Home Automation

Drifter · Post by **Drifter** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:53 pm

Not sure if this is an appropriate place to post this, but I've received so much help and great advice from fellow forum members in the past few months that I decided to share it here.

In the interest of home security, you might want to look into a home automation system. X-10 and Smarthome and a lot of other companies sell relatively inexpensive and generally reliable "plug-in" modules that allow you to do all sorts of things via wireless remotes. I've used an X-10 system for years, to control my lights and ring annunciators or turn on lights driven by motion detectors. Also recently installed one in my Mom's home. I've carried mine along and reinstalled them in four homes when we moved over the past 15 years.

You can start with a basic wireless setup or get the computer interface module which lets you program specific on and off times for individual lights and devices, or turn on and off things based on dusk - dawn times in your area. Works great when away for the evening or on vacation.

I can turn on any or all lights in my home by pressing one button on a small remote lying on my nightstand. In fact, I've got about six remotes scattered around the house for easy access. Handy when something goes bump in the night.

These systems use wireless remote signals and then transmit a code over your home's electrical wiring to activate plug-in modules into which lamps are plugged. Hard-wired devices like switches and wall receptacles are also available. They also offer CCTV cameras which connect to any TV set or can be tied to your computer and allow you to see your monitored areas over the Internet.

Reliability is NOT always 100%, but mine works well enough. Better systems certainly exist, but mine didn't cost me thousands of dollars or require tearing into my walls and running wire.

It's a great addition to my hardwired and monitored burgler alarm system.

nitrogen · Post by **nitrogen** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:14 pm

One of the things I had in my last house was an X-10 wall switch for the driveway light, along with a motion detector wired to that light. Then, you go and put another interior light on the same "code". When the codes are set the same, the motion detector will turn on the driveway light, as well as the interior light. (I used a lamp in the family room, as well as one upstairs.)

That way, if someone comes up your driveway (or walkway) you can get a very easy alert; the driveway and walkway lights will come on, along with that interior light.

I originally set this up for a friend of mine who's deaf; but she raved about the setup so much I set it up myself.

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:18 pm

I likd that. It is a wake up for in the house & a shock to the one approaching.
"Someone is up."

Post by **Skiprr** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:31 pm

My favorite browsing source for home security stuff: http://www.smarthome.com/

Drifter · Post by **Drifter** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:47 pm

nitrogen wrote:One of the things I had in my last house was an X-10 wall switch for the driveway light, along with a motion detector wired to that light. <SNIP>

Likewise. I also installed a chime module, so anyone walking up my sidewalk or driveway is "pre-announced" before they get to the door. You can set the motion sensors for 24/7 or night only.

Drives the pizza delivery guy nuts!

KBCraig · Post by **KBCraig** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:15 am

If you have an old spare computer laying around, some of the automation programs can run some great if/then scripts. They can take input from all your devices and perform different functions based on what you set up in advance.

With a simple interface that connects to the wall socket, and your USB or serial port, the computer "talks" to your devices.

Example:
IF the driveway sensor triggers AND it is dark outside, THEN turn on lights x, y and z; ELSE turn on the lawn sprinklers AND send a text message to my cell phone.

These systems can handle a lot more than security. You can connect weather stations, so that the sprinklers only turn on if there has been less than n amount of rainfall in the last d number of days. You can set timers to adjust thermostats, etc., based on your garage door opening, or text messages received from your cell phone, etc. I wouldn't even be surprised if you can use them to transmit an IR code that turns on your TV to your favorite news channel.

So far as I know, there are no devices that will open and pour a cold beer as you pull into the driveway. For that, we still have to rely on the perfect spouse (got mine, thanks!

)

The good part is that none of this requires computer expertise, just a bit of logic.

Kevin

txinvestigator · Post by **txinvestigator** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:07 pm

Mine is set up to flash the front and rear porch lights when the burglar alarm sounds, and turns on ALL interior lights when the fire alarm sounds.

I can set it up to have different lights come on at different times of the day and night when we are away.

Pretty cool stuff. I use X10 now, but we just contracted our house and are moving to the Grapevine area. I am going to use something different then.

Drifter · Post by **Drifter** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 1:03 pm

TI, are you using X-10's security system? I used it about four houses back, but subsequent homes have all had hardwired security systems in them when I bought them. Never built a home from scratch.

If you are building your new home or having it built new, you are one lucky guy. You can now install all sorts of goodies and pathways for future goodies - security, CCTV, media, home automation -- the list goes on.

