Although a few years ago it was only a few people’s toy to have some intelligence move into their home and offer automation, comfort and extra functions, recently not only the number of different ecosystems has increased, but also the price of compatible products has started to decrease, while more and more and more sensors, switches and gadgets communicate with each other and with us via WiFi networks. Cafago is now selling such products at a reduced price.
By far the most complex (and thus the most expensive) part of the offer is the Aqara Smart Door Lock A100 Pro, which also has a fingerprint reader. This product works with the manufacturer’s own application (Aqara Home App) as well as with Apple HomeKit, but since it uses the Zigbee standard, openHAB is not an obstacle either. The power supply is provided by two AA batteries, if they run out, the lock can also be powered via a Type-C cable to open it. In addition to identifying 50 different fingerprints, it can handle 75 different numerical codes and 25 NFC devices, so it is not only an option for a limited number of users in family houses. The lock works between -25 and +55 degrees Celsius, it can be adapted to doors with a thickness of 4-8 centimeters, and the manufacturer promises 540 days of operation with the two elements. It is currently priced at $240 and can be collected here.
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The Aqara H1 Smart Dimmer, which is a smart dimmer switch, represents a completely different category. The solution, which has a particularly minimalist design, also works with Zigbee and Apple HomeKit systems. Although it looks like a plain potentiometer, there is also a mysterious LED light behind the button, which also gives feedback during operation. The button can not only be turned, but also pushed in, which is why it is quasi-multifunctional, it can be used to control the intensity of the lighting as well as, for example, the closing of the blinds, a total of five functions can be assigned to five different interactions. Single press, double press, press and hold, twist and hold twist can invoke different devices to serve different needs. This product is currently available to add to cart for $41.
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A much simpler device is the Aqara Light Sensor T1, which is a luminance detection sensor. It communicates with the network via Zigbee 3.0 protocol, the detection range is from 0 to 8300 lux. Its role does not need to be explained much, it practically gives information to the smart home center about the measured light strength, which, aware of this, adjusts the blinds, curtains and the level of lighting. This device is currently on sale for $27.
If it’s shutters and curtains, then part of the sale list is a six-piece smart device with which motor-controlled shading solutions can be connected to a network. Modules that communicate via WiFi, compatible with the Tuya Smart application, can receive commands from the smart home center as well as directly from the phone, so that the motors that control the shutters or curtains can be activated automatically. This set is currently priced at $43. Tuya is a relatively new but dynamically growing player in the smart home market, with a very extensive list of compatible devices, but the Tuya Smart application can also be integrated with Google Home, and after a little tweaking, openHAB is no obstacle either. In the case of Apple HomeKit, however, an intermediary will be needed, the installation and configuration of the HomeBridge Hub will solve the issue.
Cafago sends all the listed products to the customer’s home with free delivery, where obviously not only these smart home devices are available. The number of products compatible with Apple HomeKit is relatively small, but we can find more than 200 different devices connected to the Tuya Smart ecosystem in the webshop, along with almost 100 devices using the Zigbee protocol and twice as many gadgets that can communicate with Google Home. Although there are open source solutions that can be parameterized in detail, we cause the least headaches if the devices in our home are mostly part of the same ecosystem, because this means ease not only in terms of managing individual devices, but also in setting up different automations and scenarios. also in connection with
