Hacker News Reader

> I still have no idea why anyone would want automated light switches.

Security.

The security part is a solved problem, unless you think a burglar is obsessed with your house in particular; they've made outlet timers for decades.

automated light switches == outlet timers for decades

> unless you think a burglar is obsessed with your house in particular

IMO burglars are obsessed with an easy score - "Lights on looks like someone is home - fuck it I will rob the empty looking house up the street"

Well yes, but my point was that you don't need a Smart House in order to do the job of a $10 hardware store device.

My lights coming on and going off at set times of day or the porch light coming on in response to motion then going off again when nobody is there is "Smart".

That's actually smart, without my mocking scare-quotes. I think we very much agree, but I'm responding in the context of one parent higher comment than you are.

I looked into that... Outlet timers are now more expensive than a smart power plug ($10 vs $5). I went the smart route.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com