Sensors & Devices
Honest reviews and setup guides for smart home sensors and IoT devices. These articles go beyond spec sheets — covering real installation challenges, app reliability, and long-term value. Most reviews include a video walkthrough.
Devices and topics covered:
- Ecobee thermostat — two years of hands-on use and energy savings
- Flume 2 WiFi water meter — leak detection and usage monitoring
- SwitchBot smart switch — no-neutral wiring solution and door/motion sensors
- Yale smart door lock — installation and smart home integration
- Teckin outdoor smart plug — weatherproofing and scheduling
- OUPES portable power station — compared against Jackery for home backup
8 articles
Reviewing SwitchBot door contact and motion sensor home automation
In this review I'll use SwitchBot door contact and motion sensors to setup smart home automation routines using Amazon Alexa and the SwitchBot app to turn on lights when I open the door or shut lights off when occupancy isn't detected in the room.
Testing the Flume 2 for wifi water monitoring and leak detection
The Flume 2 provides wifi whole-house water monitoring without requiring cutting plumbing or external power allowing you to see check water usage and get notified of leaks in near real time. Learn about how to install the Flume and my impressions after 3 months.
Using SwitchBot to install a smart switch without a neutral
Renters who can't replace their switches or homeowners without neutral wires needed for smart switches have trouble installing smart switches in their homes. Switchbot makes a unique product that allows you to convert your dumb switches into smart switches.
Review of Crenova's XPE660 1080P HD LED projector
Crenova recently released a 1080p (upscaled from 1280x800) projector which makes a great companion for projecting streamed content from smart devices like an Amazon FireTV stick. In budget projectors brightness and sharpness are usually sacrificed. Let's see how it holds up in this review.
