Home Automation

Sylvania LED Ecolight Water Powered Shower Light

Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation / By /

Feeling green while you’re in the shower? Hopefully it’s not because you’re dirty, and you just like helping the planet out. If you’re an environmental freak like some of my friends are, then this wireless and energy-efficient shower light is just the thing for you.

Made by Sylvania, the shower light is powered solely by water. Of course, that’s probably a good thing considering lots of electricity from your home outlet and water usually don’t mix together too well – something will usually end up burnt!

The cool thing about this shower light is that the light color will change depending on the temperature of the water. That way you won’t ever get the shivers if the water is too cold, or hop out of the shower screaming because it was burning hot. Intuitively, a red light means hot, and blue means cold.

Additionally, there is an on and off switch for the light if you don’t care for it. It appears to be a pretty easy install, with many reporting it taking only a few minutes.

Stats:

  • 85 psi maximum water pressure
  • Blue scale for temperatures less than 78.8 degrees
  • Red scale for temperatures more than 105.8 degrees

Buy now!

Price: $39.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Bedol water-powered clock

Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation, Miscellaneous / By /

Ditch batteries altogether, and run this digital clock on water. Yup, water (and some lemon juice). This green-friendly clock uses its built-in electrodes to sip whatever power it needs from the acidic water.

Just one caveat – you need to change the water every 5-7 weeks. Seems like a small price to save landfills from batteries. Comes in 4 different colors.

Wicked cool. I’d just like it to include an alarm clock, but I’m guessing the power requirements for that are too high for mere lemon water to meet.

Buy now!
More info from the manufacturer

Price: $19.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Google’s PowerMeter lets consumers tap into their power usage

Home Automation, Miscellaneous, Networking & Internet / By /

Google is currently testing a software tool dubbed the PowerMeter than can tap into the stats that ‘smart’ power meters monitor. It isn’t meant for the power companies so much as it is meant to enable consumers to monitor and shepherd their own usage. Currently, there are over 40 million US homes scheduled to get smart meters in the next 3 years. FAQ.

Here’s a screenshot of what the tool may look like:

What’s in it for Google? Well, it is being run out of their philanthropic arm, so they can argue that it is in the best interest of both consumers and the environment, but there can certainly be more. Robert Cringley believe it’s a precursor to Google becoming your ISP via the power line. Yes, networking over power lines. I think he may very well be right.

Powered TV Mount – Programmable & Remote Controlled

Audio/Video, Home Theater, Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation / By /

The T2 powered TV mount is not only programmable and has a remote control but will automatically tilt to your desired angle when you turn your TV on. It can tilt from 0° to 13° downward, fits most flat panel TVs from 40″ to 60″ weighing up to 150 lbs.

If your TV is mounted higher than eye level, then you’ll need to have it tilt downwards to reduce the glare and reflection, especially if you’re reclined while watching TV. And when the TV is turned off, it retracts and tilts back to just 3.3″ away from the way.

Buy now!

Price: $249.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

#CES09: Powermat says wireless charging mats are close

Books, Music and Movies, Cameras and Photo, CES, GPS, Home Automation, Phones, Portable / By /

Powermat has a wireless charging solution that uses, you guessed it, a mat that you just place your gadgets on, and voila!, they’re charged up. It uses magnetic induction just like many of the other (promised) solutions. They have a wide range of products ranging from the small, folding to the large desktop variety. Apart from the added price, the only 2 drawbacks that I can see is the limited number of devices that they support, and that you need some kind of device adapter and/or support pre-built-in.

Devices: iPod, iPhone, Blackberry, Razr, GPS unit, handheld game, laptop computer. Not yet available, but expect $100 mats and $30 chargers.

Unlock Your Doors Remotely via INSTEON

Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation / By /

Turning lights on and off are just a fraction of what you can do with your home automation system. I/O Linc’s INSTEON Remote Control Door Strike Kit actually allow you to allow entry or exit by locking or unlocking doors at a press of a button, even remotely from work.

The electric door strike is hardwired to the delay timer/relay and both are powered by a power supply. The delay timer/relay is then connected to the output of the included I/O Linc – INSTEON Low Voltage / Contact Closure Interface (1 In / 1 Out), which simply plugs into an available outlet. When I/O Linc receives a signal from any linked INSTEON device, the built-in programmable relay can keep a door or gate open for up 25 seconds before automatically locking. By using the delay/timer relay, you gain the added flexibility of keeping a door or gate unlocked for up to 60 minutes. This kit gives you the control to regulate access to and from your property.

Suggested Price: $137.99

Buy Now!

INSTEON Garage Door Control

Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation / By /

Do you accidentally leave your garage door open when you leave the house or do you hit the garage door button in your car and take off only to come home hours later to find the door open due to an issue with the garage door? Besides letting the elements into your garage, security for items in your garage and your whole home are at risk when this happens.

Finally a home automation garage door sensor an operator is available for INSTEON. There have been X10 products that you could use with your DIY home automation system, but now you can enhance your true INSTEON network using the I/O Linc – INSTEON Garage Door Control and Status Kit.

The included garage door sensor mounts to the garage door and is wired directly to I/O Linc’s sensor input. When the garage door is open, the garage door sensor triggers I/O Linc to send a signal that will turn on an INSTEON controlled light and/or report its status, for example, to KeypadLinc status LED’s or PC software. Additionally, I/O Linc’s output relay wires to your garage door motor just like your existing button, allowing you to remotely operate your garage from any INSTEON controller.

Suggested Price: $79.95

Buy Now!

Holiday Gift Ideas 2008: Smarthome’s Gift Ideas

Gizmo of the Day, Holidays, Home Automation / By /

Smarthome has a nicely organized set of gift ideas for you. Before you dismiss Smarthome as just a store for home automation goodies, think again. They have thousands of very useful gadgets for not just your home, but your pets, traveling, the garden, and for your very own personal comfort. One nice thing about Smarthome is that they personally test products before they include it for sale on their site – we know, we’ve actually seen them in action!

Order quickly (and enough!) and you’ll get free shipping, as well as discounts starting at $15 up to $60 off your total order.

Some Cyber Monday Deals & Discounts

1 Comment / Audio/Video, Home Theater, Books, Music and Movies, Cameras and Photo, Computers, Gaming & Toys, Gizmo of the Day, GPS, Holidays, Home Automation, Miscellaneous, Networking & Internet, Phones, Portable, Software, Sports, Health & Fitness, Outdoors, Tools, DIY, Home, Office / By /

Bored at work? Still haven’t found that great deal despite 3 days of mega-discounts? Here’s a chance to check out still more discounts & deals, this time with Cyber-Monday offers:

Best Buy
Cyber Monday 2-Day Sale: Sunday and Monday, Online Only! Valid 11/30-12/1

Buy.com
Cyber Monday deals

Dell
Take advantage of Cyber Monday deals from Dell Home!

Hammacher Schlemmer
Find great deals on quality items at the Hammacher Schlemmer Special Values Sale.

Newegg
Cyber Monday-Mega Monday Madness 2008 at Newegg.com, expires 12/1

Staples
Staples® Cyber Monday Madness! Hot deals on GPS, Monitors, Printers, TVs and more! One day only, ends 12/1.

Sony
Cyber Monday Special: Save $200 on Sony VAIO® CS series Notebooks w/code: CYBERMONDAYVAIOCS. Starting at $664.99. Ends Dec.1.

MacMall
3 Day Apple Black Friday Sale Apple prices SLASHED! Up to $1094 in Savings! from 11/29 to 12/01 only

Geeks.com
Get the daily deals you want at the price you want at Geeks.com.

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