On 12/05/2011 06:43 PM, Tom Metro wrote:
Jerry Feldman wrote:
Home remote control - not exactly hardware hacking.
Home automation fits the charter of the list.
Years ago I looked into X10...
I've written about X10 on BLU (see archives). I'm not a fan. Never
worked reliably for me except in very limited use (i.e. a RF wireless
switch talking to an RF receiver; no power-line communication involved).
I've looked at Insteon...
A viable choice, but it still mostly depends on power-line
communication, which I had had enough of, so I put my bets on Z-Wave,
with uses a mesh RF network.
What I am looking for is a couple of wireless outlets so I can
program a couple of lamps that are currently running on manual timers.
...decided it was not worth it at the time.
I recommend starting small and simple. If you go Z-Wave start with one
of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-HA07C-Settings-Wireless-Control/dp/B000BRGU2E/
It's a simple timer/controller. Doesn't handle DST time changes
correctly (hard wired for the old schedule) as I noted in my Amazon
review, and has a clunky UI, but it's cheap and does the job (I've been
using one for a couple of years). You can find one for about $12 at the
Ocean State Job Lot down the road from you.
Alternatively get the version that comes bundled with a couple of lamp
modules:
http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-HA101K-Home-Settings-Wireless/dp/B000BRMMDU/
or separately purchase some modules:
http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-HA02C-Settings-Heavy-Duty-Appliance/dp/B000BJSDZO/
I went with the appliance modules (use a relay instead of a TRIAC) as I
don't really have any incandescent lamps that could make use of the
dimming functionality the lamp module provides.
Anyway, this will get your basic need met for under $50 ($40 if you shop
carefully). You;ll get your feet wet with Z-Wave and determine whether
it works reliably for you.
What I want to do is to control a lamp (and later a thermostat) from
Linux or Android via WiFi.
When you are comfortable with the above, work your way up to this using:
http://code.google.com/p/open-zwave/
The list archives and the wiki has recommendations for computer Z-Wave
interfaces.
I haven't had time to implement the Linux side of my Z-Wave setup, but
hope to do it in the coming year. I'd like to build a dedicated home
automation server on a router platform.
Thanks Tom. Initially 2 lamps is what I want to start with. One issue is
that one plug is behind a credenza, and it is a pain to change the
setting on the time change as well as adjust for sundown. What I would
like to do more long term is to control the thermostat. My current
thermostat is good, but very few compensate for holidays. Additionally,
if I am away from homw and I forget to set it for vacation, with home
automation I would be able to.
In any case, these are projects that I had intended many years ago (even
before David Kramer's BLU presentatio0n), but never got around to it.
--
Jerry Feldman<[email protected]>
Boston Linux and Unix
PGP key id:3BC1EB90
PGP Key fingerprint: 49E2 C52A FC5A A31F 8D66 C0AF 7CEA 30FC 3BC1 EB90
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