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Comment by alexhsamuel | Hacker News Reader

I need to choose outlets and switches for a new building, and I hope to "smart home" it. I had started to do some reading, and while my experience wasn't _quite_ as gruesome as the author of this article portrays it to be, I generally agree with their sentiments.

Still, I'm not quite ready to give up on computer-controlled automation.

Does anyone know of a reasonably complete guide (web site, book, whatever) that explains this well? What I'm looking for: help choosing components that will work together; not "for dummies"; I'm technically competent and willing to learn some stuff but don't want to make a hobby/profession out of this; doesn't require buying into Google Home, Alexa, or another privacy-hostile system.

Thanks in advance.

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Just go with Philips Hue, you can't go wrong.

Then, when you're ready, setup home assistant but setup everything so basic functionality still works even if your server or internet went down.

My hue bulbs are at the center of this strategy with each bulb controlled by either a remote control or a hue movement detector. Hint: remote controls in rooms where you stay, sensors where you pass by or if you stay only a little while.

I can also control everything via Alexa and can't wait for the day there is a viable privacy-friendly / low-maintenance alternative (Home assistant are working on this). Again, if internet goes down, I still have the remotes/detectors so my lights always work.

Also, for any other equipment you would buy, make sure it's compatible with Matter.

Smart bulbs are the gateway drug to home automation, but they soon reveal themselves as a bad idea, at least if not coupled with a smart switch.

Think about this: if you have a smart bulb, but your light switch is off, there's no way to turn on that light. At the same time, if your bulb "state" is off, your light switch won't be able to turn it on.

You could JUST pair a smart bulb with a smart switch, and align their states. Or skip smart bulbs altogether and make the switches smart - using Lutron Caseta or an equivalent solution.

Hue smart bulbs, by default (you can change this), will always turn back on after power loss/restoration. If it's off and you have a switch, you just toggle it twice and the light comes on.

I've found Hue bulbs to be one of the best purchases I've made. Being able to adjust color temperature and brightness arbitrarily does wonders for my circadian rhythm.

IKEA bulbs (Zigbee compatible) always turn on when you turn the dumb light switch on, no matter how you turn them off.

I wired together all the cables behind the switches in my home and covered them with smart switches

Hue just decided to start requiring an online account even for local control; I used to think they were the best option, but now I'd recommend avoiding them (even if you don't care about a needless account, consider that this most likely is step 1 to adding fees)

I honestly never understood why people even bothered using the official Hue bridge when Zigbee light link is an open standard with tons of both open and proprietary alternatives available.

Just take your existing hue bulbs elsewhere

Oh, sure, the bulbs are still good, I just don't recommend buying into the whole system

If you have access to it in your area, consider looking into KNX for home automation and DALI for lighting. Both are BUS systems that you wire throughout your house, and they are very reliable. They are commonly used in hotels, schools, etc. It might be a bit more expensive and require pre-planning, but these systems have been around for decades in Europe. Plus, you'll be adhering to a standard, not bound to a specific company

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