How/why are you using SmartThings?

[Scott_Barton (Scott)]

Would like to get some ideas how others have used SmartThings and see what it can do.

I got interested in using SmartThings because I wanted to be able to turn on the outside lights on my house, barn and detached garage when I return home from the race track with my 40’ trailer so I can see where I’m parking it. I wanted to be able to turn them all on at once without having to run wires from detached garage and barn back to house. Now with SmartThings it uses my cell phone as a presence sensor and automatically turns on all the lights when I get back from track after dark.

My 2 year old just learned how to open her bedroom door. First night I found her downstairs playing at 3am. I’m going to put a door sensor on her door and have it turn on the light to our room if she opens up her door late at night so we know she’s up.

[SBDOBRESCU (Bobby)]

Here is something to get you started

"Top 10" uses for beginners? I'm overwhelmed

Hi everyone - I’m a beginner and have a handful of switches and a multipurpose sensor online at this point. I’ve been searching for some sort of “Top 10” list of where to start with SmartThings, but no such luck. Is there a particular thread for newbies where I can dive into the most popular items? I realize I can do pretty much anything, but I guess I want to start more basic at this point. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! -Shane

Also, our community best @JDRoberts generously created a clickable tag project_getstarted. There are more than 20 threads discussing your question.

[JDRoberts]

@Scott_Barton

Would like to get some ideas how others have used SmartThings and see what it can do.

Welcome!

As @SBDOBRESCU said, there is a quick browse list of many different threads with ideas for getting started with SmartThings. You should find it interesting.

The communitycreated wiki has quick browse lists in 3 sections: SmartApps, device type handlers, and projects. “Get started” is the first list under projects towards the bottom of the page.

http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=How_to_Quick_Browse_the_Community-Created_SmartApps_Forum_Section

[Scott_Barton (Scott)]

I’m more interested in unique, cool, or out of the ordinary uses. Stuff not everyone thinks of.

[JDRoberts]

@Scott_Barton

I’m more interested in unique, cool, or out of the ordinary uses. Stuff not everyone thinks of.

Which is exactly why people post project reports. Lots of interesting stuff there.

Here’s my personal favorite:

Smart & Secret Bookcase

So I decided to create a secret bookcase door in my house… I always wanted to build a room with floor to ceiling bookcases despite the decline of the physical book. When you have floor to ceiling bookcases however, you really want to then have a secret door, obviously. So my friend Scott and I set out to make this happen. Not just any secret door, mind you, but one that uses the SmartThings service to enable a lot of fun and follies. I’ll chronicle some of the work here in the coming weeks.

[JDRoberts]

This is another of my favorites:

Smart Chair

I decided to experiment with the smart multi’s today. I had two extras after my move. I had the crazy idea that I could strap them to the chairs in my home office and use them as presence detectors. It works. But in looking at the data, I think I could do more. Just wanted to put this out to the collective and get some opinions. My first experiment was trying to detect taps on the arm rest. This seemed to work OK, but will require a new SmartApp. Second experiment was trying to detect if I am leaning back too much or not maintaining the correct posture. Any other ideas?

[Scott_Barton (Scott)]

Some interesting ones I saw where using a power meter to know when laundry/dishes/etc is done and then notify. Using Harmony integration to turn on pathway lighting from living room to bed when you turn the TV off after a certain time. Using ST, Harmony, Echo to control your TV via voice. Using Big Talker for voice feedback (does this work with Echo?) Using RGB bulbs for status or notifications. CleverObjects app to use a SmartWatch for voice activation.
I’d there a way to use Alexa app or OK Google so you can do voice activation from your phone?
KeenVents to control temps in certain rooms.

[jgirvine]

I make my own cheese. I took a small upright freezer and use a temp and humidity controller along with a pond fogger to control the environment. I have a sensor in it that reports to SmartThings the temperature and humdity. SmartThings then sends me an alert if either gets out of range…nothing like making cheese…ageing it for 6 months and then having your cave fail…

[Navat604 (R.)]

I am a micro manager freak when it comes to my house so using ST to monitor and control things at home is the reason. I have one ipad and multiple tablets all over the house mostly for status, time, Temp and control sometime. Even my kids are now avoiding switches over Amazon echo. That’s my story. My wife thinks maybe my life is not stressful enough and I need extra work everyday to keep my brain going. Pretty sure she’s wrong cause I have random thing fail only every other day.