So you've taken the plunge and recently installed smart door locks. Everything you need to know before installing a smart lock. Everything you need to know before installing a smart lock. your security These are the facts you should know before making a purchase! Read More Then your neighbor walks up and asks if these new devices will work when the power goes out. What do you say? Have you thought about this or are you stuck standing there with a quizzical look on your face?
Don't worry, you can tell your neighbor that the simple answer is Yes. Many types of smart home devices will work even when the power is out. The longer answer is a bit more complicated and varies by device.
In this article, you'll learn more about what happens when power goes out to four key smart home products:smart thermometers, door locks, garage doors, and home security cameras.
The Nest Learning thermostat is one of the most popular smart devices on the planet. Not surprisingly, it remains smart even when the power goes out.
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Nest includes a rechargeable battery that is charged directly through the cables of the heating or cooling system. When the battery runs out, regardless of the reason, the Nest Thermostat will eventually turn off until the battery recharges. During charging, the device emits a flashing red light.
However, before the Nest battery gets too low, it will take steps to hold the charge for as long as possible. First, it will turn off your Wi-Fi connection and disconnect it. During this time, you will not be able to control the thermostat remotely. However, your heating/cooling system and schedule will remain operational.
When the battery runs out completely, the thermostat is not usable. When power is restored, your settings will remain intact.
Typically, the Nest Learning Thermostat will run for an hour or two during a power outage before shutting down. When the power comes back on, it could take another hour before the unit works properly.
Other smart thermostats offer similar guarantees when the power goes out. ecobee Wi-Fi Smart Thermostats, for example, work as stand-alone units and temporary loss of power or Internet service shouldn't affect your HVAC equipment. Honeywell's Lyric family of thermostats works the same way.
Smart locks let you lock/unlock your door, control keyless access, and keep track of who's coming and going, all from your mobile device. When the power goes out, you can still open the door, as everyday batteries power each lock. Also, smart locks often connect to a mobile device via Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi.
The popular August Smart Lock, for example, runs on four AA batteries and uses Bluetooth for wireless communication. The Kwikset Keva Smart Lock has similar features and does not require a data connection to lock or unlock a door.
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Please note, however, that when there is no power, certain functions will not work on smart locks.
When you use the August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge with your August Smart Lock, for example, you can perform tasks on the device from anywhere in the world. However, when the power goes out, you can't. Amazon Alexa and Apple Siri will also remain silent during this period.
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Smart garage doors allow you to monitor and control your doors from anywhere using your mobile device. During normal operation, most connect to your network via Wi-Fi, although some on the market use Bluetooth instead.
However, when the power goes out, you can still open your smart garage door. 4 ways a smart garage door opener will simplify your life. 4 ways a smart garage door opener will simplify your life. Smart garage door openers can help. Read More The reason:the doors all have built-in batteries..
Among the smart garage doors to consider are models available from Chamberlain, Garageio and LiftMaster.
In recent years, home security cameras Practical uses for your home Surveillance cameras Practical uses for your home Surveillance cameras Home surveillance cameras are becoming more and more popular with each passing year as technology improves and prices go down. Here are some practical uses for home security cameras, some of which may surprise you. Read More Unfortunately, these cameras aren't as smart when there's no power.
Home security systems (as opposed to smart home cameras) use traditional phone lines to connect to a monitoring center. In the event of a power outage, the connection remains. Systems that use cellular radio also stay online during power outages, as cellular radio is a communication standard based on a network of transmitters serving a small area known as a cell.
Systems that use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and the Internet, as the names suggest, need an online connection to operate. When the power goes out, so does the Internet connection, and the systems will stop communicating until the power comes back on, and the Internet connection is up and running.
Home security cameras can provide a lot of peace of mind. Unfortunately, without power, they can't do much. Because of this, you may want to consider some alternatives.
First, take a look at home security systems The best indoor and outdoor security system for any budget The best indoor and outdoor security system for any budget The rise of the smart home led to security systems more affordable. Now it's simple and cheap to transform a "dumb" house into a secure smart home. Read More Both wired and wireless home security systems now come with rechargeable batteries, so the control panel can work in the event of a power failure.
Another solution:connect your home security cameras and routers to backup batteries or a battery bank. How to use a battery bank to protect your home from outages. How to use a battery bank to protect your home from outages. Power outage because you have a UPS. Can you put your whole house on a UPS? Yes. Yes you can. Read more . Under this scenario, your products will remain online at least temporarily during a power outage.
Unfortunately, not all smart home products can function in any capacity without power. None of these should come as a surprise, as they tend to be smart home product solutions that are also useless in a power outage.
Smart switches and plugs offer zero benefits when the power goes out. Neither do smart lighting products, unfortunately. Smart air conditioners and dehumidifiers aren't as smart during blackouts, either.
Home automation products can make your life easier and safer. Unfortunately, the occasional power outage can take many of these devices offline. Door locks, garage doors and smart thermostats How to find the best smart thermostat for your home How to find the best smart thermostat for your home Looking for a good smart thermostat for your home? Keep in mind that some are smarter than others! Take a look – one of these options may be your solution. Additional reading will normally work, at least for a limited period of time, when the power is turned off. Smart security cameras, not so much. However, there are steps you can take to keep these devices online during an emergency.
What smart home products do you use? Are you worried about power outages with those products?
