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- Newsgroups: sci.electronics
- Path: sparky!uunet!mcsun!fuug!krk!nntp!teemu
- From: teemu@krkmoon.krk.fi (Teemu Hakala)
- Subject: Re: Home Automation, X-10, IR questions
- In-Reply-To: holowczk@rwja.umdnj.edu's message of 2 Nov 92 02: 01:47 GMT
- Message-ID: <TEEMU.92Nov7174456@krkmoon.krk.fi>
- Sender: usenet@krk.fi
- Nntp-Posting-Host: krkmoon.krk.fi
- Organization: Radio Club of Kauniainen (OH2NRG)
- References: <1660@rwja.umdnj.edu>
- Distribution: sci
- Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 15:44:56 GMT
- Lines: 68
-
- QUOTE QUOTE QUOTE
-
- Hello there. I don't know if this is the right group for these
- questions so please excuse me if it is not.
-
- I just got a copy of the CIRCUIT CELLAR INK magazine. They talk
- quite a bit about home automation. Things like motion and
- audio sensors used to turn on lights, lower the heat/AC and
- turn things on and off via timers or remote control. Being
- somewhat of a computer/electronics buff, I was wondering if anyone
- has used any of this equipment and how satisfied they are with the
- quality and reliability.
-
- From what I have read, there are basically two ways of sending signals
- from transmitters (hand held, sensors, etc.) to control units like
- lights, TVs, etc. I think the X-10 protocol runs over the AC wires in
- your house. You program this protocol woth a particular "house code"
- and the modules you plug in to your wall sockets will pick up on the
- codes and act accordingly. Is this correct? If so, two concerns come
- to mind. One is, how far along the AC do these signals carry? If my
- neigbor happens to have some X-10 equipment, might they conflict? How
- about around the block or four streets over? Also, are there any
- safety issues with using AC this way? Will it affect the operations of
- any appliances or my PCs?
-
- The other method I've read about is IR. The transmitters send IR
- codes to the controller modules much like you TVs remote sends codes
- to your TV or VCR. There are even converters offerred which convert
- IR codes to X-10 codes.
-
- Most of this stuff is fairly cheap. Is this technology mature
- enough for non-professional (like myself) to obtain good results?
-
- One company offered a book for about $30.00 US on how to automate your
- your home. I think it's by a fella named David Gaddis. Any good?
-
- Basically, what I'd like to do is have floodlights and the front port
- lights come on when someone pulls in the Driveway at night, floodlights
- come on in the back and side of the house if anyone is walking around
- there at night and I'd also like to be able to turn on various lights
- in the house when I'm not home to make it look like someone is home.
-
- A few companies also sell PC interfaces for this equipment. I'd like
- to take a crack at programming a nice user interface that people could
- use to customize their home automation (of course I'd share it with anyone
- who is interested).
-
- Thanks in advance for any comments, stories, suggestions, etc. If there is
- no FAQ for this, I will summarize and post my findings.
-
- Rich Holowczak
- holowczk@rwja.umdnj.edu
-
- END QUOTE END QUOTE END QUOTE
-
- I could imagine some passive IR sensors doing great job in and outside of your house.
- Also normal timers (24h/7d) would be great in simulating "somebody home". Of course
- if you have a cat (dogs go crazy if left alone, cats are alone naturally) you can leave
- it (him/her) in the house and the movement sensors in rooms on, doors open, so when the
- cat moves in your house, it switches lights on by its trail. Constructing those sensor-
- devices should be relatively easy, any change in the voltage from the sensor itself
- would trigger a time-relay (10min should be good for normal use).
- BTW, be careful with those X-10s and others, they MAY bother computers and so on, so you
- should put filters in front of your computer.
- --
- Teemu Hakala | E-Mail to : | These opinions are mine, and so are
- Kasavuorentie 9B | teemu@krksun.krk.fi | all those *ing mistakes. Do NOT think
- 02700 Kauniainen | Teemu.Hakala@krk.fi | abt. Radio Club when I make a mistake
-