#BEST SMART TIMER INSTALL#
But to do that, the smart switch you buy must have some way of connecting to your home network (which explains why Bluetooth smart switches can’t talk to smart speakers).Īs you can see in this illustration, it’s not necessary to remove the cover plate to install the Aurora on the switch, but it only works with toggle switches. There are a few exceptions to this rule, so check the documentation accompanying whichever smart switch you decide to buy before you install it.Ĭontrol protocol: You’ll undoubtedly want to control your smart lighting with your smartphone or tablet, and most people will also want to turn lights on and off with voice commands spoken to a smart speaker, such as an Amazon Echo or a Google Home. This typically means that you’ll also need to buy a companion switch or switches for the other end(s) of the circuit.
If more than one switch controls that load-switches on opposite sides of a room, for example-then you’ll need to replace it with a multi-pole smart switch. Single- or multi-pole: If the light you wish to control is connected to just one switch, then you’ll need to replace it with a single-pole smart switch. GE Cync and Lutron Caséta are among the few smart switches that don’t depend a neutral wire. Most smart switches depend on the presence of a neutral wire to supply energy to their radios, but many homes built prior to the 1980s don’t have a neutral wire in every box. If you don’t have a neutral wire, Lutron’s Caséta smart dimmer and the GE Cync Dimmer (3-wire version) are among the few that do not require one. If you’re not sure if there’s a neutral wire at the location you want to install a smart switch, we have a how-to story here that will help you figure it out. While all homes have neutral wires, many older homes don’t have a neutral wire in every box.
Smart switches have radios that must be constantly powered, and the neutral wire is usually what supplies that juice. Neutral wire requirement: The vast majority of smart switches and dimmers require the presence of a neutral wire-in addition to line (power from the circuit-breaker panel), load (power to the light to be controlled), and ground wires-in the electrical box inside the wall. Here’s what you need to know in roughly the order you’ll need to decide. Plus, with support for other platforms like Alexa and Google, you are not locked into just HomeKit.You’ll need to make a raft of decisions before you choose which smart switches to install in your home, and your choices will be influenced by everything from the type of wiring in your walls to what flavor of smart home system you have now or plan to install later.
This weather-resistant smart plug features three independent outlets so you can control all of your outdoor decorations and lights. If you're looking for a smart plug for the great outdoors, another favorite of ours is the meross Outdoor Smart Plug. These features make it one of the best for those new to home automation. We love this smart plug for its slim form factor, energy monitoring capabilities, and the fact that it doesn't need a hub since it utilizes Thread and Bluetooth connectivity. Our top pick for the best smart plug for HomeKit goes to the Eve Energy, which you'll find in the top spot in the guide above. Will you need to choose a sleek, nice-looking device or can it hide behind a table or settee? We also recommend that you consider where your new smart plug is going to go. All of the suggestions in this guide work well with HomeKit, but it's worth making sure all of your favorite apps are supported. If you're looking for the best smart plug, the first thing you need to consider is compatibility. What should you look for in a smart plug? Or read our Apple HomePod 2 review if it’s a smart speaker you’re looking for. However, some people might want to skip this step and revamp their homes with new smart tech, in which case we’d recommend you look at our best HomeKit devices guide for tips.
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