Before getting in to deep of IoT projects & its implementation i would like to give some idea on what are the common IoT devices which i used & can be used from your end for home automation's.

As you know sensor is a major component of IoT , you can refer my post on IoT sensors to get details on the same.

I would like to talk about ESP8266 Node MCU, Raspberry Pi & Arduino boards in this section which is easily available & can do lot of automation's with simple Python or Arduino IDE.

NodeMCU is an open source IoT platform developed by ESP8266 Opensource Community runs Operating system XTOS. Node MCU is a SOC (System on Chip)with integrated WiFi and widely used in IoT.

Pin details are below

dex	ESP8266 pin	IO index	ESP8266 pin
0 [*]	GPIO16	7	GPIO13
1	GPIO5	8	GPIO15
2	GPIO4	9	GPIO3
3	GPIO0	10	GPIO1
4	GPIO2	11	GPIO9
5	GPIO14	12	GPIO10
6	GPIO12

Refer the link for Node MCU documentation.

Raspberry Pi is a small affordable computer , it was initially developed in United Kingdom to promote teaching of basic computers in schools. Raspberry Pi comes with integrated WiFi, Bluetooth, USB ports , Micro USB, Mirco HDMI or HDMI port , Camera slot & 40 GPIO Pins.

Raspberry Pi have multiple models released in market, the recent ones which i have used are Raspberry Pi Zero W & Raspberry Pi 3.

To know the Raspberry Pi price click on the picture.

Raspberry pi projects kindly refer my post http://www.thetips4you.com/iot-projects-or-internet-of-things-projects/ for details.

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for anyone making interactive projects. Arduino board uses variety of microprocessors and controllers, they have digital pins which are used to connect to devices, breadboard. Arduino provides its own integrated development environment to do the coding & push to  the hardware.

The common one used is Arduino Uno. If you need other features like WiFi, bluetooth etc, you need to get additional Arduino shield and attach to the board.

 

 

You can also see in the market there are lot of readily available home IoT devices, which you can buy & use with out any modifications. Lets see some of those.

• Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo is a hands-free speaker you control with your voice. Echo connects to the AlexaVoice Service to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, provide information, news, sports scores, weather, and more—instantly

• Echo connects to Alexa to play music, make calls, set music alarms and timers, ask questions, control smart home devices, and more—instantly.
• Just ask for a song, artist, or genre from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and more. With multi-room music, you can play music on compatible Echo devices in different rooms. Echo can also play Audible audiobooks, radio stations, news briefs, and more.
• Call or message almost anyone hands-free with your Echo device. Also, instantly connect to other Echo devices in your home using just your voice.

• Smart Lighting - Philips Hue

Smart lighting is a lighting technology designed for energy efficiency. This may include high efficiency fixtures and automated controls that make adjustments based on conditions such as occupancy or daylight availability

Philips Hue is your personal wireless lighting system that lets you easily control your light and create the right ambiance for every moment. Bring your smart home to life with the most connected light in the world.

• Neurio

Provides a real-time view on how your home’s electricity is being used, displayed on your phone or web app, Helps you reduce home energy costs by up to 20%,Provides bill forecasting so you know what your utility bill will be before it arrives,Highly accurate total home monitoring, within 1% – independently verify your energy bills.

 

• Smart Wifi Switch - Sonoff Smart Switch

Remote ON/OFF–Turn electrical devices on/off from anywhere App Support –Free iOS and Android mobile App eWeLink Sync Status–Real-time device status provided to App Timing–Set scheduled/countdown/loop timers to turn on/off at specified time Share Control– Control your smart home together with your family Scene–Turn on/off a gang of devices with one tap Smart Scene–Triggered on/off by temp, hum or other environmental conditions from sensor Compatibility –Works perfectly with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Google Nest Home automation is "The Internet of Things". It simply means the way all devices or appliances are networked together to provide users with a seamless control over their home equipment. Sonoff Basic is an affordable WiFi smart switch that provides users with smart home control.

 

• Smart Plugs - Sonoff Smart Plug

Controlled by an app, a smart plug lets you turn on and off any appliance that plugs into a standard wall socket. ... Simply plug it into any wall socket, then plug your chosen appliance into it. You can use it with a lamp, a TV, a cable box, a coffee machine—whatever you like

 

• Smart Surveillance Camera - YI Home Camera Surveillance system

720P video, infrared night vision, 111 wide angle lens, 4x digital zoom,Two way audio communication, real-time video streaming to your phone iOS and android; motion detection alerts setup

• Smart Locks - August Smart Keypad

Secure, code-based home entry,Accessory for the August Smart Lock,Create unique codes instantly from your smartphone anytime.

• Smart Heating & cooling system

HVAC Systems In Smart Homes. ... A Heating, Ventilation and AirConditioning (HVAC) system is a complete system designed for the purpose of keeping indoor air safe and comfortable for the inhabitants of a home, business or other building.