I’ve been diving into the world of smart home automation lately, and I must say, it’s both exciting and a bit overwhelming! One thing I’ve been particularly focused on is finding reliable smart plugs that can handle multiple devices and integrate seamlessly with my existing setup. I recently discovered the Lowe’s Iris Smart Plugs, which I’ve been using for a while now. They’ve been fantastic for remotely resetting devices like my cameras and streaming boxes, as well as controlling my subwoofer through Webcore. However, I was dismayed to find out they’ve been discontinued. I’m on the hunt for a lower-cost alternative that can replicate their functionality without breaking the bank. If anyone has any recommendations, I’d be thrilled to hear them!
Another area I’m exploring is setting up routines for my smart plugs. I’d love to automate my backyard lights to turn on at 7 PM for my dog and then turn off at 10:40 PM every night. I’ve managed to create a routine for the lights turning on, but I’m struggling with scheduling them to turn off automatically. Any tips or workaround suggestions would be incredibly helpful!
On a lighter note, I’ve been experimenting with using my smartphones as presence sensors for my kids. However, the child monitoring software we use, Qustodio, seems to interfere with the connection. I’m curious if anyone else has faced this issue and how they resolved it. It would be amazing to have a setup where monitoring and presence sensing work harmoniously without conflicts.
Lastly, I’ve been impressed by the community’s creativity in solving common smart home challenges. For instance, the idea of using two OpenHAB installations—one for production and one for testing—sounds innovative. It allows testing under realistic conditions without risking the production system. I’d love to hear more about this approach and any potential drawbacks or considerations one might face when implementing it.
All in all, it’s inspiring to see how many creative solutions exist within the smart home community. Whether it’s finding the perfect smart plug alternative, troubleshooting routines, or integrating different systems, there’s always something new to learn and try. I’m excited to continue this journey and hopefully contribute some insights along the way!