new technologies, new ideas, a new kind of home
This past weekend, I gave the Z-Ben ZB-PL01 IP Camera Bulb a try. Experimenting with an IP Camera bulb has been a priority to me for some time now. I would like to have video coverage of different areas around my home without the expense or bother of running wiring. Having a camera hidden inside an LED light bulb seems to good to be true!
Continue reading “Sometimes The Right Product is The Wrong Application”
Kerry Clendinning, one of the co-founders of the Smarter Home club, covers different methods to start in automation.
Kerry Clendinning, one of the co-founders of the Smarter Home club, explains why Tasmota is so important to today’s home automation enthusiast!
One of the top goals for the Smarter Home Club is to help beginners get started in home automation. Several of my upcoming posts will introduce novices to products that are easy to setup and use but offer huge benefits. The first of those products that I want to introduce to you is the Amazon Echo line of products, which are the gateway to Amazon’s versatile virtual assistant, Alexa!
Continue reading “Introducing Amazon Alexa and the Echo Products”
Kerry Clendinning, one of the co-founders of the Smarter Home club, is back to explain how your choice of product and brand can significantly impact the cost and versatility of your home automation project!
Last week, I posted regarding my plans to refurbish my GE Merlin tank-less Reverse Osmosis filter. Just as a reminder, it puts out 1 gallon of purified water per minute on demand, so there’s no need to use a tank. It’s a hefty system, taking up a lot of real estate under the sink, more so if you add a DI filter (like I’m doing). On the other hand, I had great service from the filter when I lived in NC, so I brought it with me when I moved. My wife is ready for me to put it into service in order to enjoy the convenience and health benefits of having RO on tap in our home!
Continue reading “Refurbishing The GE Merlin Tank-less Reverse Osmosis Filter”
Lately, I’ve had problems with smart switch installs. I had a run of 4 defective Z-Wave switches. Amazon has great customer service and getting an exchange or refund is never a problem, BUT there’s still the problem of investing my time in installing a defective product. It doesn’t take many failed installs to make me think of a better way of doing things.
Most people have some sort of concern with the water they drink. Some people don’t like fluoride in water, others don’t like the chemicals used by municipal water systems to treat “city water.” A lot of people insist on drinking bottled water, even if they don’t know what purification was used, because they believe it offers health benefits. Good water filtration can be a big benefit in a smart home.
Continue reading “Introducing – The Fabulous Discontinued GE Merlin Tank-less Reverse Osmosis Filter System!”
One of the members of The Smarter Home Club is my good friend, Jeremy McCollum. Jeremy and I worked together for a number of years for a software company that made programs for the technical analysis of stocks and mutual funds. Considering our work environment, I was surprised to learn that Jeremy’s degree is in Meteorology – and I thought it was very, VERY cool! I invited Jeremy to share with us his background and to help us understand how weather data matters to the Smarter Home!
Another recent “mini project” that I’ve done recently was to add a 220v dryer outlet in the garage by my circuit breaker. I’ve included an explanation for why I did the install in between the pictures!