Remember, like guns and bullets, one can never have to much empty conduit!

txinvestigator · Post by **txinvestigator** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 4:55 pm

Drifter wrote:TI, are you using X-10's security system? I used it about four houses back, but subsequent homes have all had hardwired security systems in them when I bought them. Never built a home from scratch.

If you are building your new home or having it built new, you are one lucky guy. You can now install all sorts of goodies and pathways for future goodies - security, CCTV, media, home automation -- the list goes on.

Remember, like guns and bullets, one can never have to much empty conduit!

No, it is not the X10 system. I have an X10 module in the CPU of the system.

govnor · Post by **govnor** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:22 pm

Skiprr wrote:My favorite browsing source for home security stuff: http://www.smarthome.com/

Thanks for that link! Awesome stuff.

LedJedi · Post by **LedJedi** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:09 am

wow, neat stuff on there.

thanks for posting that info and bringing the topic up.

Is there a voice module where I can make it sound like Hal ?

govnor · Post by **govnor** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:30 pm

txinvestigator wrote:Mine is set up to flash the front and rear porch lights when the burglar alarm sounds, and turns on ALL interior lights when the fire alarm sounds.

I can set it up to have different lights come on at different times of the day and night when we are away.

Pretty cool stuff. I use X10 now, but we just contracted our house and are moving to the Grapevine area. I am going to use something different then.

You shouldn't need much in Grapevine. It's a pretty safe area. And, you'll be right down the street from me...lucky you.

txinvestigator · Post by **txinvestigator** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:03 am

govnor wrote:
txinvestigator wrote:Mine is set up to flash the front and rear porch lights when the burglar alarm sounds, and turns on ALL interior lights when the fire alarm sounds.

I can set it up to have different lights come on at different times of the day and night when we are away.

Pretty cool stuff. I use X10 now, but we just contracted our house and are moving to the Grapevine area. I am going to use something different then.
You shouldn't need much in Grapevine. It's a pretty safe area. And, you'll be right down the street from me...lucky you.

I was a little premature. We are going out to pick a house today. After reading your other thread about your neighbor troubles, I am a little apprehensive. I think I'll do a little detective work before I make any offers. ;)

govnor · Post by **govnor** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:14 am

txinvestigator wrote:
govnor wrote:
txinvestigator wrote:Mine is set up to flash the front and rear porch lights when the burglar alarm sounds, and turns on ALL interior lights when the fire alarm sounds.

I can set it up to have different lights come on at different times of the day and night when we are away.

Pretty cool stuff. I use X10 now, but we just contracted our house and are moving to the Grapevine area. I am going to use something different then.
You shouldn't need much in Grapevine. It's a pretty safe area. And, you'll be right down the street from me...lucky you.
I was a little premature. We are going out to pick a house today. After reading your other thread about your neighbor troubles, I am a little apprehensive. I think I'll do a little detective work before I make any offers. ;)

Yeah, definitely! One thing I didn't do was knock on neighbor's doors around here and ask. I did scope out the house a couple of times, but you really need to go sit there at all hours and see what's going on. Even with all that, some creep can move in next door after you. I just thought that in a neighborhood this nice you wouldn't have those problems. I've lived in similar places with no problem a lot of times.

I'm sure you know how to look up people on the CAD and everything. A good way to find out who's living next door and what their house is worth. I also would NOT buy another house in town that didn't have a home owner's association. Yeah, they aren't the greatest thing, but they tend to take care of the trash. Or more importantly, keep them out. Grapevine is nice, but parts of it can have some problems. Gated community would be best, but too expensive for me.

Venus Pax · Post by **Venus Pax** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:40 am

govnor wrote:Yeah, definitely! One thing I didn't do was knock on neighbor's doors around here and ask. I did scope out the house a couple of times, but you really need to go sit there at all hours and see what's going on.

When we purchased our house nearly five years ago, we didn't realize that the people living in the nicest house would turn out to be the trashiest. They had only been in their house a few months when we moved in ours. Their house still looked nice. Since then, they've gotten a series of big dogs (one after another since they won't put up a fence & dogs keep getting hit or disappearing), they leave trash in the yards & driveway, they leave their projects (boats & ATVs) out in the driveway on blocks, etc. They have recently set up bird cages and have loud, squaking birds. They smoke a lot of weed, drink a lot of beer, and have questionable-looking characters hanging around.
Since just about everyone else on the street is elderly, they are a bit intimidated by this bunch. My elderly neighbors don't have the most glamourous and up-to-date homes, but they're quiet, clean, and neighborly. The old folks don't bring my property value down; the bunch next door do.
As much as I despise HOAs, we're considering a neighborhood when we leave here. (This is the county and is unrestricted.)