Retrofit your smart home

What exactly makes a home a smart home? How do you combine comfortable living with smart technology? And can you do it anytime, anywhere?

Smart home technology is becoming increasingly popular. A home that makes life a little easier thanks to smart automation is an absolute dream for many people – because daily routines can be easily controlled via an app or voice assistant. This frees up valuable time and resources for relaxation.

Not everyone is building a new home or living in a brand-new, luxurious apartment. But any home, even an older one, can be retrofitted with minimal effort and thus enjoy smart home technology without having to tear down walls or lay endless cables.

Smart home devices – built-in or radio-controlled?

The first question that arises: built-in technology or external technology? A major advantage of the wired solution is the energy savings it offers in the long run. Furthermore, wired smart home devices are usually more durable and can significantly increase the value of a home. A home with an installed security system and smart temperature control is significantly more attractive to potential buyers. On the downside, however, is the effort involved in this solution. Installing the necessary cables requires at least some wall and plaster work, and often floor and tiling work as well. Furthermore, built-in systems are not as flexible; updates and expansions therefore require both design and financial effort.

Wireless smart home solutions are significantly more flexible. They're generally more cost-effective and easy for most people to install themselves. They're also independent of the building's structural conditions—this is especially interesting for those who rent and/or live in older buildings. After all, you can't just start tearing down walls to install new wiring. DIY systems also have the advantage of allowing you to start small and expand the devices as needed.

For example, you can start with a few smart light bulbs , get used to automations, scenes, and rules, and then gradually add more components to your home according to your taste and daily needs. However, it's important to make sure that all devices "understand each other"—meaning they can be linked and controlled via an app or voice assistant .

It's also important for all smart devices to have a reliable connection. In most cases, a Wi-Fi network already exists in the home, through which the new technology can communicate. For older buildings with very narrow corners or very thick walls, which can lead to connection problems, a signal repeater is a good option to ensure smooth operation.

Smart home technology: What happens in the event of a power outage?

Like any electrical system, a smart home system depends on a reliable power supply. It's always advisable to research how the respective devices react to a power or Wi-Fi loss before purchasing. Does the alarm system have LTE control? Are there integrated batteries that can step in and take over power in case of a power outage? Does the device save your settings so it's fully operational again after a power outage? A smart front door lock should always be operable with a regular key – a Swedish company has done this in a particularly humorous way in its commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgJLpuprQp8&list=PLO7N2eeu-GVk8KjDs_9SduI9GZub4HyeD

Upgrading your smart home – where do I start?

With the first steps, you can decide to what extent a smart home suits you. For example, secure doors and windows, try out routines for your lighting, or have your robot vacuum do its rounds to make your everyday life easier. In a second step, you can combine all of this: Turn on the lights when your motion detector is triggered, arm the alarm, and turn on the camera when you leave the house – depending on what suits you and your lifestyle. Smart lighting, security technology, and household assistants work hand in hand. You can also find clever tips for planning your smart home in the blog articles " Smart Home Planning " and " Typical Mistakes in a Smart Home ."

Conclusion

Whether permanently installed or wirelessly controlled and flexible, smart home technology can be a real game changer. With Chuango's smart DIY devices , it's easy to retrofit even older buildings or small apartments with smart technology without having to rely on specialists. For example, you can connect up to 50 additional devices to each alarm hub, creating your very own smart network – cleverly controlled via an app or Alexa & Co.

Our Alarm Hubs —the system's control centers—are quick to set up and wall-mounted. Accessories such as door and window sensors, motion detectors, or LED bulbs can be easily connected via the accompanying app.

And it doesn't always have to be a large orchestra: many devices, such as our smart lighting and surveillance camera, can be controlled without a gateway.

It can be so easy to turn OLD into NEW!

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