Recent content by djbowen

Eric, My view would be to keep it simple. As others have mentioned do data logging and ignore the presentation/manipulation bit - this can be done with the PC. I like your idea of very low power - something that could run detached occasionally would be neat. And outdoors would be better. As...

This seems to be drifting off topic a bit for a hobbyboards post. I am interested if any has some ideas (or data) for calibration for the HB Solar Sensor kit. Some way of calculating watts or lux from the current output would be handy. Dan

All, I have a small PV setup (nominal 18V thru 5A/12V regulator to car/leisure batteries) that I would like to monitor the state-of-charge on to see how my batteries are doing. I want the data to be over a 1-wire data bus to fit with my other sensors. EL34 published a thread about using a...

Thanks Dubravko. It sounds like this is not a good solution then for State-of-Charge monitoring. What would you recommend - building a sensor using a PIC microctroller with 1-wire software perhaps?

Did you find a solution that works? Please let us know. Dan

There is a lot more X10 kit than PLCBUS looking around. Do you go out via a PLCX10 interface to get the benefits of more kit? Also the only place I can find with UK kit (3 pin 240V) is x10-hk.com which is a little worrying. There is a dealer in the neatherlands but they ship all stuff with 2...

I am not sure what you mean. Are you saying that you cannot measure a -0.25V < x < +0.25V range then?

I assume that the DS2438 can cope with +ve and -ve currents? Since some times the batteries will be sourcing power and other times being charged? thanks Dan

I am looking for a data-over-mains system for 240V light control. I am told that UPB does not support anything other than 120V systems any longer and that I must use an X10 system. Has anyone got any alternatives since this forum seems to knock X10 equipment quite badly, which makes me worried...

Thank you for your help guys. I'll put any other general comments in the other threads but it is good to hear straight from the engineers wherever possible.

Thanks for you comment Steve. I understand the sentiment but am still concerned that HA based around power-line data transmission opens your house up to abuse from other people on your estate who share the same utility lines. Is this a realistic concern or has testing been done on this to prove...

Nice explanation. Thanks. I guess that power interruptions would cause no more issue than without your HA system then? You mention UPB for your light controls - this gives you a broadcast network I guess. Do you use this also for heating controls or do you use a more direct control (i.e...

From your product description: Can you explain how this is possible? Are all the smarts in the devices themselves? If so what does the controller do? It is an interesting product range but I am concerned with how robust it is in practice - especially in an area with frequent power supply...

Crickey - with all this gear running you guys probably don't need any heating in your houses! Sigh. I ran lots of boxes too until the utility prices got silly, and then considered whether I really needed all that kit when I use VMware server for everything anyway...

I used one to rework my rain-gauge when the wireless transmitter board in it died. Works a treat and onewire means no more batteries failing due to old age or low temperatures. I have no issues with cabling due to its location.