The Wink home automation thread

[RodolfoDLV]

I personally consider every time I need to activate a light switch a fail of my HA system. With Wink it was that I had time enough to get across a whole room and turn the light switch manually, before the Robot would kick in. With ST is when it decides to start acting out and for some reason it just doesn't turn on or off.
I have automations for almost every scenario, and for the ones missing I use Alexa. If I have to touch a light switch, that's a big thumbs down for my system.

 

[peterskm]

Amazon announced two new Echos today as well. On my phone at work so can't paste a link, but they're called the Echo Dot and Echo Tap. You can only order the Dot if you currently own an Echo and I will order one tonight.

I do not currently have an echo and I was able to preorder the echo dot by simply using the Amazon app on my iphone. I searched for the echo dot and it was the firs returned item in the search. I swiped left to right on it and it was added to my cart.

 

[kirnmalidus]

Does anyone know if any of the Leviton occupancy sensors are compatible with a Wink hub? They aren't listed on the Wink website so I doubt it, but has anyone had any luck getting one working with Wink?

 

[RodolfoDLV]

Does anyone know if any of the Leviton occupancy sensors are compatible with a Wink hub? They aren't listed on the Wink website so I doubt it, but has anyone had any luck getting one working with Wink?

Those sensors are regular occupancy sensors. They use a PIR sensor to turn on and off the switch, but they do not have any connected protocol, i.e. Z-wave, Zigbee, Lutron ClearConnect, etc.
So no, they do not work with Wink.

 

[bozack]

Anyone have a Canary or Nest Cam and thoughts? Thanks

 

[MBSMD]

I have 4 NestCams. Good quality, reliable, flexible mounting options (including some 3rd party weatherproof options). I have 3 indoors and one outdoor. Works with Wink. Main drawback is the somewhat expensive cloud recording plans and no option for local recording instead.

 

[MjnMixael]

I have a Dropcam in one of those weatherproof mounts above my driveway since we have a 1 car garage.

I also have Canary. I like Canary and it's features, though it's integration with Wink leaves something to be desired... It gives Wink the ability to read/write its "armed" status. That's all. Wink does not have access to temp/humidity or other sensor data, nor does Wink have access to the camera.

 

[Termie]

From my point of view, the Wink app doesn't do much in terms of control for security products, particularly cameras, and I'm not sure it's ideal for thermostats either. Basically, anything more complicated than "on/off" is a bit too much for Wink to handle.

The only advantage of Wink integration for these is to perform some automation that the device itself can't do, such as turn on lights when x or y happens. I have found the native apps much, much more useful for actually controlling the security and thermostat products themselves.

 

[MBSMD]

From my point of view, the Wink app doesn't do much in terms of control for security products, particularly cameras, and I'm not sure it's ideal for thermostats either. Basically, anything more complicated than "on/off" is a bit too much for Wink to handle.

The only advantage of Wink integration for these is to perform some automation that the device itself can't do, such as turn on lights when x or y happens. I have found the native apps much, much more useful for actually controlling the security and thermostat products themselves.

Agreed.

 

[NewTron]

Is anyone else having trouble getting the wink shortcuts Channel to connect in IFTTT? I tried several times and it will not connect.

 

[NewTron]

Is anyone else having trouble getting the wink shortcuts Channel to connect in IFTTT? I tried several times and it will not connect.

SSL Cert updated...

Fixed.

 

[sporkster]

Seems like a convenient HA system to have around but has anyone gave it a try?

 

[MBSMD]

Seems like a convenient HA system to have around but has anyone gave it a try?

Has anyone given what a try?

 

[Termie]

Seems like a convenient HA system to have around but has anyone gave it a try?

Has anyone given what a try?

He's a new member, probably trying to get his minimum posts in to post in FS/FT.

I'd just leave his question alone...

 

[kirnmalidus]

I have a Dropcam in one of those weatherproof mounts above my driveway since we have a 1 car garage.

I also have Canary. I like Canary and it's features, though it's integration with Wink leaves something to be desired... It gives Wink the ability to read/write its "armed" status. That's all. Wink does not have access to temp/humidity or other sensor data, nor does Wink have access to the camera.

I use my Canary with my Wink hub, and has been mentioned the integrations are minimal. Wink is aware of changes in the Canary's state (Armed, with motion and camera active; Disarmed, which the camera available but not recording; and Privacy, where the camera is off and not available).

I have three Robots set up in Wink that detect changes to each of the Canary states. When the state changes Wink sends a notification to my phone letting me know what new state of the Canary is in. This is particularly helpful when leaving home, as you can be sure it arms and if you don't get the alert you can go arm it. It's also nice to know when the Canary is set to disarmed but the camera is available when I'm home and my wife isn't (so I can be aware that she has her watchful eye on me and won't catch me by surprise – for what it's worth she isn't aware these notifications are configured. Shhhhh…).

