2019 was one to remember.
It was the year that work got underway on the Automated home 2.0 – thank you for following along with our project.
Our Self build blog takes a lot more than a quarter of the top twenty this year with articles on our floor Plan, choosing our Architect, The house Design, and our PTZ CCTV building site enjoying cam all among your favourites so far.
Also amongst your favourites was the post on our ideas for the new Loxone System that will power the new Automated home 2.0. It’s been terrific working with epitome Living, planning our install.
Despite only being posted in December, the first part of our UniFi Network series saw outstanding traffic and made it all the way to number 9 in a few short weeks!
We’re really looking forward to updating you on Loxone and UniFi in particular so look out for plenty a lot more AH2 updates in the new year as first fix electrics continue and we head towards our summer deadline to step in.
The always popular home assistant features again this year in a mashup with MQTT and IFTTT. ComfortClick launched their new Colibri system in 2019 billed as the first Z-Wave Hub for professional projects and it made to number 18.
2019 was also the year that my electric dreams came true when the Tesla arrived after a lot more than 3 years of waiting.
It was one of the first model 3’s in the country and it has been a revelation. There are 2 Tesla articles in this years top 20 including my detailed review after the first 3,500 miles. As ever I’d encourage you to consider an EV as your next car.
Number 11 sees another advancement for Philips with their new color Play HDMI Sync Box. Judging by some of the comments in our new Automated home Facebook group color is by far your much-loved smart lighting system.
The new Homey v2, Nuimo’s switches and Lightwave’s tiny relay all made it to the top 10 and our 3D printed smart home accessories post made it to the bronze medal position.
The amazing little Remootio garage door Bluetooth and WiFi remote seemed like an optimal diy smart home project and made it all the way to number 2.
But there was nothing that even came close to our number 1 this year, as the traffic to this post was head and shoulders above everything else. It’s a bitter sweet affair though. The Den range of smart home products were launched in February and created a real buzz. however confirmation came just a few weeks ago that the company is heading into liquidation.
On a a lot more positive note, on the 18th of December Amazon, Apple, Google and Zigbee revealed they are to develop a new open source smart connected home Over IP Standard. just a day later Z-Wave fired back with an announcement of their own. could this be the conventional the industry is crying out for? If nothing else it may confirm the smart home’s future is IP over WiFi, replacing the need for all those proprietary hubs.
Check out your entire top 20 below. thank you for your support once again and a delighted new Year to you all!
M.
20. diy smart home Hack uses IFTTT API to activate MQTT home assistant Action
19. Automated home 2.0 – #11 Our floor Plan
18. ComfortClick launches Colibri – the first Z-Wave Hub for professional Projects
17. Automated home 2.0 – #13 Here’s What We’re planning for Our Loxone smart Home
16. Automated home 2.0 – #10 Here’s Our new house Design
15. Collecting My Tesla model 3 Today – A Petrol Head’s journey to the electric Side
14. Automated home 2.0 – #05 choosing Our Architect
13. new Dyson Lightcycle Lamp Adjusts for Daylight, Age, tasks & Lasts 60 Years
12. TV Lights with new Philips color Play HDMI Sync Box
11. UK double wall Socket with Built-In WiFi Repeater & USB Charging
10. Lightwave reveals new smart tiny Relay
09. Automated home 2.0 – #14 Why I’ve chosen UniFi for Our new home Network
08. Nuimo Click uses energy Harvesting tech for Wireless Sonos & Philips color wall Switches
07. Homey announce v2.0 plus Homey pro – Z-Wave, ZigBee, WiFi, BLE, IR, 433 & 868 MHz
06. Automated home 2.0 – #04 amazing PTZ CCTV cam to enjoy Our Self build Remotely
05. Tesla model 3 UK – The first 3,500 Mile Mega Review
04. check Out This amazing budget wall Controller setup using home Assistant
03. 15 amazing home Automation accessories to 3D print for Your smart Home
02. Video: economical Remootio interface Makes Gates & Garage Doors Smart
01. Den Automation launches UK smart home range with amazing Self moving Switches
BONUS: top 20 Products
Here are the top 20 a lot of popular items gotten through our Amazon affiliate store in 2019. This remains the easiest way for you to support this site – lots of thanks.
01. Philips color smart Wireless Dimmer Switch
5,526 Reviews
Philips color smart Wireless Dimmer switch V1 (Installation exclusive for Philips color Lights)
Brighten and dim Your smart Lights – Wirelessly turn your lights up or down by means of the battery-powered dimmer switch v1
What’s Required? – Nothing. You can pair your dimmer switch with your Philips color lights with or without a bridge. instructions included in packaging
Remote control – The color Dimmer switch is magnetic and can be removed from the base plate, allowing you to use the dimmer switch as a helpful remote control
£32.95
get on Amazon
02. WiFi smart Power strip with Alexa Google assistant and SmartThings Remote control Voice Control
03. Meross smart Garage Door Remote Control
3,572 Reviews
meross smart Garage Door Opener, Remote control Add-On to Existing Garage Opener, Compatible with Amazon Alexa Google home SmartThings
【Various smart Control】 Make your existing garage door smart. Remote/Voice Control, NO TIME/DISTANCE limit with Internet access. also compatible with Google Assistant/SmartThings. To let in your family, guests or couriers through the garage door while you are cooking or not at home. support schedule and timing settings. No monthly fee or any other subscription fee!
