Tag Archives: Nest

fixed : problems recharging empty Google Nest Cam (Battery-version)

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Question :
I have a some Google Nest Security-cams with battery installed. They work great, but as they run on internal batteries, they need to be recharged once in a while. Most of the time recharging works great, and immediately after connecting the charging cable the distinctive pling is sounding and de cam’s LED lights up. But other times nothing happens (or at least nothing seems to happen) and even in the GoogleHome.app there is no indication that the Google Nest Cam is charging (which should be expected).

What is wrong ?

Answer :

There is a small chance your Goole Nest Cam (Battery) might be broken, but if the GoogleHome.app says “battery empty” that usually isn’t the case, and you can assume that the problem is one of these four reasons or a combination of them :

  1. The Google Nest Cam (Battery) is too cold
    This happens when the Google Nest Cam (Battery) is installed outdoors and the temperature outside is so low that the Cam is feeling really cold when you hold it in your hands.
    The remedy is to unmount the Cam, take it inside and let it get to room temperature before you try to charge it.
    (in short : just wait…)
  2. The Google Nest Cam (Battery)‘s connector is too dirty
    This happens because there is always dirt in the air and the connector is magnetic so it will always collect some dust over time, especially outdoors.
    The remedy is to unmount the Cam, take it inside and clean out the connector hole with some soft cloth that has been moistened with an extremely tiny drop of water, before you try to connect the charging cable to charge it.
    (in short : clean the connectors)
  3. The Google Nest Cam (Battery)‘s battery is completely empty
    This happens when you forgot to recharge the Google Nest Cam (Battery) just after the battery ran flat, because even when the battery is ’empty’ the Cam will keep trying to operate and the longer you wait to recharge, the emptier the battery gets. If the GoogleHome.app indicates the battery is empty, it will still be able to provide enough power to switch the Cam back on when you connect the charging cable, but if the battery has been empty for some time, there will be so little power left that the Cam will stay in hibernation ‘sleeper mode’ for some hours before being able to switch on.
    The remedy is to unmount the Cam, take it inside, connect the charging cable and wait… this way, it might even take more than 48 hours to fully charge a completely empty battery ; if the GoogleHome.app indicates “slow charging” or an estimated charging time above 48 hours, make sure you are using the original Google Nest Cam charger & cable, let it go and check after 4 hours or more, if the estimated charging time hasn’t come down by then, reconnect the charging cable
    (in short: just wait & reconnect if charging is extremely slow)
  4. The Google Nest Cam (Battery)‘s connector cable is slightly off
    This happens because the cable comes from in from the front of the Cam and the best way to keep an unmounted Cam stable is to have the front facing downward, but in doing that (or something alike) you may slightly twist the connector so little that the electric connectors disconnect even though the magnetic connector stays in place, and you will not easily notice.
    The remedy is to double check that the charging cable is exactly in the right position when you connect it and that you double check the connection stays okay when you move the Cam after connection the charing cable ; if you are not sure that the connection is okay, reconnect the cable until you are sure.
    (in short : make sure the charging connector is put in correctly)

    That’s it !
    enjoy 😉

solved : Matter-compatible Smart Thermostats that are already for sale

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Question :

I am considering buying new Smart Thermostats for my home, but now I heard that an all New cross-platform standard for home automation called “Matter” will be introduced later this year, I am thinking about postponing my purchases… even though I should start using Smart Thermostats as soon as possible since energy prices ar rocketing…

Now I heard that some of the Smart Thermostats that are already available right now will be upgradable for integration with Matter, but I can’t seem to find any… which ones are sure to work with Matter ?

Answer :

Yes, Matter (formerly known as Project CHIP – Connected Home over IP) will be the new communication standard in home automation. Matter will unify all new home automation by Apple (HomeKit & Siri), Google (Google Home & Nest), Amazon (Alexa), Samsung (SmartThings), Comcast, CSA – Connectivity Standards alliance (formerly known as The Zigbee Alliance), IKEA, Huawei and Schneider. Others like Philips HUE, EVE Home, WiZ and TP-Link (Kasa & Tapo) are working on Matter-certification, and more and more brands will follow.

