How To Make A Portable Smart Home System
A portable smart home system pushes the traditional boundaries of home automation. Instead of a fixed setup tied to one residence, a portable system offers flexibility, mobility, and adaptability. It caters to use cases ranging from temporary living spaces and rental properties to mobile offices, recreational vehicles or shows.
Why Consider a Portable Smart Home System
Here are some reasons to consider a portable smart home system:
- Shows and Events: In situations where you need a quick-to-deploy automation setup—such as temporary exhibit spaces, events, or pop-up offices—a portable system provides a streamlined solution.
- Minimal Infrastructure Dependency: Traditional smart homes typically require mains power and a cabled internet connection. A portable system can sidestep these requirements with battery-powered hubs and cellular connectivity, making it ideal for spaces with limited infrastructure.
- Camping or RV: You can enjoy automated control over security, lighting, heating, cooling, and other essential systems.
The Smart Hub
The smart hub centralises and manages devices, automations and internet connectivity (if required). Smart home hubs are nearly always USB powered, which means they require only a small amount of power to run.
Power Options
- Battery Power:
- A 20,000mAh USB power bank (the same type used to charge mobile phones) to run hubs for up to 24-48 hours.
- Some of these portable batteries have automatic energy saving features that will automatically turn the battery off after a certain time or if not much power is being drawn. Sometimes the features can be disabled or get power bank that doesn’t include the feature.
- Solar Power:
- Pair a 10-20W solar panel with a portable power bank.
- Some power banks can be charged at the same time as power is being drawn from them, some can not.
- 12V (Car/RV):
- Use a 12V USB adapter to power a smart hub from a car or RV. Note usually the vehicle ignition needs to be on for the 12V power to be available
Internet Access
Cellular \ Mobile Phone Networks
If remote control or cloud connectivity for automations is needed, then use mobile data:
- Smartphone Hotspot:
- Simple but drains phone battery fast and really only a practical option for short periods of time.
- Dedicated Hotspot (aka MiFi, portable router):
- These devices can be purchased from mobile network operators. They often have a built in battery, but if not can be powered from a USB portable battery
- Satellite Internet: Such as Starlink Roam. This internet solution is reasonably portable,
Note: Smart home devices only require a very small amount of bandwidth to function. So it is not necessary to have fast 5G or satellite internet.
No Internet
Skip the need for internet and use local smart home technology.
- YoLink: have a technology called Control D2D which connects YoLink smart devices directly to each other. Completely removing the need for any internet connection
- Home Assistant: Is a very popular open source smart home solution that allows for everything to run locally. Requires some technical knowledge, but is by far the best local smart home system
There are other manufacturers that have offline smart home systems e.g. Homey, HomeSeer etc
Wireless Protocols
Choosing the smart home wireless protocol is important when it comes to a portable solution. The table below compares the most popular protocols.
| Protocol | Power Use | Range | Internet Required? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zigbee | Low | ~100m | No | Sensors, lights |
| Z-Wave | Low | ~150m | No | Reliable control |
| Thread | Very Low | ~100m | No (with Matter) | Future-proof setups |
| LoRa | Ultra-Low | ~1km+ | No | Remote sensors |
| Wi-Fi | High | ~50m | Yes | Avoid (power-hungry) |
Battery Powered Smart Devices
Fortunately many smart home devices are battery powered. This makes them portable without having to do anything…….:-)
- Sensors: Motion, door/window, temperature are nearly always battery powered
- Security: Battery cameras (e.g., Eufy SoloCam S220)
Mains Powered Smart Devices
Most mains powered smart devices you simply wouldn’t want in a portable smart home system. For example, you wouldn’t need a smart plug, because the assumption is you don’t have access to mains power.
However there are some mains powered smart devices that would be good to have in a portable smart home system:
- Smart bulbs are very popular and are nearly always mains powered. Unfortunately it is not easy to get a smart bulb running from a battery.
- Human Presence sensors are also usually mains powered and a device that would be great to have as part of a portable smart home system. But unfortunately these devices, like the smart bulbs are difficult to power from a battery. Instead as an alternative PIR motion sensors can be used.
Although technically possible to power many mains power smart home devices, it requires technical skills and more equipment, like large batteries, converters etc which do make for a portable smart home solution.
Final Thoughts
A portable smart home works anywhere using battery and \ or solar power and uses, ideally Zigbee, Thread, Z-Wave or LoRa (YoLink) devices.
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