【Compatibility Check】Universal Design. Eg: Hormann/Chamberlain/Skylink/Liftmaster/Somfy/Sommer/Stanley/BFT/FAAC/CAME/Nice. Please scroll down and check in the “Compatibility Check” whether your garage door model is in the compatibility list. also you can check if your garage door model is in the compatibility list on meross official web.
【Safe Notification&Operation Record】 stay alert by different notification modes such as garage door open/ close status, overtime/overnight notification to remind you close the garage door. and you can check the garage door open/ close operation records through the APP. easily know all garage door information.
£38.99
get on Amazon
04. Samotech Light switch Cover for Philips color Dimmer
Sale
1,543 Reviews
SAMOTECH color switch Cover V1 (SM200 – single V1)
FOR THE V1 color DIMMER! See our other providing for the SM200 V2 dimmer below
helps to aesthetically restrict access to a physical light switch, thus stopping an accidental switching off and keeping color bulbs connected to the power source 24/7
universal design and high compatibility with lots of wall light switches ranging from 80x80mm up to 92x92mm in size
£7.99
get on Amazon
05. Drayton Wiser smart Heating Radiator Thermostat
2,115 Reviews
Drayton Wiser smart Heating Radiator Thermostat works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT
This radiator thermostat is only created to work alongside an existing Wiser smart Heating System with a Wiser heat Hub. replace your existing radiator TRV valves to give room-by-room heating control.
Simply screw off/on existing TRV radiator valves and replace with Wiser smart thermostats to expand your current system. works with 90% of existing valves. An adaptor to fit the Danfoss RA valve is included in every box.
Add up to 32 smart radiator thermostats in up to 16 different rooms/zones. begin with 1 radiator thermostat and add a lot more over time. 1 Thermostat required per radiator for maximum comfort and energy saving.
£42.98
get on Amazon
06. Aurora Enlite White warm White COB LED GU10 Ceiling Downlight
4 Reviews
Aurora Enlite fire Rated White warm White COB LED GU10 Ceiling Downlight – cutout 75mm – Recess depth 110mm£11.90
get on Amazon
07. Rode VideoMicro Compact On cam Microphone
Sale
20,692 Reviews
RØDE VideoMicro Compact On-camera Directional Microphone for Filmmaking, content creation and location Recording
quickly improve the audio quality of your videos with a broadcast-grade cardioid condenser capsule and rugged shockmount
The VideoMicro is directional, minimizing distracting peripheral sounds and focusing on the audio in front of the camera
Perfect for compact cam rigs and vlogging, the VideoMicro is lightweight and rugged, weighing just 42gm (1.5oz)
£39.00
get on Amazon
08. SanDisk extreme pro 32 GB microSDHC Memory Card
Sale
46,705 Reviews
SanDisk extreme pro 32 GB microSDHC Memory Card + SD Adapter with A1 app performance + Rescue pro Deluxe 100 MB/s class 10, UHS-I, U3, V30 SDSQXCG-032G-GN6MA, Red/Gold
pro performance of up to 100/90MB/s read/write speeds for faster transfer and capturing
Shoot continuous burst mode, full HD and 4K UHD video
UHS speed class 3 (U3) and video speed class 30 (V30) ratings for 4K UHD video
£12.99
get on Amazon
09. BG Electrical double switched Power Socket and Wi-Fi Repeater
Sale
1,478 Reviews
BG Electrical 922UWR-01 double switched 13 A fast Charging Power Socket with USB charger and Wi-Fi Repeater, 2.1 A, 5 V, 10.5 W, round Edge, White
FOR IMPROVED Wi-Fi coverage THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME: Comes this double power socket with a USB charging port and a Wi-Fi repeater from BG Electrical
POSITION and install halfway between YOUR ROUTER and THE Wi-Fi DEAD ZONE: For you to take pleasure in seamless Wi-Fi connection when using computers, tablets, mobile phones, games console’s and TV’s
SLEEK and SLIM single switched double POWER SOCKET: as well as being a helpful Wi-Fi repeater, it also includes two power sockets and a USB charging port with fast charging technology
£23.00
get on Amazon
10. Philips color Starter Kit
1,569 Reviews
Philips color White A19 E27 60 W equivalent smart Bulb Starter kit (2 color White Bulbs and a Bridge, Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant)
With everything you need to get started, this easy-to-use kit comes with two A19 E27 color white LED smart bulbs, able to fit conventional table lamps and the Philips color Bridge that can control up to 50 lights
Install the LED lights as you would install common bulbs; they are pre-paired with the color Bridge, which allows you to control smart-b