Getting started with Candle

This guide will take you through every step from start to finish.

STEP 1‌

Know what you're getting into

How geeky are you?

Decide your "Do It yourself" comfort level

You can use Candle with commercial devices only. For example, you could purchase lights, power sockets, motion sensors and buttons from IKEA.

The more you are willing to DIY, the more privacy features you can get. Our Candle devices require you to click together some electronics. Don't worry, you'll never have to program or solder anything.

Aside from your skill level, also make sure your home insurance provider is ok with it, for example when you build your own smart lock.

Make sure Candle has what you need

Candle offers most features that cloud-based systems do, but not all of them.

For example, if you currently own a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa voice assistant and use it to look up fun facts, that's not possible with Candle since Candle is designed to not connect to the internet.

This website offers details information, so check if out before you go shopping.

Understand what Candle is

Candle is a community effort, not a commercial project. It's goal is to protect privacy and be transparent and educational. At the moment, if you want to have the Candle system you'll have to assemble it yourself. We've made this as easy as possible. But if you mostly care about convenience and expect perfectly polished devices, you may be disappointed.

If you care about privacy, you're going to love it.

Part 2

Buy the parts

Some assembly required

How comfortable are you with electronics?‌

Not at all
Then skip the Arduino. Instead, you could also look into getting a Z-wave USB stick so you can also connect those types of devices.

A little
Great! If you want to create the Candle devices, you'll need an RF-nano to act as the receiver for the other devices. You'll also need to get the parts for every Candle device you want to build. You can find the shopping list for each device on its web page.

Candle controller shopping list

A more detailed shopping list with links can be found on the Candle Controller page.

Step 3

Create the Candle Controller

Say goodbye to the cloud‌

Build it‌

Follow the detailed instructions on how to build the Candle Controller.‌

Optional: voice control‌

If you want to add local voice control, follow the installation instructions.

Optional: touch screen

Follow these instructions if you want to connect a display or touch screen.

Step 4

Install more addons‌

Make sure you discuss any new feature with all members of your household first

Our recommendations‌

Square theme‌

Improves the usability‌

This theme makes better use of screen space, and also adds some useful features.

Internet radio

"Hey Candle, turn off the radio for 5 minutes"‌

This simple addon allows you to provide and then easily switch between your favourite radio stations.

Privacy Manager‌

Delete, manage and even manipulate your data logs‌

This unique and experimental Candle creation allows you to very selectively delete or change your logs.

Network Presence Detection

Automatically turn off the heating when all mobile phone are away‌

The Network Presence detection addon periodically scans your local network. If it finds a device, such as a mobile phone, it will make it available as a thing. You could then create rules‌ that respond to the presence of these devices in your home.

Followers

As the sun sets, the lights slowly increase their brightness‌

This addons allows a gradual change in one device to lead to a gradual change in another. For exampe, you could link the brightness of a lamp to the radio volume. Then as the radio volume goes up, so do the lights.

Highlights

I want to see the electricity consumption at a glance

This addon allows you to select which values or switches you want to have quick access to. ‌For example, if you really care about electricity use, you could place some highlights together have a nice overview.

Step 4

Get to know the system

Create your first automation rules or set up a data data log

The basics‌

Change settings

Set the timezone

Have a look at the various available settings, and change them if need be. For example, you should probably set your prefered language and timezone.

Create automation rules

If the door is opened, then turn on the lights‌

Automate parts of your day by creating rules. For example, automatically turn on a device at the same time each day. Or have one device respond to an event, or the value of another device. You could, for example, send your phone a message if a motion sensor is triggered at night, and also turn on all the lights.

Create logs

Keep track of your energy use

Keeping logs of sensor data can reveal useful things about your life. For example, keeping track of electricity use allows you to try out ways of using less energy.

With great power also comes great responsbility, so make sure to always discuss what should be logged with the entire household.‌

Add a floorplan‌

For the visually minded

If you want, you can upload a floorplan image of your home‌, and then position your sensors and switches at the appropriate locations.

Step 5

Add more devices

The cloud is the limit

Buy privacy-compatible devices

We're working on a larger list of recommended products. For now, have a look at this initial overview.

This page will show you all supported devices. Have a look at this guide by Mozilla on how to connect Zigbee devices.

Create Candle devices

Each device's webpage has detailed instructions on what to buy and how put it together. Check out the climate sensor for a video that gives you some sense of what it's like.

You can also check out our guide on how to use the Candle Manager to upload code to your creations.