Home Automation Devices

The first place most DIYers look is X-10, but it uses a protocol different than zigbee. Everything I've bought from them worked pretty well as long as you don't exceed the distances for some of their wireless devices.

I sell some of this stuff.

I believe most of it to be gadgety... pretty cool, but of almost no real value.

There are a few that are of some value to specific lifestyles, but most remote monitor/activation is just an exotic or unusual toy application which is appealing to some individuals because none of their friends have it.

I'll be glad to sell you some, but I don't try to talk someone into any of it.

Ramconsult and the X10 is what I filled my house with when the kids were young.

I had cameras all over, trip units, when the kids tripped the unit in the driveway I recorded to a VHS tape the kids walking up the driveway, switched to the door, then inside then up the stairs and into the kitchen to the pool room. Being a single dad with 4 daughters and working full time, I needed a way to monitor what was happening when I wasn't home. I could also log in and see what was happening from my desk.

One day my daughter and her friends tried to cover the camera and play pool for 45 mins, they didn't realize the camera also had a microphone and recorded everything including my dad will be home in 10 mins, you all have to leave. I found that to be so much fun playing the tape back to her. Busted as hell. She is now 26.

I controlled all the lights, HVAC and everything else I could think of back then.

It was all X10 stuff. Currently I use it to control a few things around the house now.

It was a lot more fun when the kids were home. Now they have much more in their offerings. So check X10 out.

That is great.

I will check it out.

When you linked your system together did you create your own front end or was there one that existed?

X-10 has their own software package that will do whatever you need.

I currently control lights and my pool with X-10. It works pretty good.

The modules talk using the 120VAC wiring in your house.

The only caveot I have found is when the signal needs to talk from one side of your 120VAC wiring bus to the other side (other half of your house). This problem is solved using a bus coupler and two spare breaker slots.

I solved this problem with a couple of 600v .001 ceramic capacitors across the lines in the breaker box.

you may go for X-10, but its protocol is different from what you have mentioned. If you have interest in this, then I am ready to help you.

Check out KNX as a standard. I know this hasn't been widely used in the US, but here in Europe it is being increasingly adopted as it is standards based. This means there are thousands of products to pick from, including AV, security, control, etc. from many different manufacturers. The standards organisation is knx.org. I have a building automation business and we use KNX extensively on residential and commercial projects.

The only time I need the lights turned on and off automatically is when I'm on vacation. I find video cameras around the house creepy too. What's to keep a hacker from spying on you in your own home with that stuff? Also, if people got up off their fannies and walked occasionally, they would add 10 years to their lives and subtract 10 inches from their waists.

Sounds like a good business model.

I don't think I know of anybody who has integrated, or even attempts to integrate ALL the home automation devices available now, let alone when they become as popular as apps on a cell phone.

Thanks for the idea....

For now this is an experiment

There will be lots of trial and error. But yes. If I could pick from a list what device I wanted to use and have it automatically integrated.

Wouldn't that be great.

Look at sonos speakers and that's my goal.

I have worked with most of these. Smart home is about the most complete make on the US market. It comes with easy to use software and fits in many applications.

The programming comes near to PLC possibilities, though some conditions are missing like and nor etc..

X10 is not that reliable and has lots of interferences with Wireless Phones and other same frequency equipment. The range is short.

I'd go for smart home dual, with PLC and radio transmission.

A friend has about 120 applications implemented in his house and controls and monitors everything with his MAC.