Gathering the best threads, need your help!

[electron]

Alright, since we have so many good topics with really great advice, I would like to start putting it all together, and put them in categories, making it easier for new members to find these treasures of excellent advice Once I have enough data, I will make it easy for new members to find these references. I want to start with the 'major' categories, and avoid exotic categories for now.

So if you remember seeing/creating a thread which deserves to be mentioned, please respond here.

Here are some example categories, with some example links.

General home automation

• Selling a Home with DIY HA (07/09/2007)
• Conservation via HA... (06/02/2007)
• Why are you using a PC for HA ??? (08/06/2006)
• HA Technology Comparison Spreadsheet (04/15/2008) Probably one of the best documents out there, comparing all home automation technologies, a MUST read!
• What do you control using relays? (08/24/2009) Initially started as a thread about the Elk M1 output expander, this thread applies to any I/O and home automation/security controller.

ALC

• Hardwired Lighting System Using Cat5, Need opinions on manufactures and integration. (07/04/2007) Everything there is to know about ALC.
• Is OnQ going wireless for lighting? (08/13/2009) Information about the future of ALC.
• ALC / ONQ, Prewire (08/26/2009)
• ALC/OnQ Hardware Question (08/11/2009)
• Legrand Discontinues the ALC and PLC Lighting Systems! (12/17/2009) More information about the ALC ownership changes, important read!
• link
• link

INSTEON

• More INSTEON quality control issues! (01/18/2009)
• Insteon and dimmable CFL (05/29/2009)
• A message from Steve at Smarthome. (02/02/2009)
• INSTEON Paddle Issue - Strange Discovery (04/26/2007)
• Recently Shipped Icon Devices May Need Replacement (07/03/2009)

X-10

• Surprise X10 signal sucker: LED nightlight (01/17/2005)
• Imaginative uses for DS10A sensors (11/13/2004)

UPB

• Largest UPB Installation? (01/05/2008)
• Need clarification re: UPB Gen I and Gen II (05/13/2009)
• Updated Upstart Sample, Sample Upstart file of a large installation (06/14/2007)
• UPB weak signal (12/27/2008)

Z-Wave

• Let's talk Z-Wave... (10/25/2006)
• Leviton says max 30-35 devices for reliable ViziaRF Z-Wave network. (03/17/2010) One of the best Z-Wave related threads, discusses how Z-Wave works, and the various implementations. A must read!
• link

ZigBee

• Anyone have Centralite Jetstream stuff? (08/13/2009) Quick user review of the new Centralite JetStream hardware.
• More ZigBee Home Automation Info (08/19/2009)
• link

Energy

• New Brultech Energy Monitoring Model (ECM-1240) due in 2009 (01/09/2009)
• Special Brultech ECM-1220.H offer to cocoontech members. (08/20/2008)
• The Energy Detective (12/19/2007)
• Measuring electricity (01/26/2008)
• what's your electricity usage? (01/04/2006)

Water

• How do you measure gas and water consumption? (03/12/2009)
• Water meter options for automation measurement (06/24/2009)
• upgrading from 'well water' to 'municipal water', monitoring and control (04/07/2010)

Fuel & natural gas usage monitoring

• Large LP Gas Tank Fuel Monitor via Transducer (04/27/2009)
• link

Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detectors & Fire suppression

• Adding 110v Smokes into HA system (07/25/2008)
• monitoring fire sprinkler system (10/05/2006)
• Wiring for 2+ smoke detectors for Elk M1G (08/22/2009)
• How do i hook this up to Elk M1? (two wire smoke detector polarity reverse module) (09/07/2009)
• CO detectors, Looking for information and options (08/25/2009)

Irrigation

• poor man's garden sprinkler (06/29/2007)
• M1 to control sprinklers (06/29/2009)
• Vegie Garden Moisture Monitor (11/08/2009)
• link

Generators & UPS power backup

• Natural Gas Whole House Power Backup? (08/20/2009)
• link

Low voltage power distribution

• link
• link

Structured wiring

• My house wiring odyssey (12/31/2007)
• Prewiring: The tools (11/29/2007)
• Broconne's Wiring Adventure (02/28/2009)
• Color convention when using cat5 for motions/temp sensors etc. (02/09/2009)
• link

Video security

• Getting a true 240 FPS from your eBay card (11/16/2005)
• link

Miscellaneous Sensors

• Maxbotic Ultrasonic Range Finders (05/20/2006)
• Cheap, simple garage door open/close sensors... (02/26/2009)
• link

Alarm system monitoring

• Cellular Backup (04/12/2006)
• link

HVAC

• HVAC - impact of closing off unused rooms (10/23/2008)
• Powered Damper system for HVAC (01/05/2009)
• Aprilaire 8870 Power (10/31/2007)
• HVAC Help (04/22/2005)
• link
• link

