If you're new to smart home technology and use Apple devices, the Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat is a great first step in creating a smart home.
As the smart home market continues to grow, the number of different devices available can overwhelm beginners. But building a smart home What is a smart home? What is a smart home? We recently launched a Smart Home category on MakeUseOf, but what is a smart home? Read More One of the most important choices you'll make is which device to buy first. There are many different options on the market, and that first selection can often dictate future accessory purchases.
If you're an Apple device user looking to start building a HomeKit-enabled system, the Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat is a great place to start.
While Ecobee3 is also compatible with the Amazon Echo Smart Home ecosystem Smackdown:Amazon Alexa vs. Apple HomeKit Smart Home Smackdown:Amazon Alexa vs. Apple HomeKit In this article, you'll learn more about Amazon Alexa and how Apple Siri integrates with HomeKit. See a comparison between both products and decide which one is better. Read More One of the most obvious questions any new smart home might have is:“What, exactly, is HomeKit?”
Apple created the HomeKit framework so that its different smart devices can communicate with each other using specific hardware and software.
With more than one HomeKit-enabled device, you can perform tasks like setting up different scenes (preset control patterns for your devices) and other complex automations.
All smart home devices can usually be controlled with a dedicated app, but with HomeKit compatibility, accessories can be accessed through a single app. Even better? All iOS devices have the Apple Home Home app. Take full advantage of Apple HomeKit and the iOS 10 Home app. Take full advantage of Apple HomeKit and the iOS 10 Home app. In this article, you'll learn about the growing list of HomeKit-related products. And how to control them. You will also see how to spot a compatible product on the market. Read More integrated into your system, including Apple Watch.
Another big plus is that you can control all your HomeKit devices with a quick and easy Siri command. After setting up the device, you can simply tell Apple's virtual assistant exactly what to control. And thanks to the “Hey Siri” command iPhone hands-free with "Hey Siri":4 reasons to start using it iPhone hands-free with "Hey Siri":4 reasons to start using it Here's how to use the "Hey Siri" command from hands free from Apple can make your life easier. Read More
As long as you have a Home Hub in your house (which may be a fourth-generation Apple TV Apple TV 2015 Review Apple TV 2015 Review With competition from Google Chromecast and Amazon FireTV reaching fever pitch, can Cupertino continue to hold its own in the battle for space under your TV? Read More or iPad running iOS 10 or later) you can operate all HomeKit devices from anywhere with an Internet connection.
The first HomeKit devices began hitting the market in June 2015, and the ecosystem has grown steadily. It now includes various accessories including doorbells, air conditioners, fans, and humidifiers, along with the usual home accessories like lights and switches.
Arriving in late 2015, the Ecobee3 was the first smart thermostat to offer HomeKit support.
While everyone is familiar with using a regular thermostat to control heating and/or cooling, smart thermostats (pioneered by Nest) How to install and use the Nest Thermostat to automate energy savings How to install and use the Nest Thermostat to automate energy savings if "I've ever thought about getting started with home automation, buying a Nest Thermostat is the perfect way to start. In just a week of use, we cut our energy use in half. Read More) take this concept to the next level. The Ecobee3 builds on Nest's success by adding several unique features of its own.
One big difference from the Ecobee3 is obvious just by looking at the thermostat itself. Instead of the round, retro shape of the Nest, it sports more of a more modern aesthetic and offers a 3.5-inch touchscreen interface. Think of it like an old school iPhone mounted on the wall.
Instead of turning a dial like on the Nest, you control the Ecobee3 using the touch screen.
Nest puts a lot of emphasis on learning your routine and automatically adjusting your heating or cooling when needed. In contrast, the Ecobee3 does not have a separate learning system, but you can manually create different schedules through the companion app.
The main attraction of Ecobee3 is its remote sensors. Ecobee includes one with each thermostat, and you can also purchase an additional two-pack if needed. Along with the main thermostat, the remote sensors act as HomeKit-enabled temperature logging and motion detection stations. That information feeds into the Follow Me and Smart Home/Away feature which we'll explore in a moment.
While the Ecobee3 is a great foundation for a HomeKit smart home, you'll need to clear the biggest hurdle first:installation. While this requires more work than other devices, the benefits of the Ecobee3 are definitely worth it!
Anyone with basic DIY skills should be able to install the thermostat without a problem, as Ecobee includes just about everything needed to complete the job, except for a screwdriver and drill. If that makes you nervous, you can hire a professional installation, though it will add $100-$200 to the thermostat's $249 retail cost.
Before you make a purchase, definitely head over to the Ecboee site and see if there are any discounts, incentives, or special offers in your area. At least near me, there were two opportunities to get a bill credit if you used specific energy providers.
