Is DIY Home Automation Really Doable for Most People?
I will admit to being a DIY home automation evangelist. Anyone who asks about my home automation system will get an earful about how I built it from the ground up using an open-source platform. But let us be realistic. Is my system user friendly? More to the point, is DIY home automation really doable for most people?
If I am honest, I have to say ‘no’. I really love DIY home automation because one of my hobbies is tinkering with computers and electronics. I used to run my own business building and servicing PCs. So of course, building a home automation system is right up my alley. But most of the people whose computers I repaired would never have been able to do it. They couldn’t even fix their own PCs; building a home automation system from scratch just would not be possible for them.
This isn’t a knock on people who struggle with home automation. There are lots of things I am not good at, including carpentry. If there is a way to mess up a simple cut on a 2×4, you can bet I will do it. So I need to acknowledge the fact that DIY home automation isn’t something everyone can handle. I guess that’s why companies like Vivint exist.
What I Mean by ‘DIY’
At this point, it is important to define what I mean by ‘DIY’ home automation. I am not referring to investing in something like Amazon Alexa or Google Nest. Both platforms allow consumers to pick and choose devices as they see fit. Consumers install the devices on their own. There is no professional installation involved.
No, what I am referring to begins with an open-source home automation platform. There are several to choose from. You install that platform on a computer or tablet to create a home automation ecosystem. Then you install the various integrations that work with the devices on your network.
The good news is that most open-source platforms have enough integrations to support hundreds of different devices and most of the big name brands. That way, you are not locked into a single ecosystem like Alexa or Nest. But ‘most’ does not mean ‘all’. I have one device that isn’t fully supported by my platform. I learned my lesson too late. I should have checked for an integration before I purchased it. Oh well.
Some Tech Aptitude Helps
If I could give just one bit of advice about building a DIY home automation system from scratch, it would be this: at least some tech aptitude helps. You at least need to know how to install an open-source platform on an unused computer or tablet. That is the bare minimum.
It also helps to have a basic understanding of home automation’s core principles:
- Devices – Devices are treated differently in most platforms based on what they do. Platforms recognize things like switches, video sensors, and thermostats.
- Automations – An automation is essentially a programmed schedule to activate or deactivate a device.
- Scenes – Scenes are collections of combined automations that function together.
Finally, you need a basic understanding of how to create automations and scenes. Most open-source platforms come with helper scripts and templates, but you still need to know how to use them.
Out-of-the-Box Home Automation
Fortunately, there are plenty of out-of-the-box home automation solutions for people without the tech savvy abilities DIY home automation requires. Vivint immediately comes to mind. Where Amazon and Google systems are still self-installed, Vivint offers professional installation. It’s a great solution for people who just don’t find DIY home automation doable.
