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David Mello

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 — six 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

9 articles

How to Replace the Flume 2 Battery (Step-by-Step with Video)

How to Replace the Flume 2 Battery (Step-by-Step with Video)

Flume water monitor battery replacement, step by step with video: remove the sensor, swap the battery pack, reseal it, and recalibrate in the Flume app.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Review: 6 Years of Real-World Use

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Review: 6 Years of Real-World Use

A 6-year hands-on Ecobee 3 review from a Florida homeowner — occupancy detection, remote sensors, humidity control, and whether the cost is worth it after years of real use.
Reviewing SwitchBot door contact and motion sensor home automation

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.
Oupes 600w Portable Power Station Generator Review

Oupes 600w Portable Power Station Generator Review

I've been researching battery-powered power stations or generators as hurricane-season approaches and this review goes over the features of the Oupes 600w, 595wh, inverter power versus similar models from Jackery and GoalZero.
Flume 2 Water Monitor Review: 5 Years of Leak Detection

Flume 2 Water Monitor Review: 5 Years of Leak Detection

Five years with the Flume 2 water monitor: real leak alerts, a slab leak it missed, battery and corrosion issues, and what the newer Flume F2X fixes.
Using SwitchBot to install a smart switch without a neutral

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

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.
Teckin SS31 wifi smart plug installation with Alexa

Teckin SS31 wifi smart plug installation with Alexa

If you are looking to upgrade your photocell timer plug to a smart outdoor plug this Teckin smart plug review is for you.
Yale smart door lock installation review

Yale smart door lock installation review

The Yale smart lock I installed and reviewed a year ago is still the best smart door lock in 2020 in my opinion. See why as I cover installation and operation with Alexa in my post.