Home Automation?
- Thread starter nspctr1
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lutron. But let me aks, WHY? ...call me old fashioned. seems like it could open the door to more problems than cures...
One solution I looked at a few years ago is Z-wave based -- made by micasaverde. Basically it's like a home router with Z-wave radio and custom firmware. It can monitor & control quite a few devices including low-cost IP cameras. I haven't looked recently but there's probably others that jumped into this market.
I ended up building a system using Linux and Ethernet. That's another route but is not for everyone.
I ended up building a system using Linux and Ethernet. That's another route but is not for everyone.
New switch coming out you can control with an app on your droid device....seems pretty cool....CES 2013: Belkin WeMo Light Switch http://drippler.com/updates/share/ces-2013-belkin-wemo-light-switch Via j.mp/getDrippler
I know this is reviving an old thread, but Insteon is my preferred brand for home automation.
Background:
I've been running home automation for many years
I have done research on home automation for around 10 years (I haven't changed my preferred attack in that time despite all the new players)
I look for what gives me the most possibilities in a system, not whats the coolest thing right now knowing that eventually it can be controlled by other devices.
I installed everything myself and programmed it all myself.
When you add specific controllers like the ISY99x you can control all/most Insteon, Zigbee, Z-wave, RF, IR, and various other automation technologies. Nest recently opened up its api, so that should come soon.
So why Insteon? Insteon can be "dual-band" meaning that its sends signals over both RF and and the power line (typically referred to as X10 although there are differences). This gives you redundancy. This is also a mesh network, so the more devices you add, the better the accuracy of the communication gets. Every device will forward on the RF signal, as well as forward the signals via power line ensuring that programs, scenes and devices work and react as they are told.
Insteon also has a very large variety of devices (Thermostats, Garage Doors, Motion sensors, water link sensors, lights, outlets, dimming outlets, sprinkler systems, remote controls, etc etc etc...)
Why use an ISY controller
1. Their forum is awesome for support and ideas.
2. It allows you to interconnect with the different technologies that enter the market. You can mix your old and new technology devices.
3. You can connect to weather modules, and all sorts of other services to provide triggers to your programs
4. It gives you internet access to all your devices and even to remotely program your house
5. Works with iPhone and Android apps that are very good
5. Variables variables variables. There is nothing you cant do with some state based variables
6. Easy to program. If you can troubleshoot a cruiser, you can program this thing.
7. Works with IFTTT to give you even more options if you just must interface with Phillips HUE lights.
So what can you do that's cool? Lots of different technologies can do similar things. ISY makes a fantastic controller for all the disparate systems.
Besides accessing everything about your house on your smartphone/tablet, I have created many programs to aid in my life.
I don't fall asleep quickly, so I have a program that slowly changes all the lights in my house to dim, and light the way to the bedroom over a period of about a half hour to help me start to wind down and keep a similar bedtime (when I'm not trying to finish something on my 80)
I have a tendency to leave a garage door open at night: So I have a control and a light indicator in the bedroom that tells me the garage door is open and lets me close it with the touch of a button from my bedroom.
Waking up is never fun in the winter when its dark, so lights gradually come up to create an easy wakeup at the desired time. You could also add devices to open your blinds or drapes.
But its a ski day tomorrow...no problem, one touch of the button changes my alarm.
Tired of leaving lights on, one button takes care of that, sets all the outside lights on (well really cuts there power level to 50% for cost savings) and turns all the inside lights off.
Sometimes it gets dark before I get home, and I hate leaving my dog in the dark house, well at sunset, his light will always turn on whether Im home or not. My controller knows exactly when sunset and sunrise is.
I wonder if I should water the grass. A combination of programs lets you control your sprinkler system so that it shuts off if its starting to rain.
My water heater is too old and will break any day. Well my water sensor will send me a text and continuously flash all the lights in my house to tell me to go inspect for damage.
I want lights to come on as I approach my house. Well my proximity variable on my iphone sets my house into the Im home state based on time of day.
You need to save on power bills, no problem, set all the lights to only use 80-90% of full power. You wont even know the difference.
Someone opens my garage when I'm not around, I get a text and an email.
Happy to answer questions on my system.
Background:
I've been running home automation for many years
I have done research on home automation for around 10 years (I haven't changed my preferred attack in that time despite all the new players)
I look for what gives me the most possibilities in a system, not whats the coolest thing right now knowing that eventually it can be controlled by other devices.
I installed everything myself and programmed it all myself.
When you add specific controllers like the ISY99x you can control all/most Insteon, Zigbee, Z-wave, RF, IR, and various other automation technologies. Nest recently opened up its api, so that should come soon.
So why Insteon? Insteon can be "dual-band" meaning that its sends signals over both RF and and the power line (typically referred to as X10 although there are differences). This gives you redundancy. This is also a mesh network, so the more devices you add, the better the accuracy of the communication gets. Every device will forward on the RF signal, as well as forward the signals via power line ensuring that programs, scenes and devices work and react as they are told.
Insteon also has a very large variety of devices (Thermostats, Garage Doors, Motion sensors, water link sensors, lights, outlets, dimming outlets, sprinkler systems, remote controls, etc etc etc...)
Why use an ISY controller
1. Their forum is awesome for support and ideas.
2. It allows you to interconnect with the different technologies that enter the market. You can mix your old and new technology devices.
3. You can connect to weather modules, and all sorts of other services to provide triggers to your programs
4. It gives you internet access to all your devices and even to remotely program your house
5. Works with iPhone and Android apps that are very good
5. Variables variables variables. There is nothing you cant do with some state based variables
6. Easy to program. If you can troubleshoot a cruiser, you can program this thing.
7. Works with IFTTT to give you even more options if you just must interface with Phillips HUE lights.
So what can you do that's cool? Lots of different technologies can do similar things. ISY makes a fantastic controller for all the disparate systems.
Besides accessing everything about your house on your smartphone/tablet, I have created many programs to aid in my life.
I don't fall asleep quickly, so I have a program that slowly changes all the lights in my house to dim, and light the way to the bedroom over a period of about a half hour to help me start to wind down and keep a similar bedtime (when I'm not trying to finish something on my 80)
I have a tendency to leave a garage door open at night: So I have a control and a light indicator in the bedroom that tells me the garage door is open and lets me close it with the touch of a button from my bedroom.
Waking up is never fun in the winter when its dark, so lights gradually come up to create an easy wakeup at the desired time. You could also add devices to open your blinds or drapes.
But its a ski day tomorrow...no problem, one touch of the button changes my alarm.
Tired of leaving lights on, one button takes care of that, sets all the outside lights on (well really cuts there power level to 50% for cost savings) and turns all the inside lights off.
Sometimes it gets dark before I get home, and I hate leaving my dog in the dark house, well at sunset, his light will always turn on whether Im home or not. My controller knows exactly when sunset and sunrise is.
I wonder if I should water the grass. A combination of programs lets you control your sprinkler system so that it shuts off if its starting to rain.
My water heater is too old and will break any day. Well my water sensor will send me a text and continuously flash all the lights in my house to tell me to go inspect for damage.
I want lights to come on as I approach my house. Well my proximity variable on my iphone sets my house into the Im home state based on time of day.
You need to save on power bills, no problem, set all the lights to only use 80-90% of full power. You wont even know the difference.
Someone opens my garage when I'm not around, I get a text and an email.
Happy to answer questions on my system.