Home automation

[Karl Andrew]

Hi all

was wondering if anybody has had anything to do with home automation

I'm in the middle of buying a new house and it could do with being re-wired etc so while I'm at it I've decided to data network the house too. And now I've stumbled across home automation etc

all I'm after is being able to turn the lights on and off, heating on and off, and open the garage door

so the question is sort of gear should i go for? has anybody had any problems with it? Or should I forget about it?

also I've messed about on the net looking at different systems but just seem to be going round in circles

any help is much appreciated

cheers

karl

 

[Octopus]

For remote "control" of your heating and water take a look at the Salus IT500. A bit fiddly to set up on the controller, so use your PC! The Iphone/Android app is very easy to use. Avoid the BG system!

 

[dan86]

for heating, I like heatmiser.
what lighting is it you want to automate exactly?

 

[JulianC]

For turning lights on and off I use localised manually operated electromechanical current disruptors, located near to the access/egress point of each lit space. This allows for tight control of lighting at point of use, minimising energy wastage.

My heating is fully automated by means of an electronic timer and thermostat. Manual overrides are provided as necessary. Adjustment of such overrides is triggered via the endothermic perceptions of carbon-based lifeforms resident within the heated space. Excess consumption is minimized via use of personal insulated apparel.

For my garage door I opted for complete manual control. Not only is such control still functional in the event of power failure, it is secure in so far as the door is inoperable without the insertion of a coded mechanical entry device into its mated receptacle. Such coded devices are able to be replicated at specialist outlets, thus allowing garage access to be selectable and controlled by the main householder.

Home automation is a load of old cock IMO. I do exhibit frequent Luddite tendencies though, it has to be said.

 

[Engineer54]

All a bit of an expensive gimmick to be honest!! The chances are, that after the initial playing with it wears off you'll hardly if ever use it!!

Home movie/entertainment is another matter altogether. If you're having the property rewired and into home movies, then it's a good idea to get all the speaker and control wiring in at the same time. It's a real pig of a job trying to get it all in and finished of nicely in a newly decorated house with all those wall chases to speakers positions and the like!! lol!!

I gave the electrician a separate conduit drawing for my home movie installation when i had my house built in Cyprus, just a case of wiring it all in myself then. If only i'd known about big wall mounted Flat screen TV's were coming down the line at the time!! lol!!

 

[ChevyKevv]

I've got lightwave RF set up in my house, it operates the lights and TV / Blueray sockets from my iPad etc. You buy each switch / socket individually and need a hub to hook up to the WiFi, & it's very easy to set up. The advantage is you can take it all with you when you move house.