Building a Smarter Home: Essential Amazon Gadgets for DIY Projects

It’s grow increasingly accessible and affordable to build a smart home, with falling prices and growing availability of devices like smart thermostats, doorbell cameras, security cameras, smart locks, and motion sensors. Amazon offers a wide range of smart home products, both its own brands and those from competitors, along with helpful gadgets for DIY installations. This article highlights five Amazon gadgets that can simplify your next smart home project, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced enthusiast.

Nest Cam (Battery)

Installing a smart camera is a great starting point for a DIY smart home project, especially with a battery-operated model that avoids the complexities of power supply installation. Google’s Nest Cam (Battery), retailing for $179.99, is a strong contender. It’s weather-resistant, boasts a 6,000mAh battery offering up to three months of charge, and features a magnetic mount for easy installation and removal.

The Nest Cam (Battery) is compatible with both Alexa and Google Home ecosystems, allowing you to view the camera feed through either the Alexa or Google Home app. Google provides free identification features, alerting you to the presence of people, animals, or vehicles. It too includes three hours of free video storage. For expanded features like facial recognition and increased storage, Google Home Premium (formerly Nest Aware) subscriptions start at $10 per month. The Nest Cam (Battery) offers a straightforward installation process, making it accessible for all DIY skill levels.

Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini 15A

Want to remotely control lamps, fans, or appliances? Instead of replacing them with smart home equivalents, smart plugs offer a cost-effective solution. TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini 15A (two-pack for $16.99) stands out for its compatibility with Google Home, Echo, and Alexa, without requiring a smart hub. This contrasts with Amazon’s own Smart Plug two-pack, which only works with Alexa and costs more than double at $49.98.

Beyond its price, the Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini offers scheduling, timers, an away mode, and group control through the Kasa Smart app. It doesn’t require a hub for full control, and boasts a high user rating on Amazon, with 78% of over 17,000 reviews being 5-star. Its accessibility and affordability craft it an ideal gadget for any DIY smart home project.

Amazon Echo Hub

Once you’ve started with smart plugs, a smart home hub centralizes control for the whole family. The Amazon Echo Hub ($179.99) is a dedicated smart home hub designed for controlling devices from a central location, and is thin enough to mount on a wall. It supports Matter, Zigbee, and Alexa, offering broad compatibility and convenience.

It’s more affordable than competitors like Google’s Nest Hub Max ($229.99) or Lenovo’s Smart Display 10 ($249.99) and integrates seamlessly with existing Alexa products. The Echo Hub simplifies smart home management for all family members, regardless of age or technical expertise.

AstroAI Digital Multimeter

For more challenging installations, like smart doorbells or thermostats, a multimeter is essential for understanding wiring and power output. The AstroAI Digital Multimeter ($42.99) provides accurate voltage testing to ensure compatibility.

When installing a smart thermostat, verifying the presence of a 24V C-wire is crucial for consistent power. Similarly, testing a doorbell transformer’s output (16-24V AC) ensures compatibility with a smart doorbell. The AstroAI Digital Multimeter offers performance comparable to industrial models at a fraction of the cost, making it a valuable tool for DIY smart home projects.

Aqara Motion and Light Sensor P2

Automate your lighting further with a smart motion sensor. The Aqara Motion and Light Sensor P2 ($33.99) supports multiple ecosystems, including Matter, Apple Home, and Alexa, and features Amazon’s Frustration-Free Setup. Unlike its predecessor, the P2 also detects light, enabling automations based on sunrise/sunset times.

With a 23-foot range and a 170° horizontal/45° vertical viewing angle, the Aqara Motion and Light Sensor P2 is easy to install and customize. It’s an excellent gadget for adding automation to your smart home.