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Thread: Home automation - What have you got ?

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    Administrator Moby-Dick's Avatar
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    Home automation - What have you got ?

    Didn't want to take TA's thread off track , but it seems home automation is slowly starting to make sence. I was particularly chuffed to see the Google Nest system fully available in the UK. I would have probably got one , but my Solar Panels came with all the OWL intuition stuff, so it was only a small cost to replace my existing thermostat with an OWL one ( a little over £60 )

    Its a shame there isn't a better inter-connectivity between these various systems - It would be nice to mix an match where possible.

    At the moment its just smart power monitoring and temp control , but I'm not sure what other directions I'd like to go with it.

    What are you doing with yours?
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    Bah Humbug. Dooms's Avatar
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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    If I wasn't short term renting (less than a year) I would have soooo much but alas it's not meant to be at the moment

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    Administrator Moby-Dick's Avatar
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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    I know your pain - Having rented for many a year, I only just bought that said , those thermostats are not too tricky to change if you are careful.
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    Bah Humbug. Dooms's Avatar
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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    Amusingly I was just having this chat with work mate in the break area. He has just purchased the nest thermostat & 2x Nest detectors. Planning a lot more

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    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    I'd like to be able to open and close curtains and blinds remotely... but it's SO mechanical it's unlikely to occur too soon.

    Would also quite like powered garage door, but one again, for it to work I would have to lose the weather strip that I have running along the bottom of the doors to keep the leaves and muck out, as they require a serious push to open each door when fitted.

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    Administrator Moby-Dick's Avatar
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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    I've got a powered door , but I dont think I can connect it to the "smart" system - would be handy though !
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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zak33 View Post
    I'd like to be able to open and close curtains and blinds remotely... but it's SO mechanical it's unlikely to occur too soon.
    .
    Here is a starting point


    http://www.amazon.co.uk/y2shop-com-H.../dp/B0047OH80U

    Up and over doors are fairly simple to do - the actuators are available and many are operated by low voltage switching cuicutry, easy to interface to an Arduino (or similar) controller. Whether that is worthwhile is another matter, as many came with a remote function, and it is unlikely that you would want to open or close a garage door unless you are driving up to it, or away from it, or operating it from within a the house.

    Curtains are a good example, but they could be operated from a timer or phoyovell to give automatic or unattended operation.

    The same goes for lights, but switching on things like heating remotely are probably worthwhile, and if you have something like solar pv cells, them a controller to dump power into an immersion heater when it isn't being used for anything else could be worthwhile.
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    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Moby-Dick View Post
    I've got a powered door , but I dont think I can connect it to the "smart" system - would be handy though !
    Really? What one are you using? Anything that can switch a light should be able to manage a door, maybe a bit more work if it has up/down rather than open/close I suppose.

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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    Here's a photo of my Home Automation system, taken shortly after installation a few years back -



    It's called Sally.
    Cheers, David



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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    I got one of those but its a bit temperamental , especially if you get wine in the mechanism.
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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    Hopefully when I get my tax refund, I'm planning on doing the following:

    Hue everywhere.... Currently got it in the Front Room, Bedroom and Study. I'm going to put it in the on suite and maybe the kitchen, but I'm really want to add more in the bedroom, paint it with light so to speak. I might also put it in the hallway too.

    I want some 'internet aware' PIR detectors too, having had a quick look, I might end up making these myself.

    I might replace all the radiator valves with remote controlled ones, do away with the timer, replace it with something of my design.

    Tempted to follow the idea of having electric curtain tracks for my bedroom.

    I'm also wanting to see what the LILA guys come up with for their relaunch.
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    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?


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    Re: Home automation - What have you got ?

    At the moment, little more that plug in timers, useful for small lights/radios/fans/,etc. But I like the idea of a futuristic, totally automatic home. Maybe that's a possible use for my old XP computer; use it to control my home, via wireless switches. I also want hidden cameras. Our homes are so out of date.

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