This is a very interesting and useful video. I am currently living in a rental apartment and am submerged in the Apple/HomeKit ecosystem. I can do almost everything smart home wise. As you said: if I move to my own property later, I can still (re)use everything. I really hope this video helps others to get started with HomeKit. Nice work, Eric. Keep feeding it to us!
Thanks! I don't have a specific space heater recommendation. I happen to be using a little rotating unit from Pelonis in my office. The key is to find one that is energy efficient and that will turn on when the smart plug turns on. You may end up have to buy and return one or two to find one that meets this requirement.
One thing you forgot to mention is HomeKit locks. When renting you can use something like the August lock or Level lock. I used the August lock back when I rented an apartment. The August lock, you only need to replace the inside component (save it to put back when you move). It does not alter the actual lock, so the landlord/maintenance will not get annoyed with you and still be able to use the same key. Level lock is more hidden and still uses the original lock. It’s just a little more difficult installing than the August lock.
Those are great suggestions. I was a little concerned recommending modification of a lock in any way just in case certain landlords would flip out about it. I also haven't tried many smart locks given a bazar front door setup at my home where I can't get a straight shot for the deadbolt without some major modifications.
This isn't quite on topic, but: I have a "reading light floor lamp", which is a pole with two separate light bulbs on it. Are you aware of any versions of that which would present this light as two separate lights to homekit, so you could control each of the two (or three) lamps separately? All the ones I own have a single "four-way switch", where those settings are (1) both lights off, (2) bottom light on, (3) top light on, (4) both lights on - and you *must* cycle between the four settings to get to the setting you want. That's not the kind of control I want!
That would be cool! You could hack it with a custom Homebridge plug in that tells HomeKit it’s a fan, or a dimmable light but no there’s not n elegant solution for that…at least yet
The easiest route, if not most cost effective, may be to get 2 HomeKit compatible light bulbs such as the Nanoleaf or Hue mentioned and use them as separate lights in HomeKit. They could be grouped if you prefer to present them as one button or be added to scenes as you wish. You would just leave the floor lamp in the both lights on configuration and control the lights via HomeKit, switches/dimmers, or voice.
@@thinkbenjamin I was just thinking this exact thing, sounds like a smart bulb sort of situation instead of a smart plug. Gives you that granular control of each light if you want it, I would just leave the lamp in both lights on mode and remove the switch/knob if you can so no one cuts power to your smart bulbs automatically.
For future changes bottom up (like building an own house) is it more useful to start with buying light bulbs or to use the smart outlets (or how they‘re called) instead? Assumed that I don‘ want to dim…
8:37 I’m not aware of any option to screw the Hue Dimmer Switch, I only to use the adhesive that comes on the back of the switch. Pro tip is to actually remove the dumb light switch entirely and cap the wires behind it, and just put the Hue Dimmer over top of the switch box in the wall and you not only clean it up, but eliminate the risk of someone else using the dumb switch to take your smart bulbs offline.
7:00 that is a toggle switch, not a paddle switch. Lutron sells a different version that can replace a paddle switch which is bit more expensive and you have to actually do some electrical work to cap off the wiring in order to keep the circuit closed behind the remote switch.
This is a very interesting and useful video. I am currently living in a rental apartment and am submerged in the Apple/HomeKit ecosystem. I can do almost everything smart home wise. As you said: if I move to my own property later, I can still (re)use everything. I really hope this video helps others to get started with HomeKit. Nice work, Eric. Keep feeding it to us!
Thanks Tom!
Awesome video I’m sending this to my sister.
Question: Do you have a recommendation for space heater? (She also is a HomeKit user)
Thanks! I don't have a specific space heater recommendation. I happen to be using a little rotating unit from Pelonis in my office. The key is to find one that is energy efficient and that will turn on when the smart plug turns on. You may end up have to buy and return one or two to find one that meets this requirement.
@@EricWelander thanks!
One thing you forgot to mention is HomeKit locks. When renting you can use something like the August lock or Level lock. I used the August lock back when I rented an apartment.
The August lock, you only need to replace the inside component (save it to put back when you move). It does not alter the actual lock, so the landlord/maintenance will not get annoyed with you and still be able to use the same key.
Level lock is more hidden and still uses the original lock. It’s just a little more difficult installing than the August lock.
Those are great suggestions. I was a little concerned recommending modification of a lock in any way just in case certain landlords would flip out about it. I also haven't tried many smart locks given a bazar front door setup at my home where I can't get a straight shot for the deadbolt without some major modifications.
I have done this exact thing in my basement apartment and have loved it!
This isn't quite on topic, but: I have a "reading light floor lamp", which is a pole with two separate light bulbs on it. Are you aware of any versions of that which would present this light as two separate lights to homekit, so you could control each of the two (or three) lamps separately? All the ones I own have a single "four-way switch", where those settings are (1) both lights off, (2) bottom light on, (3) top light on, (4) both lights on - and you *must* cycle between the four settings to get to the setting you want. That's not the kind of control I want!
That would be cool! You could hack it with a custom Homebridge plug in that tells HomeKit it’s a fan, or a dimmable light but no there’s not n elegant solution for that…at least yet
The easiest route, if not most cost effective, may be to get 2 HomeKit compatible light bulbs such as the Nanoleaf or Hue mentioned and use them as separate lights in HomeKit. They could be grouped if you prefer to present them as one button or be added to scenes as you wish. You would just leave the floor lamp in the both lights on configuration and control the lights via HomeKit, switches/dimmers, or voice.
@@thinkbenjamin - Hmm. Interesting idea.
@@thinkbenjamin I was just thinking this exact thing, sounds like a smart bulb sort of situation instead of a smart plug. Gives you that granular control of each light if you want it, I would just leave the lamp in both lights on mode and remove the switch/knob if you can so no one cuts power to your smart bulbs automatically.
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@@EricWelander thanks! 😎😎
For future changes bottom up (like building an own house) is it more useful to start with buying light bulbs or to use the smart outlets (or how they‘re called) instead? Assumed that I don‘ want to dim…
8:37 I’m not aware of any option to screw the Hue Dimmer Switch, I only to use the adhesive that comes on the back of the switch. Pro tip is to actually remove the dumb light switch entirely and cap the wires behind it, and just put the Hue Dimmer over top of the switch box in the wall and you not only clean it up, but eliminate the risk of someone else using the dumb switch to take your smart bulbs offline.
7:00 that is a toggle switch, not a paddle switch. Lutron sells a different version that can replace a paddle switch which is bit more expensive and you have to actually do some electrical work to cap off the wiring in order to keep the circuit closed behind the remote switch.
this channel is underrated