Ha ha. Good luck. X10 is not bad, but it has its problems, mostly that you cannot query the state of a node. I am also not sure as to its availability here. It was very cheap in the US, but of course, only suited to the US power supply.
I keep toying with the idea of Home Automation but there are two things that stop me: 1) The Man is keeping me down with his legislation preventing me from doing my own home electrical work. (and yes, I know what I am legally permitted to do, but it's not sufficient). 2) There is no hardware to be had in NZ (apart from the expensive systems from Clipsal et. al.) So, my last idea involved the Arlec remote controlled outlet kit that I got in Bunnings for $30. I have mentioned it on-list before, but basically it comprises three plug-in modules with an electrical socket (much like a plug-in timer) and a handheld remote with 6 buttons in three groups of two. Each pair of buttons turns the corresponding module on or off. Because it is wireless, it works all around the house- no need for line-of-sight (cf. IR). Anyway, my plan was to dismantle the outlet modules, install a PIC, and hard-code the unit address (so I can have more than three) and hack the transmitter so it can be controlled by a PC. It still lacks the important function of querying the device to ascertain its state however. Perhaps what you really want is an ethernet enabled mains switch. After all, you do have Cat5e everywhere in your house, don't you? This will allow two-way communication to the node, which can turn outlets on or off, and report their state. It could have a new protocol using UDP for raw control/query, and an embedded web server in the node for casual interrogation. Another alternative is the Dallas one-wire bus. There are 'switch' nodes that you could connect (via optoisolators, natch) to a mains relay (or modified Arlec doodad). This is simpler than ethernet, with the added advantage that you don't need a local power supply (nodes are powered by the bus). The PC interface is easy to build, and you string the sensors off a multi-drop twisted pair (Cat5e is great for this). There are also several home automation projects on the Intarweb- but no one stands out as the ideal. HTH, Andrew On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:12, you wrote: > I feel like I've stepped out of the Dilbert animation and I half expect > Dogbert to appear and use my ego as a punch bag... > > I'm looking at home automation gadgets something in the line of X10. > > (No...not the sleazy wireless cams of the universally hated pop-under > ads. > > Yes, I also have been ignoring everything with the characters X10 for > too long now. I mean the home automation signalling over powerline > protocol called X10.) > > http://www.x10.co.nz/ > http://www.homecontrol.co.nz/ > > Some questions for the group: > > 1) Any (recommended)? dealers in Chch? > > 2) X10 seems to have the attitude you will control things from a remote > or from a CM12 http://www.homecontrol.co.nz/CM12.htm > I want all that stuff out of my way and just control these devices > directly (and cheaply) from my linux box. What's the cheapest PC to X10 > interface? > > 3) Is X10 the way to go? Or is there something cheaper / better? Given > that microcontrollers with all the interfaces + ram + flash you > require are under a dollar a piece, X10 seems unreasonably expensive. > > Thanks, > > > John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639 > Tait Electronics Fax : (64)(3) 359 4632 > PO Box 1645 Christchurch Email : [EMAIL PROTECTED] > New Zealand
