Smart Home Devices and Models I Actually Use

I never planned to replace every appliance when building a smart home. I kept the existing lights and changed the switches, added a communication module to the door lock, and connected an ordinary USB fan through a smart plug.

As the number of devices grew, I wanted one place to record what I use and why I chose it. Where I have not confirmed the exact model or variant, I have said so rather than guessing.

See the connection overview on ONSEMO HOME →

Devices at a glance

The standard switch and plug links below are reference product pages, not independently confirmed variants. I have not independently confirmed the precise variant or number of gangs installed in every location.

SmartThings Station

I use SmartThings Station (EP-P9500TBEGKR) as the central hub. I disliked the idea of collecting a different app and hub for each device, so I tried to bring compatible Zigbee switches, buttons and plugs into SmartThings where possible.

Official Samsung product page · How my smart home started

Door-lock Zigbee module and smart buttons

I used an SHP-DADT301/CN Zigbee module with the existing door lock and connected it to SmartThings, making remote unlocking possible.

A smart button beside the wall intercom lets me open the door after checking who is visiting. Another near the entrance turns off all lights with one press, turns on the living-room light with two presses, and starts the robot vacuum with a long press. I have not recorded the exact model of these buttons.

Door lock and wallpad story · Light switches and buttons

Standard and Premium AI light switches

The PowerManager smart switches I could find at first were white. I was not especially keen on their appearance, but they connected my existing lights to SmartThings, so I replaced most of the switches anyway.

When the Premium AI light switches came out later, I bought around two and installed them. They looked distinctly better on the wall than the original white switches and matched my Kiturami boiler controller nicely. I am now considering changing the remaining switches as well.

Standard switch reference PM-S150-ZB-S · Premium range · My switches and buttons

Kiturami NCTR-200 Wi-Fi boiler controller

I first looked into a Google Nest thermostat. I wanted to try it, but installing it with my existing boiler looked more complicated than expected. I looked for a controller I could replace relatively simply myself and settled on the Kiturami NCTR-200 Wi-Fi.

I linked the manufacturer's account to SmartThings. On the boiler I preset a cycle of around 20 minutes of heating followed by about three hours off. In SmartThings it was easier for me to switch between Away and Heating modes than to create separate on/off routines. In winter I often switch to Heating about 30 minutes before arriving home from a trip.

I would still like to try Google Nest someday if I get the opportunity.

Kiturami product page

PowerManager Zigbee smart plug and USB fan

The fan above my aquarium is an external computer USB cooling fan. The fan itself was not smart, but I used a Zigbee smart plug to control its power.

I initially searched for a Zigbee sensor that could read the aquarium's water temperature directly, but did not find one I liked. Instead, I used the air conditioner's indoor temperature available in SmartThings as a condition for switching the fan on.

Smart plug reference B540-ZB-S · The aquarium cooler story

ThingsOne MPP03 open/close sensor

I bought the ThingsOne MPP03 open/close sensor to track the interior door near our entrance. After connecting it to SmartThings, I found that its interface showed not just whether the door was open, but also temperature, three-axis movement and vibration. That led me to consider other places where the sensor might be useful.

Because someone in the family sometimes left the door partly open, I wondered whether an alert could help. I also tried using vibration to detect when the door moved. It proved unreliable: opening the door did not always trigger the vibration sensor, while an accidental knock sometimes did. I eventually stopped using that approach.

Samsung's MPP03 product page · My entry-and-exit automation experiments

ThingsOne MTP03 motion sensor: now used for a drawer notification

I also placed ThingsOne MTP03 motion sensors near the front door and inner entryway door to distinguish coming home from leaving. Combining movement and door events sounded promising, but it was hard to identify the family's real movements reliably.

One of those sensors now sits inside a drawer. When it senses movement, SmartThings sends a notification saying “The drawer was opened.” It is not directly measuring the drawer's open/closed state; it uses movement as a proxy. The sensor is a ThingsOne MTP03. It also supports temperature readings, although I have only described how I used its motion events here.

Samsung MTP03 product page · Using the MTP03 and MPP03 sensors

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Stories behind the devices

I have also written about connecting the Zigbee door-lock module and wall intercom, smart switches and entry/exit automation, and using a smart plug to control an aquarium fan.

I have written a follow-up story about the ThingsOne MPP03's vibration and three-axis readings, and how I reused a motion sensor.

I will add to this record as I install or replace equipment.

Overview — ONSEMO HOME · Six-part smart-home story series

Read the stories from using these devices →