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Barnes · 08-27-2018, 03:12 PM

Oh boy, this is right in my wheelhouse these days. I have been dabbling in home automation for just over a year and we moved into our new house in July and have gone all out over the past month and a half.

Going with SmartThings is an option but requires a little research if you're going to rely on it as a security system. I think it's fine for me as we have two huge dogs and it's fine for most who like to tinker. Definitely better then nothing though.

Some devices have local processing while some are processed in the cloud. For the most part, common ZigBee and Zwave devices are processed locally which is want you want for security. There are many complaints about SmartThings' cloud being down all the time but I am a relatively new user and have not had any issues.

I use Dome ZWave door and window sensors on all entrance doors. These have local processing.
https://www.amazon.ca/Dome-Z-Wave-Wi...70_&dpSrc=srch

I use Aqara motion sensors in the basement, garage, office and mud room.
https://www.gearbest.com/alarm-syste...ml?wid=1433363
These are cheap, cheap, cheap but require a custom device handler and are processed by the smartthings cloud. I have never had an issue with them being slow or unresponsive though. A bitch to set up but once you get it, it's worth it. Aqara stuff is dirt cheap.

The one in the garage and basement are set to notify me with an intrusion alert when the Smart Home Monitor is set to away. They are used as occupancy sensors when set to home to turn on the lights in that room when occupancy is detected. These sensors also sense room lux level so the office goes to 50% when it's daylight but 100% when it's night.

I Aqara have leak detectors under the fridge, dishwasher and in our utility room
https://www.gearbest.com/home-smart-...ml?wid=1433363
I had leaks in all these areas in the past at our old home. Never again.

Garage door opener is controlled by the Linear GD00Z-4 Z-Wave Controller which includes a tilt sensor to update the open close status.
https://www.amazon.ca/GoControl-Line...70_&dpSrc=srch

I have a Ring Pro doorbell watching the front of the house. It integrates with SmartThings as both a camera and a motion sensor so if anyone approaches the house after 11:00pm, all the outside lights turn on as well as recording and sending a video clip.

For Cameras, I use WyzeCams. These are great little cameras for $37.00. The company is US based, ex Amazon guys and all the firmware is developed in house in the US.
https://www.amazon.ca/Wyze-Wireless-...ywords=wyzecam
These don't integrate natively with SmartThings but there are some things you can do with IFTTT to get them to work. My wife doesn't love cameras in the house but the one in the garage is on all the time. I will probably will just hook them up to a smart plug to turn the cameras on and off based on the Smart Home Monitor status. When we are home, turn the plug off. When SHM switches to Armed Away, turn on.

That's pretty much it for the security related stuff but there's a number of other Smart home devices I have that are tied in as well.

ZWave blinds, Amazon Echos, FireTVs, Chromecasts, RM Pro, Hue Bulbs, smartplugs, smart switches, dimmers, Ecobee thermostats and sensors, ZigBee buttons....

08-27-2018, 03:12 PM	#10
Barnes Franchise Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Violating Copyrights Exp:	Oh boy, this is right in my wheelhouse these days. I have been dabbling in home automation for just over a year and we moved into our new house in July and have gone all out over the past month and a half. Going with SmartThings is an option but requires a little research if you're going to rely on it as a security system. I think it's fine for me as we have two huge dogs and it's fine for most who like to tinker. Definitely better then nothing though. Some devices have local processing while some are processed in the cloud. For the most part, common ZigBee and Zwave devices are processed locally which is want you want for security. There are many complaints about SmartThings' cloud being down all the time but I am a relatively new user and have not had any issues. I use Dome ZWave door and window sensors on all entrance doors. These have local processing. https://www.amazon.ca/Dome-Z-Wave-Wi...70_&dpSrc=srch I use Aqara motion sensors in the basement, garage, office and mud room. https://www.gearbest.com/alarm-syste...ml?wid=1433363 These are cheap, cheap, cheap but require a custom device handler and are processed by the smartthings cloud. I have never had an issue with them being slow or unresponsive though. A bitch to set up but once you get it, it's worth it. Aqara stuff is dirt cheap. The one in the garage and basement are set to notify me with an intrusion alert when the Smart Home Monitor is set to away. They are used as occupancy sensors when set to home to turn on the lights in that room when occupancy is detected. These sensors also sense room lux level so the office goes to 50% when it's daylight but 100% when it's night. I Aqara have leak detectors under the fridge, dishwasher and in our utility room https://www.gearbest.com/home-smart-...ml?wid=1433363 I had leaks in all these areas in the past at our old home. Never again. Garage door opener is controlled by the Linear GD00Z-4 Z-Wave Controller which includes a tilt sensor to update the open close status. https://www.amazon.ca/GoControl-Line...70_&dpSrc=srch I have a Ring Pro doorbell watching the front of the house. It integrates with SmartThings as both a camera and a motion sensor so if anyone approaches the house after 11:00pm, all the outside lights turn on as well as recording and sending a video clip. For Cameras, I use WyzeCams. These are great little cameras for $37.00. The company is US based, ex Amazon guys and all the firmware is developed in house in the US. https://www.amazon.ca/Wyze-Wireless-...ywords=wyzecam These don't integrate natively with SmartThings but there are some things you can do with IFTTT to get them to work. My wife doesn't love cameras in the house but the one in the garage is on all the time. I will probably will just hook them up to a smart plug to turn the cameras on and off based on the Smart Home Monitor status. When we are home, turn the plug off. When SHM switches to Armed Away, turn on. That's pretty much it for the security related stuff but there's a number of other Smart home devices I have that are tied in as well. ZWave blinds, Amazon Echos, FireTVs, Chromecasts, RM Pro, Hue Bulbs, smartplugs, smart switches, dimmers, Ecobee thermostats and sensors, ZigBee buttons.... Last edited by Barnes; 08-27-2018 at 03:16 PM.