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I put in a bunch of Caseta smart switches. They are indistinguishable from normal light switches without any smarts, but if I want to, I can also control them v
by rpearl 3y ago
I put in a bunch of Caseta smart switches. They are indistinguishable from normal light switches without any smarts, but if I want to, I can also control them via local network. It's nice to go to bed and turn off the entire house with one button. Lights turn off automatically when we all leave.
The thermostat is an ecobee, which is a pretty polished IoT device but I'm frustrated i couldn't get something _more_ local. It speaks homekit so I can do a number of actions entirely locally, and if the internet is down it still works, but I do wish it were more self-contained. So again, if I sell or get angry at technology and chuck my HomeAssistant Pi out the window, the thermostat will just work as a thermostat.
Likewise, my blinds are motorized--but they have a working remote paired directly to them. It's incredibly convenient to raise the blinds in the morning for some sunshine automatically and close them after sunset, but they'd work perfectly well without a smart home.
If you purchased my house, you probably wouldn't even know to rip out the "smart home" components because they fail over to just being normal components.
It is not particularly hard to make this method of operation happen, although it admittedly requires a budget above "dirt cheap."
- wyldfire 3y ago> They are indistinguishable from normal light switches without any smarts Except that most normal light switches (that I've encountered) are a toggle and not a momentary.
- jeremiahbuckley 3y agoThe kind of switches described are rocker switches with a small led to indicate state. In-person they provide every feature of a toggle switch, while also having a remote state change capability.
- nucleardog 3y ago> The kind of switches described are rocker switches with a small led to indicate state. Also, in most applications, a big LED to indicate state. Often installed on the ceiling in a central location where it's easy to see from any point in the room.
- rpearl 3y agoThe new(ish) Caseta paddle switches are pretty indistinguishable visually from normal paddle switches, and operating them is natural even though they don't stay toggled up and down. If that's the sum total of my concession to "these switches are smart", I can't say I care.
- FireBeyond 3y agoI love the Caseta paddle switches. Even more that (strangely belatedly) they introduced the three/four way 'dummies' (each three/four way needs a smart switch, and the dummies can tell it about the state change, and reflect it, but they can't/don't talk to the 'hub').
- yial 3y agoI love my ecobee. However with switches I go hard opposite. Reproduction push buttons, with antique brass plates acquired at auction. The downside is perhaps that when someone encounters them for the first time, they spend 10 minutes flipping them on and off. I would however install in a moment motorized blinds like you describe.