Smart Home

This section explains the core concepts behind modern smart homes — from sensors and wireless protocols to platforms like Home Assistant and MQTT. If you’re new to smart home tech, or want to properly understand how everything fits together before building, this is the right place to begin.

  • How does a PIR sensor work?

    A Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors is specifically designed to detect changes in infrared radiation within their field of view. Passive infrared radiation can be emitted from certain objects or warm-blooded creatures such as humans and pets.

  • What is Home Assistant?

    Home Assistant is free software that helps you control various aspects of your home, such as your lights, thermostat, and security system, all in one place. It is essentially a smart home hub that can help you automate routine tasks and make your home more efficient and convenient to live in.

  • What is MQTT?

    MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a messaging protocol that allows smart home devices to communicate with each other efficiently. It uses a publish–subscribe model, where devices send messages to specific topics, and other devices listen (subscribe) to those topics to receive updates.

  • What is Zigbee?

    Zigbee is a wireless communication protocol specifically designed for low-power and low-bandwidth applications. It is commonly used in smart home technology to connect devices and enable them to communicate with each other.

  • How many Shelly’s do I need for a 2/3/4 gang switch?

    So you're considering using Shelly's to control your lights, but how many Shelly's do you need?

  • What’s the difference between Leading and Trailing Edge Dimmers?

    Dimmable lights can be a great way of controlling the atmosphere within a room, but how do you know if you need a Leading Edge or Trailing Edge Dimmer? What's the difference?

  • What Are The Different Types of Light Switches?

    On the surface a switch can just look like any other switch, but in reality there are plenty of different types of switches that can be used in different applications. Let’s take a look at some of the more common types of light switches

  • Shelly 1 vs Shelly 1L – How To Choose The Right Model

    Struggling to decide if you need a Shelly 1 or Shelly 1L? Let us help you understand the difference!

  • Do I need a Shelly Bypass?

    The Shelly Bypass is specifically designed for using a Shelly 1L and Shelly Dimmer 2 on a lighting circuit to control lights. The Shelly 1L is a standard smart lighting relay, whereas the Shelly Dimmer 2 is a smart lighting relay with dimming capabilities. Any smart light switch needs to draw enough current and power…

  • Smart bulbs or smart light switches? Which one should you buy?

    There are numerous benefits to using smart lighting over traditional lights. Most people find that the increased convenience is a huge benefit. With smart lighting, you can turn on and off lights, either via an app or automatically via automations. In addition, you often get more control, such as changing the lights' colour, brightness, and…

Request a guide

Can’t find what you’re looking for?
If there’s a guide or problem you’d like covered, you can request one and we’ll prioritise it.

Request a guide