Home Automation

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Home automation is the residential extension of building automation.

It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security.

Warning: Working with electricity can result in injury, property damage, or even death if it is not done properly. Please keep this in mind while assisting others. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.

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Smart solar powered balcony decor? (alien.top)

submitted 10 months ago by dfawlt@alien.top to c/homeautomation@selfhosted.forum

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A dumb led chain with a smart plug would be fine but we can run electrical to that area.

What would you do in this situation?

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[–] wivaca@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

I think you mean you CAN'T run electrical to that area (which is why you mention solar)?

There are some solar powered LED lights available, especially as stores begin stocking Christmas lights. I have some Philips brand warm white I use on a mailbox not near any power, but frankly they don't work well - especially since winter days are short and often overcast. And the solar panel is pointing due south and is unobstructed.

I also have battery-powered dew-drop LEDs also from Philips that I put on a door and interior wreath. They're maybe about 8'-10' long with rich colors (or white available), and operate on a couple of AA batteries for the entire Christmas season (about a month and a half).

They even have some kind of internal clock so that when you turn them on manually, they not only turn themselves off after 5-6 hours, but they will automatically go on again the next day at the time you started them manually the day before. It's perfect for going on every day when it first gets dark, and go off about bed time for most people.

There isn't any timer or huge controller, they don't know anything about bluetooth or wifi. Just a simple, but clever, self-contained circuit.