DIY smart home: Here's how you can save thousands
DIY smart home: Here'southward how you can save thousands
DIY Smart Home
This story is part of an ongoing DIY smart dwelling series. Be sure to check out the latest installments to follow the renovation process from start to finish.
Despite my knowledge of smart home devices, I still experience intimidated by building an automatic and affordable smart abode for myself. And so it's simply natural that readers with even less experience than me might look to a professionally installed system.
Such was the case with one reader, who, subsequently seeing my DIY smart home series, asked for my thoughts later being quoted $6,000 for a smart home control system.
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The reader says they were quoted for a Control4 system, which is priced based on the amount of control panels and connected devices you demand. Control4 is a high-end smart domicile platform with a reputation for connecting everything in your house — not just lights and locks, only intercoms, A/V systems, abode theaters, and more. Better notwithstanding, Control4 sends an authorized installer to set up your smart organisation for you.
In that location are a couple of scenarios where investing in a Control4 system makes total sense. Homeowners with large spaces and lots of devices just neither fourth dimension nor interest to hook everything up themselves might appreciate Control4's services. Frequented businesses and busy offices are viable candidates for the professional fix, too.
Based on the information shared with me, the reader doesn't sound similar Control4's target customer. They're interested in a system for "simple smart abode things" for a new beachside property they're planning to hire out.
The reader even provided a short list of products they desire connected in the home. They wanted a arrangement that could manage a smart door lock, smart thermostat, motility sensors and "possibly" a couple of cameras for their driveway and an ocean view.
Definitely not because I'm hoping to secure a embankment rental for the summer, I wanted to run across how much it would price to create a Control4-blazon feel using off-the-shelf smart home devices.
Command panel
Central to Control4 and other professionally installed smart home systems is a control panel, which lets you manage everything in your house. The most apt DIY analogue is the Brilliant Smart Dwelling house controller, a touchscreen smart switch that non but lets yous plough your lights on and off, only can be used to manage other smart devices in your house, such as smart speakers and smart plugs. A 3-gang panel costs $399, although you could get a single switch panel for $299. When I installed smart switches instead of smart lights, this was i thing I splurged on.
Past comparison, both Control4's entry-level wall panel and entry-level tablet cost $950, just you hypothetically simply need one or the other. I personally prefer a stationary, in-wall screen, yet you might be attracted to the freedom Control4's tablets allow. Of course, Bright's app turns any smartphone into a mobile smart domicile remote of sorts.
If you're not comfy with wiring, y'all'll as well demand an electrician to replace your standard switches with a Vivid console, merely even so, you should still be able to save at least $200.
Smart thermostat
Next, the reader specifically said they're familiar with the $250 Ecobee SmartThermostat, our favorite of all the best smart thermostats. The Honeywell Domicile model I'yard using in my build is only $79 and also compatible with Brilliant, but has less features than Ecobee. Control4 offers but one thermostat option, the Wireless Thermostat by Aprilaire for $345.
Smart lock
The reader also mentioned they've used Schlage smart locks in the past. The Schlange Encode, which I'thou using in my smart home, costs $250. The Control4 "door station," is quoted anywhere from $1,295 to $sixteen,000 — I could merely imagine spending that much for a place with a dozen entrances.
However, Control4's door station offers intercom features and acts like a video doorbell, too. If the reader wants a video doorbell, they could get a Ring 1. The Ring Video Doorbell Wired costs simply $lx. The $229 Ring Video Doorbell three Plus probably has more comparable features to Control4's selection, though.
Security devices
As for movement sensors, it makes well-nigh sense to go the Ring Dwelling Alarm Security Kit, which costs $299 for a pack of motion sensors, plus an warning base station, alarm keypad and indoor security camera. Meanwhile Control4 asks for $108 per motion sensor.
I will also say Brilliant's partnerships are a little express in the security camera infinite. As information technology stands, only Ring cameras can be checked via the Brilliant app or Bright panel. So reader, if y'all're seeing this, know that yous'll demand the $250 Ring Floodlight Cam or $200 Ring Spotlight Cam instead of any of the other best security cameras when y'all go the Brilliant Command Console route.
This Control4 price list I referenced doesn't include rates for security cameras, although I'm certain yous can assume they'll cost more than Band ones.
Bright vs. Control4
Fourth dimension for totals. Going the DIY route with Bright, you lot'll spend about $1,600, while you'll spend at to the lowest degree $3,000 for Control4'due south products. That's shy of the reader's $6,000 quote, simply doesn't include the cost of security cameras and service fees.
| DIY | Control4 | |
| Control panel | $399 | $950 |
| Smart thermostat | $250 | $345 |
| Smart lock | $250 | $1,295 |
| Movement sensors | $300 | $432 |
| Security cameras | $450 | North/A |
| Total | $i,649 | $3,022 |
I recognized a number of similarities between my smart home needs and my reader'south. I won't exist renting my abode out, but I do want my handful of devices to be organized under a single umbrella of sorts.
With Brilliant's platform, you don't need to be a smart home adept, simply you also don't need to pay a smart home good to set it up for you lot. At to the lowest degree that's how I experience. When I'm dwelling house, I can use the physical panel to adapt the lights and sound. When I'm away, my Bright account integrates with my smart home devices from uniform companies, so I can use the Vivid app — and only the Brilliant app — to make adjustments and create scenes.
Again, if you're looking for significantly more automation with less effort on the set up-upwardly side of things, systems like Control4 are a corking choice. They don't come cheap, so you lot'll accept to ask yourself how much a professionally-installed smart home is worth to you.
Be certain to bank check out my guides to the best smart habitation devices (and best cheap smart dwelling devices ) for more than gadget recommendations. Email me at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com or leave a comment below with anything you'd similar to see me cover in the connected infinite — I might simply address it in a future installment.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/diy-smart-home-im-saving-thousands-doing-it-myself-how-you-can-too
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