Smart home. Is it possible to install and configure this system yourself
Smart home. Is it possible to install and configure this system yourself
The digital world has already become so multifaceted that there is not a single sphere of human activity left where electronic devices with their own multifunctional software and stuffed with numerous software applications would not penetrate. After almost all types of production were automated, the idea arose to equip your life by filling the house with a multi-system set of digital equipment so that it regularly helps its owners to perform certain tasks related to the maintenance of living space.
And at first glance, such a system looks very useful in the household, but it is rumored to be a very expensive toy, available only to people with above-average incomes. Is it possible to somehow reduce these costs? That’s what the ordinary man in the street thinks about in the first place. It turns out you can. Only for this you will need not only to purchase the necessary set of equipment, but also to configure its software taking into account all factors. There is no way to do without special knowledge here.
After reading the article to the end, you will learn how to create your own smart home system with your own hands and configure its operation for your needs.
The goals of creating a Smart Home system
The heart of this electronic system is the main digital unit, which constantly receives information about the status of electrical appliances connected to the system, microclimate, lighting and other parameters set by the owner of a smart home. The signal to the digital unit comes from sensors, each of which has its own purpose. Here are the most common types of sensors:
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Opening the door;
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Movements;
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Illumination;
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Thermohygrometer;
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Smoke;
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Smart socket;
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Climate sensor.
For example, the light sensor will give the command to open the curtains when the light level reaches a certain value, and the motion sensor, if necessary, can turn off the light when it is not necessary. Moreover, the smart home system is able to recognize and correctly identify voice commands. This means that, being in one of the rooms, you can turn on the kettle, which is in the kitchen.
The system package also includes a notification function when certain situations occur. This may be a water leak, door opening, or other events specified by the program.
Ultimately, the idea of creating a smart home boils down to making your home not only comfortable, but also safe.
How to start installing smart home equipment
The first step is to determine the scale of the project, that is, to decide whether you plan to connect all the devices in the house to this system, or to make only individual rooms “smart”. Experts advise you to follow the path from simple to complex and start getting acquainted with the system using simple examples. To do this, it will be enough to connect one or two electronic devices to the system and already start testing on them, albeit a small, but already “smart” home.
Such devices can be speakers, air conditioning, lighting devices, or a TV. By the way, you will need a special remote control for it. To ensure the correct operation of all devices, buy sensors and other devices for your system from the same manufacturer.
Either limit yourself to voice assistants developed and actively implemented by Yandex, or use the services of Google Assistant. This will allow you to identify all the pros and cons of using certain components of the system.
Advantages and disadvantages of a smart home
If the advantage of automating the living space is immediately visible, then the disadvantages are usually identified already during operation. But you can find out about some of them in advance.
– Dependence on the network connection.
For the full and correct operation of the system, it is necessary to ensure constant contact with the Wi-Fi module. If, due to your provider, it suddenly shuts down, then your smart home will also cease to function.
– The presence of unnecessary functions in the system equipment.
It may happen that you will not have to fully use all the functionality, but nevertheless, it is included in the supplied equipment, and accordingly increases its cost. And this is another and, perhaps, the most important drawback of the “smart home”.
– Cost of components.
Be prepared for the fact that you will have to purchase special LED bulbs for your system at a price of 300 – 800 UAH. The cost of other components is also several times higher than the cost of conventional analogues.
Now that you already know enough about designing your own smart home system, you can take stock and decide for yourself whether you are ready to implement your project at the moment, or it is better to postpone it until better times.
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