this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
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Home Automation

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Home automation is the residential extension of building automation.

It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security.

Warning: Working with electricity can result in injury, property damage, or even death if it is not done properly. Please keep this in mind while assisting others. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.

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I've gone through "a bunch" (to me, not you y'all) of smart bulbs, almost all controlled though Alexa. Almost all of them have at some time become disconnected to where Alexa can't talk to the service that actually controls the bulb. All these miscreants are wifi bulbs, the handful of Hue lights didn't have this issue when I had them. Usually I have to reset the bulb and sometimes I can get to reconnect (I have a handful of Sylvania bulbs that refuse to reconnect). The other day I had a Kasa plug drop off. That one came back after unplugging it and plugging it back in.

Finally the questions: Is this phenomenon more prevalent in wifi bulbs than anything else? I assume so, devices not needing the mother ship in the cloud won't suffer from a loss of connection to her. Is this more prevalent one one controlling cloud (Alexa vs Google vs Homekit vs Flying Spaghetti Monster)? This has happened over the course of a couple of different routers and connectivity scenarios so I don't think that's necessarily at fault but I could be wrong. Thoughts?

PS: For a bulb I can unscrew it or toggle the controlling switch, for a plug I can un/replug it. What does one do to reset a ismart outlet or smart switch?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

What does one do to reset a ismart outlet or smart switch?

Turn the circuit breaker off and on.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Reserved IPs is the way to go. My Kasa dropped anytime a new device connected to the WiFi.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Bulbs are usually going to only support 2.4ghz and not 5ghz. If you run your network with one SSID try splitting your network with an SDID for each band. Alternatively make sure band steering, or what ever your router calls it is turned off.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Try rebooting the router.