Elk M1

• Elk M1G start up sequence, what happens when at power up? (02/09/2009)
• M1XEP and FIOS (06/09/2009) Read this thread if you are having E-mail issues with your ELK M1-XEP Ethernet adapter.
• Verizon Fios Router not passing email (12/04/2007) Read this thread if you are having E-mail issues with your ELK M1-XEP Ethernet adapter.
• Looking for a specific HOW-TO Elk-M1G install (11/05/2009) Contains great links to tutorials and videos explaining how to install the Elk M1.
• Request: ELK Installation Pictures (08/17/2006) Contains GREAT pictures of ELK M1 installations.
• link

HAI OmniPro

• link
• link

GE CaddX

• DL900 - required hardware help (06/29/2009)
• link

Whole House Audio

• Who has Nuvo Music Port? (03/29/2009)
• Whole House A/V Distribution Hardware Options (08/21/2009)
• link

Whole House Video

• How-to Distribute Video (03/29/2009)
• Whole House A/V Distribution Hardware Options (08/21/2009)
• link

Touch Screens

• 15" ELO Refurbs - Great deal (09/10/2007) Great thread containing a lot of information about the popular ELO 15" touch screen.
• link

PC Interfaces (serial, USB, ...)

• QUATECH ThinkQ QSE-100D-BA 4 Port RS-232 Serial Server (CHEAP!) (08/06/2009) Everything there is to know about the Quatech QSE-100D 4 port RS-232 Ethernet device.
• link

Other home automation controllers

• Barionet + Elk M1, Some perspective on the combination (07/26/2009)
• link

Pool & Spa

• Swimming Pool and/or Spa automation, What are others doing? (06/13/2005)
• Pool Equipment Automation Suggestion (04/03/2009)
• link

1-Wire

• link
• link

...

So if you have a few minutes, please take the time to post your links, it would help out the community a lot, thanks!

 

[blmxm]

Hey Dan,

That is quite an undertaking, and would be appreciated and helpful as well. One thing I wanted to mention, is that I have noticed since the board was updated to it's new look, that if I click on a link in some of the older threads, it results in me being directed to the main page of cocoontech. I don't know if that's an unintended result of the update, or if it will be addressed as you go through this process. there are many threads that refer to another already covering the subject, that I get this result on. Just a heads up.
Thank you for your efforts here!

 

[electron]

The forums were moved to the /forums directory several months before launch of the new site. This means old links are now broken. I'm trying to come up with a fix for this, but it is something that had to happen

This really is a big undertaking, but I am convinced that if you guys help me out here, that this won't be too difficult of a task.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

For the X-10 Category:

http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php...amp;hl=surprise

 

[electron]

Yep, that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for, keep em coming!

 

[mustangcoupe]

for energy.. http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12306

 

[roussell]

Here are a few of my favorites:

Poor man's garden sprinkler
How-To Build the ULTIMATE Garage Door Monitor
How-To Measure Salt Level in Your Water Softener Using an Ultrasonic Sensor

I also enjoy most all of IVBs posts - especially the ones from the beginning when we wasn't sure why he would even want automated lights, etc...

Terry

 

[sic0048]

Adding 110v Smokes into HA system

 

[electron]

I probably should have mentioned this, but don't worry about including official How-To's, they will be mentioned separately as well, since all of them are useful.

 

[sic0048]

Good house wiring story. Also includes links in the first post to other "research" threads.

ALC lighting thread - at least that is what it turned into. I'm not sure if that thread is too long to be helpful however.

 

[electron]

blmxm: I finally figured out a way which should keep the old links active, without affecting the current site. If you run into any issues, let me know.

Now back to topic hunting :rofl:

Thanks for those links sic0048, VERY useful information in those threads.

I'm hoping to make some time this weekend to add a lot more to this list, but in the mean time, please keep posting them, this really helps everyone out.

 

[hucker]

Software to get Hobbyboards 1wire stuff to work

http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php...ost&id=1748


UPB + UPS singal problems:

Blog post:
http://www.cocoontech.com/blog/acrocad/ind...hp?showentry=69

Thread:
http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php...tups&st=15#

 

[felixrosbergen]

Good house wiring story. Also includes links in the first post to other "research" threads.

ALC lighting thread - at least that is what it turned into. I'm not sure if that thread is too long to be helpful however.

The ALC one in Dan's original post has the right title but actually links to Beelzrobs house wiring Odessy (also a great thread, but not ALC specific)...

I suppose my Nuvo Music Port coudl be in here since it seems to be the only place for info on this patience testing contraption.

 

[electron]

Thanks, not sure what happened, but I updated the post, and included yours as it does contain a lot of good info. I think I'm getting close to all the main categories that there could be, so if anyone remembers a very useful thread, please let me know!

 

[electron]

*bump*

While I don't encourage bumping a thread, I really feel this is an important one. I added more links and categories, hopefully it will inspire people to post about links they found really interesting/useful.