jamesswalkernr-blog

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3 Steps to Get Started with an Alexa Smart Home

Amazon’s virtual assistant ‘Alexa’ makes it simple and easy to create a voice-activated smart home. Today, voice control has turned out to be smart home’s gateway, and Alexa has been at the tip of that spear, with standardized control over lights, locks, and more as a core use case. Simply put, Alexa is just about everything nowadays and that simply means that there is an increasing number of people looking for ways to put Alexa to good use for a smarter and more convenient living space. And if this sound like you and you are looking for some guidance on how to get started, you have come to the right place.

 Get an Echo Product

If you are looking for an Alexa-controlled smart house, you would be requiring Alexa. For majority of people, it clearly means choosing an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot smart speaker.

Setting it up is also easy, just plug it in and follow the wi-fi pairing options in the Alexa app on your mobile device. Now download the Amazon app and log in with your account. By tapping on the microphone icon in the upper right corner of the home screen, you can talk to Alexa.

 Choose the location

As you bring Alexa into you house, the location is of utmost importance. You can use Echo anywhere you like, as long as it is in the range of your home’s wi-fi signal and a power outlet. So whether you want to put it in your bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, or living room it is totally up to you, and your choice really depends on how exactly you are planning to use it.

However, your bedroom makes a lot of sense, especially if you are thinking of using Alexa’s alarm to wake you up in the morning.

Set up your Home Devices

Well, there are many different gadgets that work with Alexa and smart plug is the best recommendation. Alexa smart plug is cheap, easy to use, and it will enable you turn anything into it on and off by just asking Alexa. A part of the setup process involves naming your device and it is an important step because that name is what Alexa will use to identify the device when given a particular command. Therefore, Alexa smart plug is of great significance.

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A Quick Brief about the Usefulness of Smart Light Switches in your House

The smart home industry has been growing for the past couple of years, and it keeps growing with every minute. Consequently, the devices that were once considered unique are seen as commonplace, due to their increased accessibility. The same can be said and thought about a smart light switch. But how does a smart light switch work?

There are numerous advantages to equipping your house with a reliable and an effective smart lighting system. Well, the convenience you get is unprecedented, not to mention that you also improve the security of your house. And, thanks to the smart home automation industry that has witnessed an exponential boom lately, there are plenty of options to choose from. The being so, what are smart light switches, how do they wok, what connectivity do they use, how to find the best smart light switch, and what else should you know about them? So, without further delay, let us break it down.

 How does a Smart Light Switch Work?

 If you are looking to build a new smart home, it is important to understand how exactly everything works. Usually, smart light switches work by connecting to a network; it could be your Wi-Fi home network.

A smart light switch enables you to control the light in two ways:

 Firstly, by using the switch on the wall

Secondly, using your smartphone

Simply put, a smart lighting system enables you to control the bulbs in your house, from a single smart device. Isn’t it convenient enough? You can easily automate the on or off switch, and program everything as per your needs. Thereafter, the signal is transmitted via Wi-Fi network, enabling you to program all lighting in your house.

Smart Light Switch vs Regular Switch

A smart light switch is quite similar to a regular switch you install on your wall, so as to control lighting, a socket or a fan. However, the primary distinction is that you can use the switch and make adjustments with the help of an application. Equipping your home with a smart light switch is an amazing way to make your home energy efficient, enabling you to control the lights as you desire.

Unlike the regular switches, smart light switches make use of Wi-Fi or Z-wave technology, all depending on the product. Considering the Wi-Fi models, you can link them directly to your home network and your phone. But smart light switches must be wired up to a neutral wire to make it work smoothly.

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How to Choose the Best Surge Protector? And yes, they are far different from Power Strips!

Majority of us have more devices in our houses than we have plugs in the wall, which is why you will possibly find the best surge protector behind most people’s televisions or under our desks. Choosing the right surge protector is an inexpensive way to safeguard our most expensive electronics. The best surge protector adds a layer of protection between your equipment and the outside world and comes in a wide range of prices and features. Generally, people use surge protectors for high electrical volume areas like around your television or air conditioners. But not all surge protectors are same, and some can even put your gadgets at a potential risk.

This is why it becomes hard to figure out what’s worth the money, and what’s not. Well, this webcast will help you sort through it. So to help you choose the best surge protector, following are the tips for picking the right surge protector:

Know your Energy Consumption

A surge protector can help prevent from catching electrical fires and ruined devices from a power surge, it is also important to know how much power your protector can withstand. And Joules are a way for surge protectors to show how much energy they can actually resist. For instance, if a device comes with 1000 joules of protection, your surge protector can safeguard devices from a single 1000 joule power surge hit or 10 individual 100 joule surge hits. Therefore, the best way to choose the best surge protector is to invest in more joules.

 What’s the difference between Power Strip and Surge Protector?

One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that power strips are same as surge protectors. But that’s not the case at all. A power strip is like an extension of a single electrical outlet that further provides several outlets and only safeguards the circuit overloads. But it does not protect your devices from power surges like a surge protector does. And since, best surge protectors come with warranties and offer enhanced protection, the equipment is worth your money.

 Pick the best Surge Protector that displays when it’s Protected

Many surge protectors available in the market today come with a light indicator that not only shows when your devices are protected, but also offers extra features like USB charging for your mobile phones.

It is hoped that you are convinced with what surge protectors are and how do they differ from power strips. So what’s your call?