Thoughts on Updating Your Tech?

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I've been doing smart home stuff since 2015. Not surprisingly, over the years, I've picked up more than a few gizmos that weren't exactly ideal for a full smart home integration. I got them either out of ignorance (particularly those early purchases!) or because something better hadn't come out yet. Some of those items I've replaced, but not all of them. Because even though not everything is ideal, it's not really as big a deal to me that the light for the coat closet takes a couples second to turn on because the door sensor is a bit slow and I've got a make a call out to the cloud to actually turn on the light; it's a bit annoying but it's just the coat closet.

So I'm wondering how everybody else approaches this kind of thing. What are your criteria for replacing/improving on "old" tech (lights, switches, sensors, whatever) that still function but maybe not up to whatever your current standards are? Do you always get the newest devices as they come out? Do you wait until your old ones fail entirely? Until the manufacturer no longer supports them? Until the new tech not only outperforms the old tech, but at a cheaper price?

I'm genuinely curious what approaches other people take.

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I expect you will get a... "it depends" type response.... Some people have different approaches or standards they aim for... which can dictate their approach to things like this....

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The risk there is that a device that has delays, could cause latency to your entire mesh. My approach is to upgrade the technology every few years. I try to push it to every 5 years. Older but still useful devices get relagated to a secondary hub. When devices are no longer useful, they end up in the smart junk drawer. Once in a while I clean the drawer to make room for the new smart junk devices.

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If I find myself getting frustrated or angry because of a device, it usually goes right in the trash. I can only think of two devices that fall into that category. Otherwise, I usually only replace when something breaks/stops working (or I break it). I have a few devices that I have removed from service because I no longer need them and I am looking for a good home for those - I hate to see them go to waste.

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@sean1 Keep everything local. Think about your need, then look at what people recommend. Can't ask too many questions. I will say though my closets are the only thing not on HE. They just have presence sensors so when you open the door the light turns on, close the door light goes off after a minute or 2 of no motion. For upgrading stuff you already have? That's a tough one. If any switches are just old z-wave and not plus, I would upgrade those. If any device is cloud reliant? Replace it. Beyond that if it works for your current needs, I'd say keep it even if it's older. I mean I have a ton of the iris v2 motion sensors and they're pretty old and work great. I have Lutron Caseta switches that are 12 years old and work just fine.

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I started small - automated locks linked to my security system. Then I added a few automated switches. Then I had a separate Alarm and Home Automation system (First Wink, then Hubitat) that I kept integrated to the Alarm system. Year after year, I added more switches to the Automation System, then sensors, then more sensors. Then I added the heating systems to the Home automation.

I also got rid of old Z-Wave (pre-500) devices to avoid mesh issues.

I have now pretty much reached a point of saturation. There is not much left that can be automated but is not. So now I upgrade devices when new ones come out that can do more and provide additional value. I also try to optimize things as I learn more and notice issues.

I also try to share what I have learned with others to help them achieve their goals.

As for my old devices, I put them away in a box and share them with friends and family when they need them. They are typically still good for small automation setups.

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My opinion is that .... it depends on the function.

  • Water sensors are usually the latest.

  • Problem devices are replaced as soon as the "problem" is recurrent.

  • Lighting devices (for non safety lighting) can be old old as long as they don't cause problems.

I started with Vera, this would be 2016. At that time I purchased 8 Leviton dimmer modules and a few switch modules. I also purchased some Linear in wall dimmers.

The wall dimmers have been retired but the dimmer modules are working fine. They cause no issues with the hub. I'm not even sure they talk to the hub unless queried. So the $300 or so to replace them can go to other toys.

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I have tended to replace devices that relied on the web - locks, thermostats, garage door openers, or things that ended up annoying me (Echo devices - hated the additional suggestion all the time - replaced them with HomePods. My wife is still adjusting.) Also, replaced all the old z-wave stuff that I could.

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Oddly enough I've found my solution in looking specifically for older tech. I absolutely love centralite and iris zigbee devices. Their old discontinued products just seem to be made better. All my Sonoff stuff that gets flakey gets replaced with something 10 years older, lol.

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I just realized I probably have around 3500 alone invested in Lutron Caseta stuff. Then again I think @bcopeland spent around 5k upgrading all his lights to Lifx

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Another type I replaced fairly early were some leak detectors that ate through batteries like they were M&M's. Replacements last at least a year, vs. about 2 months for the old ones.

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This is something I inwardly wrestle with. I'm a self-confessed fan of tech that tries not to be a junkie. I suspect many of you are the same. The act of buying a Hubitat in the first place seems to be a fairly educated choice.

If something isn't working properly I'll spend time to make sure it's actually broken and un-repairable before replacing it.
If (like me! :wink: ) it's just slow due to age then the important question is "Does it really matter?"

