HybridE

Skills books › Home

Cover of Automating Your Home

Automating Your Home

Hybrid Learning Solutions · e-book

R149 incl. VAT

Get this e-book

Read in any web browser, or in the HybridE app on Android.

About this book

A practical, South African guide to choosing, setting up, running and securing smart-home devices yourself, and to knowing which jobs belong to a registered electrician or installer. Twelve chapters follow a teacher in a Midrand townhouse, her mother who has moved in after a fall and her IoT-trained cousin, and a family in Durban North: what a smart home is and what it is good for; the home network, Wi-Fi dead spots and keeping the router up in power cuts; choosing devices and platforms, Matter, local control and ICASA approval; smart plugs, plug ratings, bulbs and why smart switches are an electrician's job; measuring electricity, scheduling the geyser and living with load shedding; security in layers, cameras that respect the neighbours (POPIA and the courts), gates, electric fences and PSIRA-registered installers; climate, leak sensors, irrigation within water restrictions and pool pumps; routines and automations that fail safe, and voice control; keeping accounts safe online; smart homes for older and disabled people, with their consent; troubleshooting; and planning a project and hiring help. 31 diagrams and photographs, worked examples, practice exercises with answers, a shopping list, a device register, a who-may-do-what table, a troubleshooting chart, and 144 Exam prep questions. A Skills Series title: there is no registered qualification in home automation for householders; the appendix points to the QCTO Internet of Things Developer for those who want a career in it. Lecturers: a free Facilitator Guide (session plans, safety and privacy rules for practical work on a training network, teaching notes and every answer) is available to colleges registered with HybridE. To register your college, contact Thandeka on 073 431 6763.

What is inside

  1. Chapter 1: What a Smart Home Is
  2. Chapter 2: Your Home Network
  3. Chapter 3: Choosing Devices and Platforms
  4. Chapter 4: Smart Plugs, Lights and Switches
  5. Chapter 5: Energy, Geysers and Load Shedding
  6. Chapter 6: Security, Cameras and Access
  7. Chapter 7: Climate, Water and the Garden
  8. Chapter 8: Routines, Automations and Voice
  9. Chapter 9: Keeping Your Smart Home Safe Online
  10. Chapter 10: Smart Homes for Every Age and Ability
  11. Chapter 11: Troubleshooting and Looking After Your System
  12. Chapter 12: Planning a Project and Getting Help
  13. Appendix: Shopping List, Device Register, the Law, Troubleshooting, Glossary and Where to Learn More

More Home books