Smart homes, properly explained.
Guides, comparisons and plain‑English explainers from the team that tests this gear in real Australian homes. Start with a search, or browse the topics below.
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114 articles
9 articles
Lighting
Smart bulbs, colour temperature, fittings and the right size for every fixture.
Visit hub 77 articlesEcosystems
Philips Hue, Home Assistant, Alexa, Google and Apple Home, compared side by side.
Visit hub 15 articlesProtocols
Zigbee, Matter, Thread and Z‑Wave, explained in plain English and compared.
Visit hub 6 articlesAutomation
Hubs, bridges and controllers: what they do and how to get started.
Visit hub 2 articlesSwitches
Smart switches, dimmers, plugs, and the neutral‑wire question, answered.
Visit hub 5 articlesPower
Energy use, running costs, and watts↔amps calculators that actually help.
Visit hubLooking for a specific job, like opening a gate or timing the hot water? Browse solutions
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The newest guides, comparisons and explainers, hot off the workbench.
Ecosystems 5 min
Shelly virtual components: what they are and how to use them
A virtual component is a switch, slider, dropdown, button or text box you add to a Shelly yourself. Here is what each type does, and how a script uses them.
Read Ecosystems 2 min
How to install a script on a Shelly
Install a script on a Shelly from the Shelly app or a browser, step by step: create it, paste the code, run it, and keep it running after a restart.
Read Ecosystems 1 min
How to add your electricity tariff to the Shelly app
Enter your electricity rate in the Shelly app, flat or time-of-use, so your energy readings line up with the prices on your bill.
Read Ecosystems 2 min
How to add a Shelly BLU sensor to the Shelly app
Add a Shelly BLU door, window or motion sensor to the Shelly Smart Control app, choose the Shelly that acts as its Bluetooth gateway, and fix one that stops reporting.
Read Ecosystems 2 min
How to add a Shelly device to the Shelly app
Add a Shelly relay or dimmer to the Shelly Smart Control app over Bluetooth, step by step, with fixes for when the app can't find it.
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