If "no" then it remains in place, but I'll keep a slightly closer eye on it.
If it's a definite "yes - it matters" then I'll upgrade in a heartbeat. HOWEVER, as long as it's still functional, and potentially useful I'd rather re-purpose, or even give away, something that works instead of sending it to land-fill. An exception to this might be a device that eats through batteries where it's more environmentally friendly to replace it with something more efficient.

Not Home Automation specific, but with regard to attitude for Tech in general:

I try to purchase wisely but I'm sorry to say that, had I been a few years older, I'd probably have fallen in to the Betamax camp. There have (what should have) been "educated" purchases over the years that didn't stand up to the test of time or the will of the masses:

Back in the day there was a kick-â– â– â–  tablet - the Blackberry PlayBook. Yes - I have one. A very expensive doorstop!

Also back in the day, a brilliant mobile (cell) phone with apps was less important for me personally. A really decent camera was top of the agenda. I bought a Windows phone - the Nokia Lumia 1020 with a 41MP camera. Over time it too went the way of Betamax. I upgraded to a Huawei Mate 20 Pro which I still love. The Nokia was gifted to my OH who eventually (accidentally???) left it on the cooker hob & set fire to it.

Some things do, however, pay off.

In my loft I had one of my early PCs that I built from scratch. An AMD Athlon from 20+ years ago. A friend of mine has an empty flat & they're giving it, fully furnished, to a family of refugees from Ukraine. I managed to resurrect the PC. It's as old as God & as slow as hell but I've got it working and it will, at the very least, allow them to get on-line for basic internet browsing.

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Simply to address the idea of “waiting until your old ones fail entirely”. At this point a WiFi light bulb might outlive us lol

Don’t wait. Get it right and the way you want. But prioritize the projects and tackle them over at a time. Save the “closet light” for whenever you have the spare time and spare money.

But yea, get rid of the WiFi bulbs ASAP

I’m in the same boat right now and my biggest issue is my girlfriend wants to use the wall switch and I want to use voice to turn on lights so I’m in the process of adding smart switches because otherwise it’s one or the other :man_shrugging:t2:

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Motion sensors are your friend. Lights come on before you even get to the switch.

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I replaced all my old GoControl motion sensors with zigbee or zwave+ sensors. Same with my GoControl contact sensors.

I still have plenty of zwave outlets and leak sensors. Also have a few zwave remotes. And I have repurposed some of my zwave contact sensors as dry contact sensors.

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Yea, I haven’t made yet jump to full automation yet. I certainly don’t want the bathroom lights to come on when I stumble in from a deep sleep at 2am. I know you can set up the automation to not come on full brightness based on time, etc., but this statement was more about me losing my mind after setting up WiFi bulbs controlled by Alexa then my girlfriend turning the switch off making the WiFi bulb lose connectivity :man_facepalming:t2: Now that I’m made the switches smart, the bulb can be dumb and my girlfriend won’t trip me up lol

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I solved this with a centralite night light. It comes on at 30% in blue by the toilet between 10:30 and sunrise. Just enough for me not to wake up fully yet bright enough that I don't miss the toilet.

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Wow. Complicated questoin.

For HA tech I will definitely update anything that causes me issues... fibaro water sensors, Zooz sensors, and Cree lights - gone the minute they exhibit any sort of issue or require any maintenance at all. If it still functions well I'll leave it be even if something fancier comes out and catches my fancy. In that case I will generally upgrade regardless of price. If a new device comes out and I think I have a use for it I'll usually buy it just because, though generally it will not replace something older. And no, I generally will not wait until old tech fails completely. I'll wait until it requires effort to keep running, then out it goes.

I replace iPhones when I see a distinct advantage to the new model. I kept my iPhone 8 until the 12 came out because I wanted 5g. I kept my 2012 iMac until they had a desktop with Apple silicon, which took 10 years. Would have done it a few years earlier had the new chipset been available.

On the other hand I am still wearing a mechanical watch made in 1963. It gains a couple minutes a month and requires regular (and very expensive) maintenance but it's pretty cool tech for 1963! I also write with a fountain pen. Sure, there's better stuff out there for pens and watches, but tradition is worth something as well.

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I think both of these statements get at the notion that the hardware for a specific device has a lot to do with its longevity.

The general consensus about centralite, and I personally agree, is that they made really rock solid zigbee sensors in the early-late 2010s. Like really, really good.

They went through bankruptcy and they’re back, but 2022 is a very different time, so who knows if their components can be sourced the same way now.

Likewise, a well-made watch or fountain pen can keep doing what they’re supposed to do for a really, really long time, although moving parts mean maintenance would of course be required.

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I'm looking towards the future for updating once Matter/Thread devices becomes available, affordable, and proven.

Currently I have Hubitat, HA, SmartThings, Hue, Ikea, AirThings, Amazon Alexa, and a little WiFi. I am still learning and only 3 years with home automation, with some just as a hobby. I still don't think home automation is ready for the great masses and the promise of Matter could finally be that answer.