Skip to main content

Detect natural gas leaks before they become dangerous with Kepler

kepler like nest protect gas leaks screen shot 2014 08 04 at 2 06 50 pm
Remember that scene from Fight Club where the pilot light goes out on Ed Norton’s stove, his apartment fills up with gas for a couple weeks, and then his refrigerator clicks on and blows everything to high hell? Well if Tyler Durden had spent his money on this recently-launched gizmo on Kickstarter instead of a bunch of trendy Ikea furniture, that might never have happened.

Kepler, as it’s named, looks a lot like one of Nest’s iconic thermostats, but instead of regulating the temperature in your pad, it’s designed to monitor your house for dangerous gases. However, unlike most other gas detectors that are only designed for smoke or carbon monoxide, this one will also sound the alarm if it detects potentially explosive amounts of natural gas.

Screen Shot 2014-08-04 at 2.11.34 PMOnce installed, Kepler monitors the air in your house and displays the gas levels (in parts per million) in big, bright numbers on its face. If the gas reaches a certain level, the numbers turn yellow, and Kepler issues an alert that tells you to turn the gas off and open the windows. In the event that the gas reaches a level that could cause an explosion, the device immediately flashes a red warning light and sounds a loud alarm, letting you know that it’s time to high-tail it out of there and call the gas company.

Related: Birdi is a smart smoke detector and much, much more

Additionally, as is the standard for just about every device bearing the “smart” moniker, Kepler also connects to your home Wi-Fi network, so it can beam these alerts to your smartphone no matter where you are in the world. This means that, even if you’re away from home and can’t hear the local alarms, you’ll still know of the danger ahead of time — there’s no risk of blowing yourself to bits when you return home from a long vacation.

To help finalize the prototype design and get Kepler ready for mass production, the creators have turned to Kickstarter to raise the necessary funds. The project has already met and exceeded its initial funding goal, so barring any unforeseen circumstances, the team expects to ship Kepler to backers as early as November. If you back the project now, you can lock one down for around $60 to $70. Find out more here.

Editors' Recommendations

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
Nest Doorbell vs. Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: which is the better video doorbell?
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus installed outside a front door.

Ring and Nest are responsible for some of the best video doorbells available. With easy-to-use smartphone apps, simple installation processes, and the ability to customize your motion alerts, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus and Nest Doorbell have quickly established themselves as two of the best video doorbells money can buy.

But what exactly is the difference between these two popular gadgets? And which is better for your smart home?

Read more
The best Apple HomeKit devices for 2023
A person unlocking the Aqara U100 smart lock with their phone.

While not as widespread as Google Home or Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit remains one of the most popular smart home ecosystems of 2023. The software plays well with iOS devices, and several other gadgets such as smart lights, smart locks, thermostats, and cameras can be controlled using the fancy technology. If you’re looking to build your smart home around Apple’s ecosystem, here are the best HomeKit devices available today.
Locks

HomeKit doesn’t have the largest selection of smart locks, but that doesn’t really matter when you have something as well-rounded as the Aqara Smart Lock U100. Not only does it offer full HomeKit support, but you’ll even gain access to Apple home keys -- allowing you to unlock your door with your iPhone or Apple Watch. There’s also the standard keypad for entering a passcode, along with a fingerprint sensor that can store several dozen fingerprints (so your whole family can enter the home without worrying about forgetting their password or smartphone).

Read more
Secure your home with Ring Floodlight Cam Plus and save $80
Ring Floodlight Camera placed on a wall outside.

Best Buy has one of the best security camera deals at the moment with $80 off the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus Outdoor Wired Surveillance Camera. Usually priced at $200, it's down to $120 for a limited time only so if you're fast enough, you'll save a lot of cash. If you're looking to secure your home, keep reading while we tell you all about the advantages this security camera offers.

Why you should buy the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus
Considered to be one of the best floodlight cameras for someone seeking a hard-wired solution, the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus Outdoor Wired Surveillance Camera is a highly effective home security measure.

Read more