https://getowlhome.com Have any of yall seen these smoke detectors? They have a few other sensors that look nice, as well as a speaker that I could use with HSM. They currently only work with Homekit, Google, Alexa, and IFTTT and according to their rep, they plan to add more, but no promises as yet.
Trying not to go the nest protect route, but these look interesting at their initial pre-release price.
WiFi so unless they have a published API a bit of a dead end
I asked them about an API too, and got neither a yes or no. I imagine they’d be eager to integrate as close as possible to HA systems given their price point, but who knows
Interesting. I threw an email their way as well. They told me they would have an open API later this year.
$139/ea (and I have 10 detectors in my house) for a device that almost certainly won't be getting firmware/security updates in 5 years, and will be a nice IoT vulnerability on my network.
And if their upcoming "open api" is cloud based (likely), you'll lose that access to all the data if they go out of business, unless maybe the homekit integration would keep working - that may be the only redeeming thing in their feature set...
Also note that at the time of many of the reviews it was NOT UL listed - just "meets UL requirements". Insurance companies will not cover loss if you are using unlisted detectors (and they realize it). That said, I would GUESS they get UL listed before actual release if they haven't already (couldn't confirm on their website).
Those reasons = hard pass for me. I'll stick with my traditional detectors + Ecolink firefighter.
In any case, if integration with any home automation is your desire with these, at minimum verify that you can go the Homekit route (and get the data/do what you want with the data) or wait until they PUBLISH (not promise) an open api for integration.
Only 2 1/2 months, think I’d wait…
I’m mostly interested in the siren, motion, and humidity integration. Since it will be wired to power and as reliable as I make my WiFi. if the api is local, I could totally use these instead of other point devices to get the same data.
All the other stuff they do is great as it relates to lights and fire but if it’s a cloud API, I’ll likely bail. Since this is their only product, that I can tell, long term support of anything cloud based is definitely a leap of faith, especially given the 10 (or more) I’d need.
I’m still investigating other fire detectors. I’m mostly concerned with a detector that’s line powered and can identify exactly which one set all of them off. In a big house when the detectors go off, it’s a bit of a panic since I have no idea where to look for danger
I hear ya, but really that feature is more for false alarms than real danger. In real danger it will be quite obvious where it is coming from in about 10 seconds even in a big house - I can speak from experience there. And although pinpointing it is neat, I will point out that pretty much any hardwired alarms latch the one that set it off. So yes, you have to go around and look for the one that is beeping or blinking (depends on brand). But for $400 vs $1500, I can go look around to find the nuisance trigger if I need to...
But whatever! Each to their own. If the neat extra features end up being local/usable, it might be a cool device.
That’s the other problem. If I ordered now, I’d save at least 400$ because of the presale. But I may be left with 1400 of ceiling bricks. They told me if I ordered 1 preorder they wouldn’t honor the preorder price for any further detectors. It’s sort of all or none in my eyes
Just me, but I tend to walk away from pressure sales tactics. Big, BIG, BIG red flag ….
nah, you're not wrong at all. I'll continue my search. WAF i think requires noting where the alarm occurs so I need to find a detector capable of at least that
Honestly the false alarms are the reason this search started for me last night. In a new to us house, lots of square footage, and the detectors are old and randomly false for 10 seconds. Wife doesn't appreciate that and wants them outta here, but I know if I don't replace them with something that tells her where the alarm is, she won't be happy, especially since one of our kids bedroom is on the opposite side and different floor of the house. If I have to shell out for Protects, then so be it - she's prepared for me to spend that $. These Owl's on the other hand looked interesting and not much more dough, with the possibility to tie into Hubitat so I figured I'd at least ask the community
Your wife does know that until about 5 years ago there was no such thing as smoke detectors that said which one was going off... And somehow we all survived and lived without that feature. 
I know, i know, people want what they want. And that's okay.
Hey you’re not wrong but if it keeps my dive into HA going then I gots to do what I gots to do 
Makes sense. For a $1000 differential on a questionable value, though, I'll put up a good fight with the Mrs before conceding.
I literally just replaced all of my detectors with 10 year battery models... 8 smoke and 2 smoke/co... $290 from Amazon... Even if they get flaky and only last 3 years I'm still WAY ahead on money versus Nest Protect or other "smart" detectors.
But I get that it isn't always "about the money".
I'm into this device. I have been pushing the company to respond and I have found an ear. They are responsive. It IS a cool device. If they are willing to open an API, whom do I speak to at HE to hand them off?
@mccoart good question, but guessing @bravenel might be the best person for them to talk to. If they can't get to it for a bit due to other commitments let me know - I might have time to develop a community driver to stand in for a bit.
Copy that.
It is interesting. Not sure a temperature or humidity reading 13 feet up on the ceiling is worth much to me, but the integrated motion could be cool.
It has the relay wire and a LiPo backup, can be charged USB-C and has CO/Smoke/motion. Thats enough. Also a mic and the temp/humidity. Its not google, theres that too.
I think it would open up their market to include an API. They are not deaf... they are privacy focused and should allow local control. i just assume its Cloud = Nope for most of us.
Download the Hubitat app