One problem that can trip you up during installation is the common cable, better known as the c cable. Cable C provides full-time power to the unit and always-on display. Even when you are not adjusting the unit, the display will show the current weather conditions outside and the temperature inside.
Your current thermostat may or may not have a wire c. The only way to be sure is to remove the front casing and do a wire check. Find the port with a “do” and look for a cable.
If there is no c-wire, Ecobee includes a power extender kit that uses your current wires to power the unit. Installation requires a bit more work with your own heating/cooling system and may require a professional.
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If you decide to tackle the wiring situation on your own, you should do it in less than 30 minutes. Most of the process includes removing the wires from the current thermostat and transferring them to the new control board. After that, just press the thermostat on the control board and let the fun begin.
First and foremost, you'll need to download the Ecobee companion app that can be used on an iPhone or iPad. After answering a few questions on the thermostat about the heating and cooling system, it will connect to Wi-Fi.
Getting the thermostat linked to HomeKit is the final step. This can be done through the Ecobee or Home app. You will need to have an iOS device located near the thermostat.
The Ecobee3 will display a special setup code that must be entered into the iOS device. You can do it manually or just take a quick photo, and the app will take care of the rest.
Once done, assign the thermostat to a specific room in a HomeKit setup. For example, if the Ecobee is in the living room, you can assign it to that area. Doing this step will be helpful in the future if you decide to add automation with other accessories or with Siri.
You can also configure the remote sensor using the thermostat screen.
Al menos en el iPhone, la aplicación tiene exactamente el mismo aspecto que la interfaz del termostato, lo que facilita hacer las mismas tareas sin importar dónde se encuentre. Puede configurarlo para enfriamiento, calefacción o una combinación de ambos en el modo automático. La pantalla principal mostrará las condiciones actuales en su casa. Simplemente presione el botón pequeño en el lado izquierdo para ajustar.
Ahora es el momento de que los sensores remotos, incluido uno incorporado en el termostato, brillen.
En más de dos años de uso, mi característica favorita de lejos es Sígueme. El sistema determinará cualquier habitación donde se haya detectado movimiento. Entonces solo usará la lectura de temperatura de la habitación para determinar si se necesita calefacción o aire acondicionado. Por lo tanto, en el uso práctico, eso significa que solo la habitación o habitaciones que utilice serán las más cómodas. No importa el clima exterior, eso definitivamente puede ser útil.
Viviendo en Texas, mi aire acondicionado funciona al menos 9 meses al año. Y a pesar de que hace un buen trabajo para enfriar mi casa, hay una serie de lugares fríos y calientes. Pero usar Follow Me, mi familia y yo nos sentimos cómodos todos los días del año..
Otra forma de usar el sensor remoto es con la función Smart Home / Away. Actuando como una copia de seguridad de cualquier programa preestablecido, el sensor anula aquellos en la detección de movimiento. Por ejemplo, si llega a casa temprano del trabajo, la moción cancelará automáticamente cualquier programa preestablecido.
Estas dos características combinadas hacen que el Ecobee3 valga cada centavo. Y si tienes una casa más grande o una residencia de varios pisos, definitivamente recomendaría comprar sensores adicionales.
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El uso de Siri para controlar el termostato es definitivamente útil, especialmente si tiene varios dispositivos iOS diferentes y el Apple Watch.
Puede dirigirse al sitio de Ecboee para ver la lista completa de comandos Siri para controlar la unidad. Además de poder controlar la calefacción o el aire acondicionado, puede preguntarle a Siri la temperatura actual en el termostato y cualquier sensor remoto.
La construcción de su propia casa inteligente puede parecer desalentadora, pero tomarla paso a paso puede hacer que todo el proceso sea más fácil, ya que puede tomar tiempo para planificar y presupuestar diferentes accesorios..
El termostato inteligente Ecobee3 es una excelente opción para su primer bloque de construcción, y es difícil discutir con algo que podría pagarse por sí mismo gracias a la reducción de sus facturas de calefacción o aire acondicionado y tal vez incluso mejorar su salud Inicio 4 Beneficios para la salud del monitoreo de la temperatura y la humedad en el hogar ¿Sabía que existen beneficios para la salud al usar productos para el hogar inteligentes? It's okay. One or two smart purchases could drastically improve your quality of life at home. Read more.
Y, si continúa construyendo un sistema compatible con HomeKit, puede usar el termostato en diferentes automatizaciones y escenas para hacer la vida un poco más fácil.
¿Cuál fue tu primer dispositivo doméstico inteligente? ¿Fue la elección correcta? Let us know in the comments.