At the moment of writing (January 2023) only 2 Smart Thermostats that are already available on the market are confirmed to be Matter-compatible / Matter-upgradeable :

We expect to update this list soon when new Matter-compatible Smart Thermostats are confirmed.

fixed : Philips HUE lights not responding after upgrading to HUE Bridge

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Question :

Previously we had our Philips HUE lights setup suing Bluetooth, but now we have bought ourselves a Philips HUE Bridge since we want to be able to set some wake-up, sleep and out-of-home routines on our HUE lights. But after installing the HUE Bridge, our Google Nest Hub can no longer connect to our HUE lights.

What is wrong ?

 

Answer :

Since you installed your Philips HUE lights over Bluetooth before you installed your Philips HUE Hub, you have switched from Bluetooth HUE connection to WiFi HUE connection, but your Google Nest Hub doesn’t know about this switch yet…

To fix this, do this :

  • first : to avoid confusion, it’s advisory to delete the HUE lights that you had set up over Bluetooth first from the Google Home.app
  • then, in the Google Home.app, click ‘Settings’
  • in ‘Settings’ screen, scroll down and click on ‘Add…’
  • in ‘Add and manage’ screen, click on ‘Setup device’
  • in ‘Setup’ screen, click on ‘have something already set up?’
  • in ‘Add devices’ screen, select ‘Philips HUE’ (if you don’t see it right away, use the search option top right)
  • you will be redirected to the MeetHUE.com login-page
  • login to your PhilipsHUE-account (you probably don’t have one yet, so either create a new one or sign in using your Google account)
  • follow the on-screen directions to link your HUE Bridge to your account ; press the big button on the HUE Bridge when prompted
  • now your HUE Bridge will be accessible from your Google Nest Hub
  • on the Nest Hub, swipe down from the top of the screen
  • in the pull down window, you will see your HUE lights
  • click on the HUE lights you want to adjust and adjust the lights as you wish

If you want to be able to control the HUE lights in Zones different from the Rooms, use the PhilipsHUE.app to setup new Zones first :

  • open PhilipsHUE.app
  • if the app doesn’t open in the Settings screen automatically, click on Settings (bottom right)
  • in ‘Rooms & Zones’ screen, click on the ‘Create new’ button (top left) 
  • in ‘Create new – Room’ screen click on the ‘Create Zone’ button and follow the onscreen directions
  • now the Zone will be listed in Google Home.app also
  • when the Zone is listed on the ‘Home’ screen in Google Home.app, click on the name of the room
  • in [Room/Zone name] screen, click on the gear/sprocket icon (top right)
  • in ‘Room’ screen, click ‘Choose devices’
  • in ‘Choose devices’ screen, check all HUE lamps you want to include in this Zone (note that Google Home names Zones as Rooms) and click the ‘Next’ button

Now your Philips HUE lights will be accessible from your Google Nest Hub both individually and as Rooms/Zones (Google Home names both as Rooms) :

  • on the Nest Hub, swipe down from the top of the screen
  • in the pull down window, you will see your HUE lights
  • click on the HUE lights you want to adjust and adjust the lights as you wish

Note : you can also select routines for the HUE lights from the Nest Hub if you have set them up in Google Home.app (like daily routines to use when you’re out of home)

That’s it !

enjoy 😉

fixed : control child’s bedroom HUE lamp from 2 devices

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Question :

We recently got several light blubs replaced by Philips HUE lamps in our home. We have setup everything to be used from one device, but now my son wants to adjust his bedroom lamp himself from his own iPhone.

How do we set that up ?

 

Answer :

There are various ways of setting this up, and most of them are straight forward. Here are a few of the simplest ones :

If you do NOT have a Philips HUE Bridge :

If you do have a Philips HUE Bridge setup already :

The setup process is rather simple, especially if you have done this befor (like you mentioned) : just follow the onscreen directions.

Note : you can also control Philips HUE lamps from your AppleWatch (if you have one) using the watchOS version of the PhilipsHUE.app that is automatically installed if your AppleWatch is connected to your iPhone.

That’s it !

enjoy 😉