2024-01-26 23:30
I really like my Alexa devices for controlling my smart home devices, listening to music, and answering the occasional random question. However, as Alexa “matures” it seems like… Read More
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Thesmartcave Blog
thesmartcave.com
TheSmartCave provides thorough reviews and great information about smart home gadgets, home automation, and the internet of things.
2024-01-24 22:38
A few days ago I had a situation where I wanted to use my Echo Dot (gen 3) device as a speaker. The Echo Dot has a 3.5 mm jack in the back so I figured I could simply plug my audio source in… Read More
2023-11-07 22:11
In this review, I’ll be sharing my experience with Lumary’s smart landscape lights – from unboxing to installation, and of course, the final results.
1Best ValueLumar… Read More
2023-05-18 21:26
For years, human presence detection for home automation has been really hard to do well, and almost impossible to do perfectly. However, human presence sensors powered by mmWave radar are th… Read More
2023-04-27 21:53
When I first heard of smart faucets, I was initially skeptical. I figured this was yet another example of “over-smart-home-ization” where companies needlessly add “smart&rd&hell…Read More
2023-03-02 22:40
Do you ever get sick of constantly wandering around your home opening and closing blinds?
The whole annoying process can be avoided with a proper smart blind retrofit kit like the ones i… Read More
2023-01-12 23:31
In this article, I’ll show you how to connect your smart lights to the Alexa app, and how to easily control them using natural, easy to remember commands no matter how many lights you… Read More
2023-01-12 20:19
Outdoor smart plugs are a great way to schedule your light displays or other outdoor landscaping features.
This list reviews five different outdoor smart plugs, based on factors like sma… Read More
2023-01-11 20:33
Smart padlocks sound great in theory. Simply use your fingerprint or an app on your phone to unlock your gate or gym locker, eliminating the need to remember a combination or key.
J… Read More
2022-12-22 17:07
Currently, there is no fee for using Amazon’s Alexa service. However, some features such as premium music streaming or the Alexa Guard service, do require a subscription which comes wi… Read More
2022-12-16 19:34
There’s a variety of smart water valves available to consumers. Smart water valves are installed at key points in the home’s water pipe system and can remotely block the pipe to… Read More
2022-11-29 20:00
The best smart wall lights I’ve found are the Nanoleaf Shapes LED lights. They have a long list of special features and can integrate with several smart home platforms. However, if you… Read More
2022-11-23 20:51
Smafan sent me one of their smart ceiling fans for review. The specific model I’m reviewing is the Antrim 52″ smart ceiling fan (check price). But, you can pick any one of the Sm… Read More
2022-11-15 15:44
If your Alexa device has a mysterious ring of color pulsing around it’s rim, here are the possible reasons:
Why is my Alexa YELLOW? You have an unread message or notification.Why is… Read More
2022-09-07 17:05
I suspect if you’re here looking for a peephole camera, what you really want is a video doorbell. But…you live somewhere that doesn’t allow you to install a regular video… Read More
2022-09-02 01:17
In this article, I’ll show you how to use Alexa with your MyQ garage door. You DON’T need to pay for any subscriptions, and it’s not some highly technical, brain-bending ta… Read More
2022-08-22 22:26
Whether you’re looking for a simple on/off switch…or you want a “super-switch” decked out with all the available advanced features, I’ll take you through your… Read More
2022-08-04 01:12
If you want to upgrade your old recessed can lights to smart lights, or if you are looking to add some new smart recessed lighting, these are the lights you’re looking for. In this art… Read More
2022-06-03 21:16
A few months ago X-Sense reached out to me and offered to send me one of their home security systems in exchange for an honest review. I installed it (March ’22) and I’ve been us… Read More
2022-02-16 23:34
If your smart home is going to be complete, you need a smart lock for your sliding door. I found a few ideas that might work, but the most promising product is AWOL (for the moment)… Read More
2022-02-09 22:43
Here is a list of the top Z Wave smart locks. If Z Wave is what you need, then skim through and you should be able to find a lock that fits your needs.
My current favorite is the Schlage… Read More
2022-02-02 22:09
In order to purchase an appropriately sized power supply for your LED strip project, you need to determine how much power your strips will need.
The obvious first step is to go to the LED… Read More
2022-01-26 20:00
Narwal just sent me their Narwal T10 robot vacuum and mop. The T10 has been recognized by other reviewers as the best mopping robot out there. I’ve got a lot of hard floors to clean so… Read More
2022-01-24 20:04
Sinopé sent me the Sinopé TH1123WF thermostat free of charge to test and review. As usual, I am under no obligation to say nice things about it, but I will anyway because it&rs&hell…Read More
2021-12-21 23:43
Camect sent me this unit free of charge, under no obligation. All opinions are my own. In other words, if it sucks I’ll let you know. Spoiler Alert: it doesn’t suck.
