new technologies, new ideas, a new kind of home
Electric water heaters are a common appliance in many households. They provide hot water for bathing, washing dishes, and laundry. However, they can also be a significant source of energy consumption, particularly if they are left on for long periods of time. Automating an electric water heater can help reduce energy consumption, save money on electricity bills, and make the appliance more convenient to use.
Continue reading “Automate Your Water Heater or Other 240v Appliance”
One of the complaints I always hear is how so much of LED strips are wasted when cut down to size. My reply is always “Not so!”
Continue reading “What To Do With Trimmed LED Strip Sections – Shelly RGBW2!”
You’re sitting on your sofa, watching Arnold figure out what Willis is talking about. Meanwhile, in your back yard, your floodlights turn on because someone is sneaking around back there. Do you even know?
Continue reading “How Can A Dumb Floodlight Assist Smart Home Security?”
Another stubbed toe, another problem solved with a Shelly smart home product – the Shelly button.
Today, I’m installing a Shelly Dimmer to show how easy it is to set up the module and enable Night Mode!
Continue reading “Night Mode – Shelly Dimmer”
Thanks to the plague of 2020, we’re all looking for interesting ways to pass the time – I’m no exception. Today, I started a fun project that combines low voltage, a Shelly 1, and my garage door. Depending on the kind of garage door opener you have, this project can be REALLY easy or it can be a little harder, but it isn’t out of anybody’s reach.
Continue reading “Shelly 1 Garage Door Opener, The Easy Way Or The Fun Way”
Last week, I placed my first order from https://shopusa.shelly.cloud/ and today, I did a fun “quarantine project,” setting up independent receptacles on an electrical outlet in my den. The best part? I finished the project in less than 20 minutes!
Continue reading “Smart Independent Receptacles with Shelly 2.5”
Whenever I automate a circuit, my two favorite modules are the Shelly 1 UL and the Shelly 2.5 UL. They’re my go-to for 90% of the circuits I work with, because they’re so quick and versatile, but offer great functionality. Here’s a quick install of a Shelly 1 with a Decora style switch in a standard single gang box.
Under cabinet lighting with the Shelly RGBW2 is a fantastic smart home project for nearly anyone. The RGBW2 is low voltage, requiring a 12v or 24v power source, can support up to four channels (Red, Green, Blue, and White or four White channels), and offers the same ability to enjoy local and cloud control of the device as other Shelly relays. What’s more, if you don’t want a permanent installation, you don’t even need to use a single screw to mount the project.
Continue reading “Under Cabinet Lighting with the Shelly RGBW2”
Jason Churchward from The Smarter Home Club has written another great blog post, this time, showing off his Garage Door automation!
Continue reading “Garage Door Opener 2.0 using ST_Anything HubDuino”