I got mine yesterday. Install is easy but I've been an amateur electrician since I was 15. It supports Matter and is compatible with HomeKit, SmartThings, Alexa and Google Home. Adding it to HomeKit was easy and each outlet can be named and controlled individually. I bought this to eliminate the need for bulky automation plugs. Only downside is that the QR code for the outlet is on the fcover plate mount - the outlet comes with a 2 part cover plate. It can be removed to use in multi box installations. The QR code is replicated on the back of the direction booklet.

Updating my automations in HomeKit was easy, even easier doing so on my Mac.

Eve Energy is very Apple like with their packaging. Other than the plastic protection on the outlet, it's all paper.

Edit: For those that do electrical work, this Klein Tools Circuit Breaker Finder works really well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2024 09:45AM by macphanatic.

Sounds interesting. I have a bunch of worn out receptacles that are due to be replaced. I'm late to the home automation thing, but these sound like a good start. Thanks.

Here's the link if anyone else is interested.

[www.evehome.com]

---

Mr. Lahey: Why don't you get a life Rick? Why don't ya go to community college like Julian here. Hey, I got a good idea. You could teach, livin' in a car and growin' dope 101.

Ricky: Hehe. And you can teach how to get drunk, get fired from the police force, become a... lousy trailer park supervisor that sucks, hangs around with a @#$%&' idiot that doesn't wear a shirt, and looks like a dick but thinks he looks good... 101.

Are the lights on the front individual buttons? Can you control the outlets without an app?

I guess I don't see the advantage over a smart plug like this - [www.evehome.com] as there's usually only a couple of outlets you'd want with smart home functionality. The outlet is cheaper if you need two individually controlled outlets. You're paying a premium for Matter compatibility, but there might be benefits to that.

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Quote
mattkime
Are the lights on the front individual buttons? Can you control the outlets without an app?

I guess I don't see the advantage over a smart plug like this - [www.evehome.com] as there's usually only a couple of outlets you'd want with smart home functionality. The outlet is cheaper if you need two individually controlled outlets. You're paying a premium for Matter compatibility, but there might be benefits to that.

The lights are buttons. So, you don't need to use the app. Note that you can use the Eve app to control their devices. The left controls the top outlet, the right controls the bottom on.

The smart plug works well but sticks out a fair amount, then add the plug and it's even more. Eve should have put the outlet on the side of the smart plug.

If one is going to do home automation at this point, it would be dumb to buy devices that either aren't Matter compatible or Matter upgradeable. Matter will help make devices by different vendors interoperable and open up some interesting automation options.

Hopefully, Apple will add more scripting to HomeKit. It's pretty basic now. You can do "If Then" but only at a simple level. Example: I have a temperature sensor in the attic. I use it to turn on an attic exhaust fan at a set temperature. I had to create a second automation to turn it off when the temperature drops below another set point. I could have used a fan thermostat but that wouldn't allow me to turn the fan on at other times if I wanted to (open the attic access, turn the fan on to help draw warm air out). I haven't figured out how to use two sensor conditions to start an automation.

>it would be dumb to buy devices that either aren't Matter compatible or Matter upgradeable. Matter will help make devices by different vendors interoperable and open up some interesting automation options.

I think it just depends upon which ecosystem you want to be a part of. HomeKit offers rather simple integration and automation. On the other end there's HomeAssistant which can do anything but is always a bit more complicated than it needs to be but thats a pretty common trap in this space.

I've looked into Matter to see what it offers, and at the protocol level as best I can tell its an incremental improvement.

Anyway, I picked up my ZWave smart dimmers for $27 each and they've been solid performers.

---

Quote
mattkime
>it would be dumb to buy devices that either aren't Matter compatible or Matter upgradeable. Matter will help make devices by different vendors interoperable and open up some interesting automation options.

I think it just depends upon which ecosystem you want to be a part of. HomeKit offers rather simple integration and automation. On the other end there's HomeAssistant which can do anything but is always a bit more complicated than it needs to be but thats a pretty common trap in this space.

I've looked into Matter to see what it offers, and at the protocol level as best I can tell its an incremental improvement.

Anyway, I picked up my ZWave smart dimmers for $27 each and they've been solid performers.

The major players in home automation have adopted Matter, Apple, Smarthings, Alexa, Google Home, etc. You're not stuck using one brand or one automation system. In theory, if the device manufacturer ceases to exist, your Matter devices should continue to work. I don't see any benefit to not buying devices that support Matter.

Interesting, I have no automations triggered by temperature, so I didn’t know there’s not a second condition to revert the action.
With movement sensor or time of day, you can specify a duration.