Camect is… Read More
2021-10-26 22:40
My number one annoyance with other scent diffusers is that they tend to get turned on and then forgotten about. The diffuser runs indefinitely and the expensive fragrance gets used up way to… Read More
2021-09-11 18:34
The Roborock S6 Pure works really well as a vacuum. It handles wood floors and carpet equally well. It efficiently navigates around chairs and under couches and back to its base without any… Read More
2021-08-19 22:14
I recently remodeled my bathroom and part of that remodel was to add an exhaust fan. Rather than go with a plain old exhaust fan, I decided to purchase a smart bathroom fan.
This Home Ne… Read More
2021-03-29 18:21
This winter when temps hit double digit below zero, my trusty old Genie garage door opener started struggling. After a couple days, it quit working completely. It was well over 10 years old… Read More
2021-03-19 19:15
I love having a fresh, clean smelling home. But, I don’t like the idea of having to put any effort into making it happen. So, in my never-ending quest to automate these sorts of petty… Read More
2020-12-11 22:31
When C by GE switches were first released, I saw a lot of negative feedback from users citing unreliable WiFi behavior. For that reason, I initially avoided testing them out.
However, si… Read More
2020-08-06 23:21
If you’re a SmartThings user and you need to update firmware on some of your Z-Wave devices, this article will explain how to do it.I ran into this exact situation recently, and I assu… Read More
2020-07-09 23:26
I recently installed a Modern Forms Mykonos smart ceiling fan in my 3 season porch. The fan is super quiet. It perfectly matches the color and style of the room. And, it easily integrates in… Read More
2020-05-01 18:16
I purchased the Eufy Doorbell a little over 6 months ago and I don’t regret it. It comes with nearly everything I could want in a video doorbell.
You’ve probably heard of the… Read More
2020-04-24 21:33
LED strips are a DIYer’s dream come true. Believe me, I’ve gotten sucked into binge watching hours of LED project videos more than a few times.
Even though I found tons of rea… Read More
2020-03-13 22:38
A smart lock is a vital part of the smart home. Without one, your home automation project is incomplete.The most popular smart locks are for standard deadbolt locks where the latch is separa… Read More
2020-03-10 23:41
I know lots of people rage against Hue for being overpriced. Maybe they are. Maybe not. Personally, I think the number of lights they’ve sold tells the real story.My guess is that if y… Read More
2020-03-03 19:32
You might think that there’s not much you can say about a smart switch. It’s just a regular switch with the added ability to turn it on/off wirelessly, right? Well, for most sma… Read More
2020-02-18 00:34
If you’ve read any of my previous writing on smart lighting, you probably already know that I’m a big fan of colored lighting. However, it’s a bit of a bittersweet love aff… Read More
2020-01-22 16:48
In this article, I’ll show you how to take a regular 5000W electric heater and turn it into a smart heater using a low-cost WiFi smart switch and a relay.
I recently insulated m… Read More
2020-01-17 21:44
There is no shortage of smart switches and plugs available for your typical in-home application. There’s probably 100 different brands, and if you look, you should be able to find just… Read More
2020-01-13 18:53
Lots of experts recommend smart switches over smart bulbs because they are easier to use. However, without smart bulbs, you won’t get the awesome benefit of color changing or white-shi… Read More
2019-12-05 18:57
Smart lighting is one of the best ways to use smart home technology. But doing it well takes a little planning. Part of that planning is deciding when to use smart bulbs and when to install… Read More
2019-11-15 22:52
The Lumos Candle is a candle that lights with the push of a button. It’s not one of those lame LED candles either. It’s a REAL soy wax candle with a REAL flame.
I purchase… Read More
2019-11-08 22:36
In order to create an awesome smart home that is reliable and easy to use, you have to have a robust home network. If your WiFi router is leaving you with spotty, unreliable coverage, a powe… Read More
2019-10-07 21:45
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 sin… Read More
2019-09-24 23:24
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… Read More
2019-09-17 23:37
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… Read More
2019-09-10 23:20
Smart locks are growing in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. After all, safety and security rank high among all of the ways new technology is improving our lives. With a smart lock… Read More
2019-09-09 18:40
Levoit sent me their LV-PUR131S smart air purifier free of charge so I could review it. I’ve been using it for three weeks and here’s what I think:
I like it. It’s defin… Read More
2019-08-27 16:27
I recently picked up a Chamberlain MyQ smart garage hub during Amazon’s Prime Day. It was only $30 which seemed like a great deal. After all, some of the big time product review sites… Read More
2019-08-09 19:50
If you’ve ever wished you could control your air conditioner from the convenience of your phone, smart AC controllers are here to save the day. They give you the tools to manage the te… Read More
2019-08-05 21:19
Ever wonder if you forgot to close your garage door when you left for work? Or worse, ever been miles away when you suddenly remembered you left your garage door open?
