Dimmers
Smart dimmers make a nice addition to nearly any growing smart home network. You can choose between plug-in dimmers that connect with a wall outlet or hardwired dimmers that are installed in place of an existing wall dimmer switch. A plug-in dimmer is great for providing smart control for a plug-in lamp. An in-wall dimmer is good if you want smart operation over your hardwired lights. You can even get a smart 3-way switch to allow for smart control over multiple switches that all control the same lighting fixtures. This allows for added flexibility in creating your smart home lighting network.
The real benefit to using a smart dimmer is that you can control your lights from virtually anywhere using a smart interactive platform. This is perfect if you are on the go, and you want to make sure that your lights are shut off. You could also use this feature to turn on your lights if you want the lights to already be on when you return home later. You can also use smart functionality to have your lights activate automatically based on a schedule or with certain system events. This is awesome for saving money on your energy bills or just making your life more convenient.
There are all sorts of platforms you can choose to use for your smart dimmers. Z-Wave dimmers are extremely popular for alarm system users. This is because many alarm systems also function as Z-Wave controllers. If you have interactive alarm monitoring service from Alarm Grid, you can then use a platform like Alarm.com or Total Connect 2.0 for controlling your smart dimmers and lights. This is great for having your security system and your smart home automation devices all in one conveniently accessible location. You can also include other Z-Wave devices like locks and thermostats to further expand upon your smart home capabilities.
If you are an iOS user, you might consider getting smart dimmers that work with the Apple HomeKit platform. This is great if you want to use Siri voice commands to control your lights. As long as you have a proper HomeKit Hub set up, you will be able to control your lights from anywhere using your smartphone. Many users who already have a strong HomeKit network in place will choose to get dimmers that work with this protocol. And remember that the Resideo Lyric Panel is HomeKit-compatible, so you can get that system if you are looking to control your system through HomeKit.
Whether you choose to use plug-in dimmers or in-wall dimmers is up to you. Plug-in dimmers are great because they involve virtually no installation or wiring. Just plug the device into the outlet, program it to the appropriate hub, and you're good to go. However, in-wall dimmers can be installed fairly easily. In fact, there are even some smart 3-way switches that can be used without a traveler wire. This makes things even easier for the DIY installer.