (But would require a 2.4Ghz WiFi network), for the rest you would need the corresponding hub.

 

[batniss]

Both Tuya and Aqare are their own ecosystems.

Some difference is that Tuya mainly provides/licences the platform and don't really manufacture the hardware themselves, thus you'll see a lot of different china manufacturers under the Tuya / Smartlife platform ( e.g. Tuya, MOES, etc). Aqara on the other hand, manufactures their own hardware.

Another difference is that Tuya products uses a wide variety of protocols like WiFi, Zigbee, BLE for communication (Only WiFI don't need a hub), whereas Aqara mainly makes Zigbee devices, with a few BLE ones thrown in (To the best of my knowledge).

Do note that all ecosystems has their own app / platform to control, most of them with the ability to link the account with the big 3 (Google, Amazon, Apple). Do note that even with the linking of the account, you'll still need the app to add new devices. Linking to Google and etc only allows you to control them.

In terms of Smart Home communication protocol, there's WiFi, Zigbee, ZWave and BLE. Only WiFi do not need a hub (But would require a 2.4Ghz WiFi network), for the rest you would need the corresponding hub.

personally feel ZWave is always on the higher price point.

 

[Shadowlite]

personally feel ZWave is always on the higher price point.

Yup, agree. And didn't like the fact that they are region-locked, thus even if you want to buy cheaper devices from US also cannot.

The advantage of ZWave is the range, which for me is negligible cause my place is too small . And I can always buy cheap zigbee routers if there's a need

 

[wira]

Tuya is more flexible offering (the majority seen) are WIFI (which uses your home router as a "hub") or Zigbee.

Zigbee requires a hub unless your router supports zigbee. Yes i have no problem using Google Home with my Tuya devices.

If you only need switches, wifi is good enough. If you want to play with sensors, i will recommend to use Zigbee for a more instant experience. You can have wifi for switches and sensors with zigbee at the same time and your experience will not be affected as well.

i see...

so means Tuya wifi smart switch is cheaper cost only $15 while the Zigbee smart switch ver is more ex at $60 ?
Any advantage of using Tuya Zigbee Switch ? Faster response ?
LEss dependency on wifi ( will work even if wifi is down ? )
Tuya Zigbee switch

 

[batniss]

i see...

so means Tuya wifi smart switch is cheaper cost only $15 while the Zigbee smart switch ver is more ex at $60 ?
Any advantage of using Tuya Zigbee Switch ? Faster response ?
LEss dependency on wifi ( will work even if wifi is down ? )
Tuya Zigbee switch

u looking at the wrong store?

https://shopee.sg/Moes-White-Switch...8?sp_atk=f1cb4387-853d-4954-bbc9-0d0e4763e3ce
zigbee/tuya got many different OEMs. Just need to search them.

Either Wifi / Zigbee switch will work when it is down they just go back as the original traditional switches.

 

[wira]

u looking at the wrong store?

https://shopee.sg/Moes-Tuya-ZigBee-...4?sp_atk=8ae2e0d1-3537-4def-9b22-1b3014757b41
zigbee/tuya got many different OEMs. Just need to search them.

Either Wifi / Zigbee switch will work when it is down they just go back as the original traditional switches.

yeah bit confused as got many versions.

the link you attach is a battery powered switch ?

 

[batniss]

yeah bit confused as got many versions.

the link you attach is a battery powered switch ?

Wrong number. updated.

 

[shin7829]

I have some question.

I wanna smart control my lighting, curtain, tv, home theatre system, PlayStation via voice

Other than to ensure the device is compatible to google/alexa

I will need a voice assistant and also a hub like a google chromecast or others.

1. Am i correct about the above?
2.if i have a few other lighting which i wish to smart control or scene set it how should i do that?
3. All switches must be in manual on state for it work right?
4.if Internet is down? Since the manual switch is in 'on' state, will the lights be on until we manually off?
5.is there anyway that both way can be control. That is, ability to manual on/off the lights and tv but also voice controlled. And be the master will be the switch instead of the voice?



Pardon me for being too new in this home automation.
Will try read up more too

 

[Shadowlite]

I have some question.

I wanna smart control my lighting, curtain, tv, home theatre system, PlayStation via voice

Other than to ensure the device is compatible to google/alexa

I will need a voice assistant and also a hub like a google chromecast or others.

1. Am i correct about the above?
2.if i have a few other lighting which i wish to smart control or scene set it how should i do that?
3. All switches must be in manual on state for it work right?
4.if Internet is down? Since the manual switch is in 'on' state, will the lights be on until we manually off?
5.is there anyway that both way can be control. That is, ability to manual on/off the lights and tv but also voice controlled. And be the master will be the switch instead of the voice?



Pardon me for being too new in this home automation.
Will try read up more too

1. Chromecast is for casting videos to your TV. It's not really a hub. You'll only need the corresponding hub if the device in question is not using WiFi as communications protocol. (i.e. zigbee hub to support zigbee devices)
2. There are smart switches and smart lights bulbs, depends on what are your needs / requirements.
3. If you are using smart light bulbs instead of smart switches, yes.
4. If your devices are WiFi, in general yes, once internet is down you can't control it anymore. Only exception are devices which support LAN control. But voice assistances wouldn't work without the internet anyway.
5. From this I guess the only route for you would be smart switches, as this would allow you to physically use the switch, and also use voice control at the same time.

 

[kookymonster]

hi
am researching now and comparing Aqara with Tuya.

it seems Tuya smart switches are much cheaper ? like for eg below only cost $15.99 and does not even need a hub ? this switch would work directly with Smart life or Tuya app and i can then control via google asst ? Am i missing something here ?

Tuya Smart Switch Shopee

From my understanding, you can have a separate remote switch for Aqara smart switch (i.e. can install separate bed side switch without needing an actual switch connected to the mains). But I don't think Tuya smart switch can do that. Gurus please advise if I am mistaken.

 

[huangwn88]

Hey guys, if I'm using Alexa echo which has a ZigBee hub, do I still need a aqara m2 hub to work with aqara d1 switches? Thank you

 

[batniss]

From my understanding, you can have a separate remote switch for Aqara smart switch (i.e. can install separate bed side switch without needing an actual switch connected to the mains). But I don't think Tuya smart switch can do that. Gurus please advise if I am mistaken.

you are mistaken. Tuya has the same exact thing.
Additionally, Instead of buying a switch, you could use a remote control with RF capability.
Or even make another main turn on/off your other switches too.

 

[ferbulous]

Yup, agree. And didn't like the fact that they are region-locked, thus even if you want to buy cheaper devices from US also cannot.

The advantage of ZWave is the range, which for me is negligible cause my place is too small . And I can always buy cheap zigbee routers if there's a need

I only use z-wave for the yale smart lock, got it a few years back when there wasn't much smart lock option out there. That's pretty much it really, need to grab z-wave stick also