Or maybe you… Read More
2019-07-18 05:20
My house was built in 1909. I can still see pieces of the original knob and tube electrical wiring nailed to the floor joists in the basement. Thankfully, the electrical has been updated sin… Read More
2019-07-09 22:23
A smart sprinkler controller has the power to be your own personal lawn care expert. As a class of products, I think smart sprinklers are one of the most effective and useful smart products… Read More
2019-06-21 18:08
Thinking about buying a robotic lawn mower so you don’t have to fool with cutting the grass anymore? Me too. I’m not a huge fan of mowing the lawn. It’s a chore.
I don… Read More
2019-06-07 18:37
Smart showers can perform actions that you never thought possible—or needed—just a couple years ago.
I know there’s some naysayers out there that will say, “How h… Read More
2019-05-29 12:35
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 grea… Read More
2019-05-23 22:58
Robot vacuums can save you an enormous amount of time and housework. There’s a wide variety of them out there on the market today, making it a little difficult to choose what’s b… Read More
2019-05-15 22:42
Is the Awair Glow a smart plug trapped in an air quality monitor? Or is it an air quality monitor trapped in a smart plug? We may never know…
Either way, the Awair Glow is a fairly… Read More
2019-04-16 23:38
This isn’t a massively long list for a reason. Believe me, there’s a ton of stuff Alexa can do. I could easily list 100 features. But, the truth is, not all of them are worth you… Read More
2019-04-15 21:27
Improvements in kitchen technology are changing the way we cook, store food and interact with our homes. The advent of smart appliances has made managing homes easier and continues to improv… Read More
2019-03-23 23:55
Here’s a list of 41 actionable tips to help you get started with your smart home.
As you might guess, I included tips which I learned through my own experiences and research. In ad… Read More
2019-02-27 22:13
Many smart home products are compatible with Alexa, but far fewer are directly compatible with Samsung SmartThings hub. The SmartThings’ automations are more powerful so wouldn’t… Read More
2019-02-08 23:39
Smart vent systems offer the possibility of room to room climate control.
This benefits you by allowing each room to be custom conditioned depending on the time of day or the preferences… Read More
2019-02-04 18:36
Until recently, I didn’t have any need for an IP cam. Now that I’m a home owner, I’m thinking a little differently.
However, I’m not interested in spending a bun… Read More
2019-01-18 20:42
The average American spends 90% of their time indoors.
Like it or not, we are constantly breathing conditioned air. And it turns out that indoor air is usually more polluted than outdoo… Read More
2019-01-07 19:55
My wife has been adamant about getting some kind of security system for our new (new to us) home. There tends to be some shady characters passing through our neighborhood from time to time… Read More
2018-11-21 21:52
I try to provide awesome content but there’s tons of stuff I’m missing. I have a pretty good general knowledge of smart home stuff and some expert knowledge in a few areas. But… Read More
2018-11-16 01:33
Mysa
Line Voltage Smart Thermostat
4.0/5.0 ★★★★☆
Pros
Reliable Wifi Connection Easy to Schedule No Extra hubs required Voice control for all 3 major platfo… Read More
2018-11-01 18:42
You have electric heat in your place. You probably have multiple thermostats to control that heat. Now you’ve decided it’s time to get those heaters some smart control. Is it eve… Read More
2018-10-22 20:34
To me, the idea of having to manually reach up and pull the pull-chain on a ceiling fan is as awful as having to manually lift up your garage door. So, if you’re like me and you’… Read More
2018-06-18 23:45
If you’re in the market for a quality air purifier, you might want to check out the Philips brand of purifiers. They make a number of different air purifiers to suit rooms of different… Read More
2018-06-11 18:15
In this age of smart devices and appliances, the sheer number of available options continue to grow – as does the variety. So, it only makes sense for an established ceiling fan manufa… Read More
2018-06-09 21:37
Once you’ve used smart home technology on a single appliance, and you’ve experienced the ultimate in “easy living” – you tend to get a little spoiled. Naturally… Read More
2018-05-11 22:04
Electric heating can be expensive. So, if it’s possible to turn off the heat when it’s not needed, it can totally be worth it. Unfortunately, it can be a real pain to stay dedica… Read More
2018-04-10 23:19
So you’re looking to welcome a fancy new smart thermostat into your home but you’re not quite sure which to choose? The ecobee4 and Nest 3rd Gen. are widely considered the best t… Read More
2017-11-20 23:01
