News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:The smart home is flailing as a concept by headPoet on Friday August 06, 2021 @09:42AM (#28087018)
My local hardware store has a fairly large range of smart light switches. I had no idea they existed until now.

But the cost and difficulty of installation must drastically reduce their appeal. Sure they're not hard to install, but it's probably best not to encourage DIY electrical work.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/tcp-1-gang-1-way-smart-light-swit...

Re:The smart home is flailing as a concept by germinalphrase on Friday August 06, 2021 @10:59AM (#28088057)
I would actually like someone knowledgable to chime in if possible: what is the actual risk here on a standard 110 switch? I’ve changed a bunch of switches (and even zapped myself a bit) without ever having the slightest of issues.
Re:The smart home is flailing as a concept by handrous on Friday August 06, 2021 @11:50AM (#28088832)
I'd class swapping outlets, switches, and light fixtures, as among the kinds of home-repair stuff you have to know & do unless you're rich enough to never personally do work on your house. Like replacing a faucet, a leaky branch water shut-off valve, or the tank-innards of a toilet.
Re:The smart home is flailing as a concept by JKCalhoun on Friday August 06, 2021 @11:29AM (#28088500)
I can only add that I've been doing my own electrical work for over a decade now and have been successful.

Haven't been zapped either (I'm extremely careful about that, not so much when I was young).

To be sure though I have stopped at the point where a new circuit/breaker would need to be added to the panel, new wiring run. Although I do understand in theory how it is done, how to select the right gauge wire for the circuit, staying within the current limits of the panel....