Is a Smart Smoke Alarm worth it?

Regular smoke alarms are dirt cheap. The cheapest models can be bought for about $5. The city I live in actually gives them away for free.

So why would anybody pay $100 or more for a single smoke detector? Well, because it’s a smart smoke detector.

I love connected devices. Heck, I created an entire website dedicated to them. However, I’m not entirely convinced that spending this kind of money is worth it.

There are low cost alternatives called smart listeners. In addition, there is one smart smoke alarm that’s fairly affordable.

Lutron Caseta Review: The smart, reliable lighting solution

For the most part, everyone else is always gushing about how good these Lutron switches are. So, when I saw a starter kit on sale during Prime Day, I decided to pull the trigger and try them.

The fact that they can be used on switches with no neutral wire AND can dim LEDs was a big selling point for me. Additionally, the ability of the Pico remote to make 3-way switching super-easy helps to set the Lutron system apart from other options.

Sensative Strips: The invisible (almost) smart home sensor

I remember reading about these sensors a couple years ago before they were released, but forgot about them. Luckily, someone from Sensative recently came across thesmartcave.com and offered to send me some sensors to play with. As usual, I received the products with no obligation and all opinions are my own.

I dislike the way most smart home sensors look. Whether they’re placed on doors or windows, if you can see them, I think they look kind of cheesy.

That’s why I prefer to buy sensors that can be mounted flush with the surface so that they essentially “disappear”. The problem with those is that you have to be handy with a drill or chisel to install them.

Or…

What if someone made sensors so small, they’re hardly noticeable?

4 Smart Switches That Work With No Neutral Wire

My house was built in 1909. It still has pieces of the original knob and tube electrical wiring nailed to the floor joists in the basement.

Thankfully, the electrical has been updated since then.

Unfortunately, I still have a few switch boxes that don’t have a neutral. That means that the vast majority of available smart switches won’t work in those boxes. However, I scoured the internet and found some that will.

A Quick Guide to Keeping Your Smart Home Secure

It’s expected that by the year 2025, there’ll be over 64 billion IoT devices, and most of them will be inside our homes. Smart TVs, smart locks, smart lights; they all offer great convenience but expose users to great threats as well.

When thinking about cyber threats, what comes to mind most often is computer viruses. Thus, many people seem to believe that cyber-security stops at anti-malware software installed on a smartphone or PC.

However, there are many types of cyber-security threats, and every internet-connected device must be properly protected, smart homes included.