A thermostat is not something you want to replace every couple years, let alone after a couple months. And yet, if you scroll through reviews on Amazon, you’ll find tons of people that… Read More
2017-09-22 15:34
Everything else in your house is getting smarter, so why not your ceiling fan too? Believe it or not the best cutting edge smart fans can save energy (which translates to $$ on your monthly… Read More
2017-07-26 22:45
For most of us, we spent at least three quarters of our lives indoors. While it’s nice to be able to create private spaces to feel safe and comfortable in stormy weather, living indoor… Read More
2017-07-26 21:14
So many homes across the land use antiquated devices like those old window-mounted mercury thermometers to monitor temperatures. And that rusty eyesore only shares a little bit of informatio… Read More
2017-07-25 22:11
If the quality of indoor air you and your family breathe is a concern to you, here’s a way to take a more proactive approach and keep a close eye on your indoor environments. Introduci… Read More
2017-07-21 20:08
Can you think of a better way to use “smart” technology than to potentially save lives? That’s exactly the power Nest Protect gives you – and the life it saves could… Read More
2017-07-21 15:27
Dyson is a quality brand that pays attention to detail in every product that bears its name and the Pure Hot Plus Cool Link Air Purifier is no exception. It’s a quality made smart appl… Read More
2017-07-11 04:20
Well, another Prime Day is upon us and this year’s is set to be bigger than ever.
What Is Prime Day?
If you’re not familiar with Prime Day, it’s basically Christmas in July… Read More
2017-06-15 23:54
Owning a Blueair Classic air purifier means you have one of the better air purification devices available. What could possibly make it even better? Answer: The Blueair Aware Indoor Air Quali… Read More
2017-06-02 19:57
Thinking of picking up an air purifier? It certainly makes sense to want a safer indoor environment for you and your family. But if you’re like most first-time buyers, it’s far t… Read More
2017-05-26 20:26
“I wish I had another set of hands”, is a saying that you will hear a parent say at least once on any given day. It is something that has been said or thought for hundreds of yea… Read More
2017-05-23 20:44
If the indoor air quality of your home is a concern, you may want to consider adding an air purifier. Not just any “purifier” though. There are plenty of low-cost devices that ca… Read More
2017-04-11 05:05
I don’t know about you but my baby doesn’t sleep. He just doesn’t. Sound familiar? The iBaby Monitor may help your baby sleep but its real purpose is to help parents rest e… Read More
2017-03-11 03:36
What were you doing at 2:00 am last night? If you were holding a screaming baby, this article is for you.
Sleeping is something most of us take for granted for most of our lives. But, the ge… Read More
2017-02-24 18:22
If you’re not familiar with Haiku Home products, let me take a minute to enlighten you.
Haiku Home is focused on dressing up your home’s ceiling. Their Haiku series fans really a… Read More
2017-02-16 20:15
Stop living in the past. Get rid of your old incandescents and CFLs. If you haven’t started switching out your old bulbs for LED bulbs, it’s time to start. Even though LED b… Read More
2017-02-16 20:15
Stop living in the past. Get rid of your old incandescents and CFLs. If you haven’t started switching out your old bulbs for LED bulbs, it’s time to start. Even though LED b… Read More
2017-02-08 17:02
It’s 3 am and you wake up startled. Is your baby still breathing? You get out of bed, run to their room as quietly as possible, and peek in their crib. Relief floods over you as you re… Read More
2017-02-08 17:02
It’s 3 am and you wake up startled. Is your baby still breathing? You get out of bed, run to their room as quietly as possible, and peek in their crib. Relief floods over you as you re… Read More
2017-02-02 15:58
TP-Link smart devices are an easy way to get your feet wet in the smart home world. Smart plugs and smart bulbs are easy to install and easy to use. They’re also easy to uninstall and… Read More
2017-02-02 15:58
TP-Link smart devices are an easy way to get your feet wet in the smart home world. Smart plugs and smart bulbs are easy to install and easy to use. They’re also easy to uninstall and… Read More
2017-01-27 17:09
In a world where you can tell Siri to order you a pizza, technology has become increasingly indulgent. Check out these eight quirky, awesome, and perhaps unnecessary, gadgets that you won&rs&hell…Read More
2017-01-27 17:09
In a world where you can tell Siri to order you a pizza, technology has become increasingly indulgent. Check out these six quirky, awesome, and perhaps unnecessary, gadgets that you won&rsqu&hell…Read More
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