 

[MjnMixael]

Canary is also helpful because it has "family" accounts. Canary can be set to arm itself when all family members (with phones signed into a shared Canary account) leave the home. (And to disarm/privacy when at least one family member arrives home.)

This is useful with Wink to perform automation tasks such as "away" or "home"... like...

If Canary sets to "Armed", then turn off all lights. If Canary sets to "Privacy", then do a thing.

 

[Termie]

Canary is also helpful because it has "family" accounts. Canary can be set to arm itself when all family members (with phones signed into a shared Canary account) leave the home. (And to disarm/privacy when at least one family member arrives home.)

This is useful with Wink to perform automation tasks such as "away" or "home"... like...

If Canary sets to "Armed", then turn off all lights. If Canary sets to "Privacy", then do a thing.

What does Canary use to detect presence of individuals in the home? It is the GPS signal of the phone?

 

[MjnMixael]

Yes, it uses the phone's GPS location.

 

[MBSMD]

The latest update to the Nest app will also use phone location to turn on/off the "away" mode.

 

[byoung8]

Hello all,
I have an older home that the wall switch controls wall outlets and not the celing fan or ceiling light. Is there anything in the market to connect to the fan to then control it via wink? I'm having to go into my kids' rooms after they fall asleep to turn off the fan. I don't want to replace the fan, just looking to connect something to control it.

Thanks

 

[Termie]

Hello all,
I have an older home that the wall switch controls wall outlets and not the celing fan or ceiling light. Is there anything in the market to connect to the fan to then control it via wink? I'm having to go into my kids' rooms after they fall asleep to turn off the fan. I don't want to replace the fan, just looking to connect something to control it.

Thanks

Absolutely. You're talking about a switched outlet.

And there are two options you can use:

(1) Leviton's plug-in appliance module, which sounds like what you're asking for: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-...ith-LED-Locator-White-R02-DZPA1-1LW/205299188

(2) A better, but hard to install solution, is Leviton's wall switch: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-...te-Ivory-Light-Almond-R02-DZS15-1LZ/205298583

Both are Wink and SmartThings compatible. The reason the wall switch is superior for you is that you can still control the fan from the wall. If you use the plug-in module, it will cut power to the fan from the app, and then your wall switch will become inoperable until you turn power back on from the app.

 

[byoung8]

Absolutely. You're talking about a switched outlet.

And there are two options you can use:

(1) Leviton's plug-in appliance module, which sounds like what you're asking for: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-...ith-LED-Locator-White-R02-DZPA1-1LW/205299188

(2) A better, but hard to install solution, is Leviton's wall switch: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-...te-Ivory-Light-Almond-R02-DZS15-1LZ/205298583

Both are Wink and SmartThings compatible. The reason the wall switch is superior for you is that you can still control the fan from the wall. If you use the plug-in module, it will cut power to the fan from the app, and then your wall switch will become inoperable until you turn power back on from the app.

We'll the plug would not work since it's a ceiling fan. I thought about it more with friends and since the fan is not wired to the wall switch, I may install a zwave wall switch and just not mount it to a wall and leave it in the ceiling. As long as wink can control it, that's my ultimate goal. I'm hoping the switch still allows for manual control just in case.

 

[Termie]

We'll the plug would not work since it's a ceiling fan. I thought about it more with friends and since the fan is not wired to the wall switch, I may install a zwave wall switch and just not mount it to a wall and leave it in the ceiling. As long as wink can control it, that's my ultimate goal. I'm hoping the switch still allows for manual control just in case.

Are you talking about more than on/off, as in a dial/slider for changing fan speeds? If so, that might be tricky. I haven't seen a product like that (there are dimmers for lights, but that isn't appropriate for a fan).

 

[byoung8]

Are you talking about more than on/off, as in a dial/slider for changing fan speeds? If so, that might be tricky. I haven't seen a product like that (there are dimmers for lights, but that isn't appropriate for a fan).

No, I'm trying to he as simple as possible since the ceiling fan and light are controlled only by the pull cords. My thinking would be to wire it to wall switch that wink can control the on/off and leave it up in the ceiling or above the fan blades. I'll keep the fan in the lowest speed and light off, then use wink to kill the power at a certain time in the middle of the night.

 

[RossMAN]

Samsung SmartThings Hub (2nd Gen) $79.20 after coupon, also available at Amazon.com

http://slickdeals.net/f/8613434-samsung-smartthings-hub-2nd-gen-79-20-or-less-free-shipping?v=1