I don’t mind two automations, but agree home.app is simple by itself.
However, on the 3rd step while creating an automation you can “Turn into a Shortcut”.
I haven’t used it, but looked around. You can have multiple conditions and more.
Any of the repeat or variable commands Look interesting.
You could, for example have the fan consider outside temperature as per weather.app before going further.

I made sure I had a solid WiFi/bluetooth network before jumping in, and all devices had to be HomeKit compatible to consider using them.
I’ll keep an open eye, but so far I haven’t seen anything about matter/thread that interests me.
Next device I get, if it has matter, well ok, but it’s not a dealbreaker to me.

Do the outlets “snap!” and scare the dog when they turn on/off, or did that go away with X10 outlets?

Meross smart plugs (like I have) work pretty well, except when they don’t, for no obvious reason. I’d love to have HomeKit compatible outlets/smartplugs/switches that weren’t so flaky



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2024 12:28PM by pdq.

Eve's products are excellent and I appreciate their focus on complete privacy. Good company!

Quote
rich in distress
Interesting, I have no automations triggered by temperature, so I didn’t know there’s not a second condition to revert the action.
With movement sensor or time of day, you can specify a duration.

I don’t mind two automations, but agree home.app is simple by itself.
However, on the 3rd step while creating an automation you can “Turn into a Shortcut”.
I haven’t used it, but looked around. You can have multiple conditions and more.
Any of the repeat or variable commands Look interesting.
You could, for example have the fan consider outside temperature as per weather.app before going further.

I made sure I had a solid WiFi/bluetooth network before jumping in, and all devices had to be HomeKit compatible to consider using them.
I’ll keep an open eye, but so far I haven’t seen anything about matter/thread that interests me.
Next device I get, if it has matter, well ok, but it’s not a dealbreaker to me.

I wanted to avoid devices that need WiFi. Many of them required 2.4G to work and it's not bad to add a few WiFi devices. However, I have 20+ switches, 4 bulbs, an outlet and 3 smart plugs. This would congest the WiFi network and probably create potential network security issues. These devices communicate independently of the wifi and connect to it via bridges such as my HomePod Minis.

Plus if I change my WiFi settings it has zero impact on these devices.

Quote
pdq
Do the outlets “snap!” and scare the dog when they turn on/off, or did that go away with X10 outlets?

Meross smart plugs (like I have) work pretty well, except when they don’t, for no obvious reason. I’d love to have HomeKit compatible outlets/smartplugs/switches that weren’t so flaky

There is faint click. Much quieter than the X-10 gear.

I had the Meross stuff to start. Just a few switches. Never again. This was the key reason that I decided to stop using WiFi based devices. Zigbee and Matter are much more reliable and stable. I haven't had issues with them not working.

Quote
Article Accelerator
Eve's products are excellent and I appreciate their focus on complete privacy. Good company!

And they don't require a proprietary hub unlike some of the other solutions. They do require a hub such as a HomePod mini, etc but not proprietary.

Can someone provide a link to some reading material about the advantages of these systems? So far, I see the utility of my networked thermostat and that's it. Lights can work on timers if needed. My dishwasher, washer, and dryer let me know when they are done, but I see zero value in that. I have nothing else (not media-related) networked.

Quote
dk62
Can someone provide a link to some reading material about the advantages of these systems? So far, I see the utility of my networked thermostat and that's it. Lights can work on timers if needed. My dishwasher, washer, and dryer let me know when they are done, but I see zero value in that. I have nothing else (not media-related) networked.

I don't have any references that would be of use to you. I've had home automation going back to the X-10 days. This was mostly for controlling lights. I traveled for work a lot and wanted it to look like my house was lived in. While one can use timers to accomplish this, home automation makes it easier and more flexible. I can control any light, whether plugged in or switch operated. I don't have to adjust multiple timers as this is handled by the network. One can create various scenes. These can be turning devices on or off, adjusting house set temperature, opening/closing shades, etc. Turning lights on when doors open, etc. Plus I can monitor the status of everything wherever I am.

Some of my automations include:
- Turning a few outside lights and a table lamp on at sundown.
- Turning the outside lights off at 11PM
- Turning the outside lights on if I'm returning home after 11PM
- Turning an inside light on if I open an exterior door after 11PM
- Turning various lights off after being on for a certain time period (I have an issue with certain people forgetting to turn lights off)
- Turning a fan on if a set temperature is reached.

This is another area in which I'm a lightweight.

I have some Hue Lights and sensors, some Kasa switches, and a Meross light switch in the bathroom.

The Meross is cheap kit, and I don't like it much, especially the mechanical, plastic-y click it makes when manually pressing it.

Other than an older mechanical fan, lights are the only thing I control, though I should get around to doing the thermostat.

