| A difference of values? Mine is convenience/cost. I suspect yours is "always works" (possibly a bad guess let me know what your top property is). I've used smart switches to join otherwise disconnected electrical lines without rewiring my house. Compare two fans I replaced with a combo fan and light:
One is WiFi controlled, other is a remote. I didn't want to run another electrical line and expand the box. Disconnecting the wall switch "always on" was optional. The remote takes over both to allow fan or light. There are 5 switches controlling my main living space. Only the fan is "smart". These switches are not co-located. With a remote: We rarely use the light or fan.
With a WiFi (in main bedroom) the light is used daily. Fan can be turned off from the wall, but not on (by choice). Fan also shuts off on schedule. Ignoring fan costs:
Two smart switches cost $25. Can be done in under an half an hour in main living space. Compare running a new wire:
25ft wire ~$20
New Box: $5
New switch: $17
I need to crawl into attic, move insulation. Also run the wire through the wall. Is it required? No. Does it make the system more usable? Spouse doesn't know/care. "It just works" When it doesn't: it's two steps.
If you're already doing this: the extra step is nothing lost. Here's some questions I ask myself: For $25 what annoyance can I fix this month? And I try to just do it. Do I have an hour? Can I do it now? What does this cost over time? This is not of a gamble (I spent much longer than I'd like to admit writing this post). |
I know my time is extremely limited and while automating things like this might be a fun project I rather spend my time sitting in a park and looking at the trees. But this attitude also leads to living with unnecessary annoyances for a prolonged time sometimes