Advice For Getting Started

[rlrcstr]

Hello all... We are just closing on our house. It's not a new structure - built around 1981. To use a technical phrase: I'd like to automate the crap out of it...

So I've been researching and reading up on all sorts of technologies and I can't quite figure out what the best way to go is. It seems there's no shortage of lighting control or standard on/off power control for most devices. But when it comes to irrigation and pool/spa there is a definite lack of options.

The pool system at this house is all manual at this point. But it's a very complex system. 4 blower motors, 5 pumps, 16 valves to route air/water to pool and/or spa. It's quite a bit of overkill for a residential system. (Spa seats 16 people! Who builds a spa that big at their 2700 sq. ft. house?) But there it is. And I'm pleased to be taking advantage of their over-improvements.

So where is the best place to go for advice on how to do it all? I get the impression that I'll have to combine technologies. Or is there any one that can do it all? I'd like to include house-wide media control, window treatments and anything else you can think of. I want to turn the house into a giant toy. I don't mind hard-wired, if that's the way to go. But they seem very proprietary. And, obviously, the wireless or PLC stuff is much easier to install.

On top of all that, I'd like to build the control application myself, so it's all got be accessible to my PC. (I am a techno-geek, by trade.)

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Pointers to "tutorials" are welcome. I've seen many comparison charts (most vendors have them as a way of pointing out how their tech is better!) But then sometimes it seems like finding simple gadgets is hard: There is a lack of electrical outlets where you can control both outlets. They all seem to have one always on and the other controlled. Stuff like that... And is there a good resource that talks about integrating the different technologies if that what it takes to get total control?

Thanks!

J

 

[123]

The subject is vast ... sort of like "I want to invest and make money. What should I do?".

I suggest you make a list of things you'd like to accomplish and then perform research for each one. There's plenty of material here; use Search liberally. Ask a focused question and fellow Cocooners will rush to your aid.

Home Automation ... welcome to the rest of your life!

 

[Steve]

Welcome to CocoonTech!

I agree with 123. You asked for a 'tutorial' This site is your best tutorial and Search will be your best friend. Probably 99% of what you will want to do has been covered in one way or another. Not trying to put you off, just hard to answer your post in other ways. But I will mention a few 'general' things...

Some things do lack alot of options, either because they are not as common, or they are more basic. Like irrigation - essentially you turn a 24V valve on or off, so there are several options - something like a Rain8 in many forms, or roll your own using relays and a pc I/O board or control panel. Same with pool pumps/motors/lights.

I agree hardwire is best for everything whenever you can.

As for outlet control, yes, most only control 1 of the two outlets - but there are always options! One is to use an inline module in front of the regular outlet. Turning the module on/off will then affect the entire outlet.

On the point of building your own... While I applaud that, don't under estimate the complexity and time it will take. If you want to spend all your free time coding/debugging, then go for it! but many others have opted for off the shelf stuff so they can have a life to spend with family, etc and enjoy their toys, not spend their lives trying to reinvent the wheel just to say you built is yourself. There are also a few threads around on this subject as well.

Above all, just enjoy it!

 

[IVB]

my personal path is written up here. Although I personally chose one s/w package, much of that doc is transfereable to whatever path you choose.

 

[123]

... I'd like to build the control application myself, ...

If you want to jump-start the process of automating your home, it'd be best to start with an existing Home Automation (HA) application. There's one available for every budget (including free).

HA apps are sophisticated beasts and mastering one takes time; creating one from scratch takes even more time. However, if that's your passion, spend time looking at existing programs to get an idea of what to build ... and here is where I lure you to Premise.

 

[DavidL]

I assume that there is already a control system for the spa. So, what options are there for remote control....I would start by getting the make / model of the existing control board and find out from that manufacturer if there was ever a RS232 control addon. Jandy is a popular make. MainLobby and CQC both have Jandy plugins.

If no ready available control board, then you can then start hacking the current control switch. Put a relay in for where a contact switch is. This keeps you from having to hard wire each of those pumps / heater/ et al where you would also have to duplicate the control logic which will take much longer to master and make reliable.

Water tight and make sure no one gets electricuted. Lots O amps with a large sauna.

 

[rlrcstr]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I realize it's a very generic question, but you gotta get started somewhere, right? I guess my biggest concerns are trying to understand the mechanisms of combining the different techs when necessary.

DavidL - It's typically a safe assumption regarding the spa, but not in this case. Everything is manual because of the way they set it up. At this point, unless I'm home, nobody will be able to use the spa. This is one of the more complex pieces. Most of the control bits seem to be able to flip something on or off, but for the pool/spa, I need variable control over the valves. Not just open and close. And other complexities... Since all of the equipment can be routed to either spa or pool, it has to be shut down in a way that will keep from syphoning water to the pool from the spa which is higher than the pool.

As far as the complexitiy of building it all yourself... I thought that was where the "fun" part came in.

Thanks.

J

 

[beelzerob]

As far as the complexitiy of building it all yourself... I thought that was where the "fun" part came in.

Oh, it is, and it is appropriately surrounded by quotes! But what they're saying is that even when you have ALL the parts already there, it's still very complex. But when you want to take one of the most important parts, the software control, and try to do that yourself. Well, then you're somewhere past complex I think.

 

[IVB]

As far as the complexitiy of building it all yourself... I thought that was where the "fun" part came in.

Oh, it is, and it is appropriately surrounded by quotes! But what they're saying is that even when you have ALL the parts already there, it's still very complex.

Oh yeah. As this 2 year long, 76 page thread details, i've been doing this for 2 years and i'm still not done (eh, having fun). And I used a pre-written software package that does nearly all of the heavy-lifting for me, all I have to do is build interfaces and setup logic via point&click.

Writing the software yourself is just loco man! If you're really jonesing for it, go work with one of the open-source HA packages out there so you get some leverage past just yourself.