I do use a switch to power cycle my DSL modem.

And I have neither created or used a 'scene' for my lighting.

Right now, the only thing I'd like to do with home automation is upgrade my 800lm bulbs to 100W equivalence.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Quote
macphanatic
The major players in home automation have adopted Matter, Apple, Smarthings, Alexa, Google Home, etc. You're not stuck using one brand or one automation system. In theory, if the device manufacturer ceases to exist, your Matter devices should continue to work. I don't see any benefit to not buying devices that support Matter.

Those things are also true of Zigbee and ZWave. Well, maybe not for all the specific companies you mentioned but there's no vendor lock in. Zigbee has wider support since its cheaper but it also runs on the 2.4Ghz band. ZWave runs on 800Mhz which travels a bit further.

Matter is a higher layer that runs on top of another networking standard - wifi, bluetooth, or Thread, which is very similar to Zigbee. Thats its main advantage, it can support different wireless connections.

Whether Matter can make good on its ease of use promises remains to be seen - sometimes poor implementations can cause a lot of frustration.

Quote
dk62
Can someone provide a link to some reading material about the advantages of these systems? So far, I see the utility of my networked thermostat and that's it. Lights can work on timers if needed. My dishwasher, washer, and dryer let me know when they are done, but I see zero value in that. I have nothing else (not media-related) networked.

If you don't have a need, then you don't have a need. I primarily use mine for controlling doors. I set up a system to notify me if a basement freezer is left open. I should create a script that turns off lights. Might set up something so that lamps powered by always on outlets can be controlled by smart light switches.

---

Quote
macphanatic
Edit: For those that do electrical work, this Klein Tools Circuit Breaker Finder works really well.

I just make my own:

I just make my own


POMTL!

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Quote
macphanatic
I wanted to avoid devices that need WiFi. Many of them required 2.4G to work and it's not bad to add a few WiFi devices. However, I have 20+ switches, 4 bulbs, an outlet and 3 smart plugs. This would congest the WiFi network and probably create potential network security issues. These devices communicate independently of the wifi and connect to it via bridges such as my HomePod Minis.

Plus if I change my WiFi settings it has zero impact on these devices.

This was the key reason that I decided to stop using WiFi based devices. Zigbee and Matter are much more reliable and stable.

Are you using your Eve Energy Outlets with Matter over WiFi or Matter over Thread?


For Thread, you need a Thread border router such as a HomePod or AppleTV 4k.

I agree with avoiding WiFi for smart devices, as my home WiFi 2.4 GHz channel is congested with over 50 devices. Thus far, I only have a Schlage Sense smart lock using Thread. I do need to replace some older smart plugs with Matter over Thread.

The other advantage Matter provides is the ability to use either Siri or Alex to control a device. Makes for a much happier wife.

… devices communicate independently of the wifi and connect to it via bridges such as my HomePod…

Agree, that’s the way to go, and it could be accomplished with thread. It’s a great idea, but it’s been an option with HomeKit for a long time.
I have 6 bridges (hpx2, hpmx2, atvx2) and WiFi is for their communication. Switches, sensors, etc. work the Bluetooth.
Exceptions are eve strip and the circle camera.

My automations are lock on/off when leaving/arriving.
Lamp on right before sunset. Strip as decoration at night.
Lights on based on occupancy or movement. Some turn off, some don’t depending on time of day.
The camera IDs known ppl, processed inHouse, and badges me up.
And I have a scene that sets an ambient lamp at a certain color/intensity, and a HomePod with ambient sounds @25%.

Quote
dk62
Can someone provide a link to some reading material about the advantages of these systems? So far, I see the utility of my networked thermostat and that's it. Lights can work on timers if needed. My dishwasher, washer, and dryer let me know when they are done, but I see zero value in that. I have nothing else (not media-related) networked.

I don't have any references that would be of use to you. I've had home automation going back to the X-10 days. This was mostly for controlling lights. I traveled for work a lot and wanted it to look like my house was lived in. While one can use timers to accomplish this, home automation makes it easier and more flexible. I can control any light, whether plugged in or switch operated. I don't have to adjust multiple timers as this is handled by the network. One can create various scenes. These can be turning devices on or off, adjusting house set temperature, opening/closing shades, etc. Turning lights on when doors open, etc. Plus I can monitor the status of everything wherever I am.

Some of my automations include:
- Turning a few outside lights and a table lamp on at sundown.
- Turning the outside lights off at 11PM
- Turning the outside lights on if I'm returning home after 11PM
- Turning an inside light on if I open an exterior door after 11PM
- Turning various lights off after being on for a certain time period (I have an issue with certain people forgetting to turn lights off)
- Turning a fan on if a set temperature is reached.