TJ Huddleston with Smart Lighting, Garden Irrigation and His Home Automation Journey – HGG620
T.J. Huddleston from HomeTech.fm returns to discuss his latest home automation projects. He shares insights on adaptive lighting systems that enhance comfort and energy efficiency and explores smart irrigation techniques using the Aquaflower device. T.J. highlights the importance of outdoor automation, including smart outdoor fans, and addresses ongoing electrical upgrades with Emporia Energy for monitoring electricity use. He also teases future episodes focused on home theater technology and shares DIY projects that balance ambiance and security. This engaging conversation offers practical advice for homeowners looking to elevate their smart living experiences. Thanks for listening!
Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg620
Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #620 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.
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Show Segments
[0:00] Welcome to Home Gadget Geeks
[3:04] T.J. Joins the Conversation
[4:59] Home Automation: First Year Experience
[6:47] Benefits of Smart Lighting
[9:50] Choosing the Right Smart Lighting Brand
[10:40] Smart Bulbs vs. Switches
[11:59] Wiring Challenges in Older Homes
[17:02] Expanding Home Automation Beyond Lighting
[20:10] Innovative Garden Irrigation Solutions
[29:29] Exploring Robot Lawn Mowers
[32:37] The Debate on Grass Maintenance
[40:09] Upgrading Electrical Systems in Old Houses
[44:48] Energy Monitoring Innovations
[45:48] Water Usage Management
[50:48] Home Infrastructure Upgrades
[53:03] Outdoor Lighting Solutions
[55:58] Enhancing Outdoor Spaces
[1:00:59] Smart Home Automation Challenges
[1:08:16] Wi-Fi Connectivity for Outdoor Areas
[1:20:23] Home Automation Experiences
[1:23:53] Upcoming Podcast Highlights
The following products were discussed during the conversation:
1. Aqua Flower – An irrigation controller that splits a hose into 6 different watering zones.
2. Emporia Energy – A device that monitors power usage at the electrical panel level.
3. Flume – A device that wraps around the water meter to detect and monitor water usage.
4. Segway Navimow – A robot lawn mower.
5. Smart water softeners with usage data.
6. Automatic water shut-off valves.
More from Chat GPT
In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, we welcome back T.J. Huddleston from HomeTech.fm to discuss the latest in home automation and smart technology. T.J. shares insights from his journey into home automation since we last connected, focusing on lighting control, irrigation solutions, and the transformative impact of automated systems on everyday living.
We begin by touching on the unpredictable Midwest weather, which has influenced a series of topics leading to discussions on power outages and backup generators. T.J. reflects on his home automation projects, highlighting significant upgrades like adaptive lighting that adjusts color temperature and brightness throughout the day. This integration has transformed his living environment by mirroring natural light patterns, ultimately enhancing comfort and energy efficiency.
Moving beyond lighting, T.J. dives into his experience with smart irrigation systems. He explains how he has automated his raised garden beds to optimize watering schedules. Featured is the innovative Aquaflower device, allowing for greater control and efficiency, reducing water waste while ensuring his plants thrive. T.J. emphasizes the importance of addressing outdoor lighting and automation as well, sharing his experience with outdoor fans controlled via smart technology that ramps up to provide comfort on hot summer days.
In terms of infrastructure improvements, T.J. talks about his ongoing electrical upgrades in his home, navigating the challenges of outdated wiring while ensuring each space is equipped with the necessary power and safety features. He touches on his use of Emporia Energy, a home energy monitoring solution that enables him to keep a pulse on his electricity use and identify potential savings.
The conversation progresses into the realm of home entertainment with home theater discussions planned for future episodes of HomeTech.fm, where T.J. alludes to interviews with industry experts. He teases upcoming guests and topics, specifically around making the most of home theaters and home assistant technologies.
As we near the end of our discussion, T.J. shares insights into his DIY projects around the house, including hardwired LED lights installed on his new fence, designed for ambiance as well as security. He discusses the balance of using RGB lighting to enhance entertaining spaces while noting the practicality of using standard white lighting for everyday utility.
Throughout the episode, T.J. reinforces the importance of thoughtful planning and execution when implementing home automation systems, offering practical advice for homeowners looking to enhance their living spaces with smart technology. This detailed and engaging discussion highlights many facets of modern home gadgetry, encouraging listeners to consider their own journeys into automation.
In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I had the pleasure of welcoming back TJ Huddleston from Hometech.fm. We kicked off the show discussing the unpredictable Midwest weather and how it has been affecting our tech setups, especially with the recent thunderstorms in Bellevue, Nebraska.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Smart Lighting and Home Automation:
- TJ shared his experiences with smart lighting, emphasizing the benefits of using both smart bulbs and smart switches. He highlighted the importance of maintaining physical control for guests and family members who might not be familiar with smart home setups.
- We delved into the specifics of adaptive lighting using Home Assistant, which adjusts the color temperature and brightness throughout the day to mimic natural sunlight.
- Home Automation Projects:
- TJ talked about his recent home automation projects, including the installation of smart switches and bulbs throughout his new house. He also shared insights on the best brands for smart lighting, recommending Lutron for simplicity and reliability, and Inovelli and Zooz for more tech-savvy users.
- Automated Garden Irrigation:
- One of the standout projects TJ discussed was his automated garden irrigation system. He introduced the Aqua Flower, a device that allows for precise watering of different garden zones using a standard hose. This innovation is particularly useful for those without a traditional irrigation system.
- Robot Lawn Mowers:
- TJ shared his experience with the Segway Navimo robot lawn mower, which he purchased to reduce the time spent on lawn maintenance. Despite the ongoing drought, he found the mower to be a valuable addition to his home automation arsenal.
- Challenges with Older Homes:
- We also touched on the challenges of upgrading older homes with modern tech. TJ has been rewiring his 1959 house to accommodate new electrical demands, including upgrading to a 200-amp service to future-proof his home for potential electric vehicle charging.
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Popular Tags: Podcast, Home Gadget Geeks, Jim Collison, TJ Huddleston, HomeTech.fm, home automation, adaptive lighting, energy efficiency, smart irrigation, Aquaflower, outdoor automation, Emporia Energy, home theater technology, DIY projects, smart living experiences
