I need a shopping list for Therm, power cutoff and pc control

[PAPutzback]

For starting out in my HA build I want to work on energy control. Basically I want a programmable thermostat via pc and hopefully web, I also want to be able to shut down the hot water heater when I go on vacation and hopefully have this automated and available for remote access. I want a little future proofing as far as I don't want to put a controller in that can't be included in the process of adding additional components in the future, like lighting, home audio, intercom...

I do have a humidifier also so I think I might go with the better thermostat that includes that feature. But what else do I need? And if I can I'd like to start with the thermostat and whatever controller I need to tie it in with my home network and see the interface via Vista media center.

Thanks.

 

[PAPutzback]

For starting out in my HA build I want to work on energy control. Basically I want a programmable thermostat via pc and hopefully web, I also want to be able to shut down the hot water heater when I go on vacation and hopefully have this automated and available for remote access. I want a little future proofing as far as I don't want to put a controller in that can't be included in the process of adding additional components in the future, like lighting, home audio, intercom...

I do have a humidifier also so I think I might go with the better thermostat that includes that feature. But what else do I need? And if I can I'd like to start with the thermostat and whatever controller I need to tie it in with my home network and see the interface via Vista media center.

Thanks.

Anyone?

 

[aard3]

For starting out in my HA build I want to work on energy control. Basically I want a programmable thermostat via pc and hopefully web, I also want to be able to shut down the hot water heater when I go on vacation and hopefully have this automated and available for remote access. I want a little future proofing as far as I don't want to put a controller in that can't be included in the process of adding additional components in the future, like lighting, home audio, intercom...

I do have a humidifier also so I think I might go with the better thermostat that includes that feature. But what else do I need? And if I can I'd like to start with the thermostat and whatever controller I need to tie it in with my home network and see the interface via Vista media center.

Thanks.

Anyone?

PAPutzback,

There are a lot of options available to you, and I'm not entirely sure what you want, so I'm just going to throw something out here...but what about an RC2000 thermostat, Omni IIe or Pro II controller, and our Home Control software for Media Center PCs?

The RC2000 is programmable (I'm not sure what you mean programmable via PC), and supports humidifiers. You could use one of our load control modules to remotely turn off your hot water heater (electric?). The Omni IIe and Pro II are both ethernet enabled, so you can access it remotely and control/check status of things. the Home Control software installs on a Media Center PC, and works well. If you do purchase the RC2000 and a controller, a lot of people don't use the internal programming features of the thermostat, and instead use the programming in the Omni to control everything, and of course there is software available to help you do this from a PC.

Aaron

 

[PAPutzback]

So the home control software requires the Omni IIe to interface with the Thermostat correct. For some reason I thought the PC had some sort of USB adapter that ran to a power outlet on the wall and controlled UPB accessible devices from there. But it is more like the OnmieIIe acts liek its own web server\application server that the home control software accesses it via the network.

 

[aard3]

So the home control software requires the Omni IIe to interface with the Thermostat correct. For some reason I thought the PC had some sort of USB adapter that ran to a power outlet on the wall and controlled UPB accessible devices from there. But it is more like the OnmieIIe acts liek its own web server\application server that the home control software accesses it via the network.

If you want a Automation System where a PC is actually directly controlling all of your devices, then you probably need to look at some other software package (CQC?). What HAI sells are actual hardware controllers (similar to alarm panels), that control everything in your house. One could argue that the advantage of such a system over a PC is reliability, maintenance, etc... The Omni IIe, or Pro II acts as the "brain" (for lack of a better term), and controls everything connected to it. The Omni IIe and Pro II both have ethernet ports, which allows devices to communicate with them over a network, instead of using the onboard serial ports. Our software products are designed to communicate with the Omni boards, and direct them to control devices, not control them directly.

UPB is mostly used for lighting control, not for thermostats because thermostats have different power requirements than 120VAC, which is what UPB is designed for. Thermostats are usually connected via a wire to the controller.

Most people that have a media center PC would install our "Home Control" software, which is basically a plugin for Windows Media Center. This plugin will communicate with the Omni IIe or Pro II over the network, and allow you to view the status and control all of your lights, thermostats, security, etc... If you don't want the Windows Media center interface, we also offer a product called "Snap-Link", which is a small PC program that can connect to our panels and control them.



Aaron

 

[PAPutzback]

Thanks for the info. I'll have to save up for the Omni and Home Control pieces. Have you tested Home Control with Windows 7 yet? The thermostat will work stand alone won't it. If I can find a site that uses Bill Me Later I'll probably order it.

 

[PAPutzback]

Thanks for the info. I'll have to save up for the Omni and Home Control pieces. Have you tested Home Control with Windows 7 yet? The thermostat will work stand alone won't it. If I can find a site that uses Bill Me Later I'll probably order it.

I went ahead and ordered it. I'll have to start a blog somewhere to track the start of my Road to HA.

 

[Steve]

The thermostat will work stand alone won't it.

Just to answer this specifically, the answer is yes - absolutely. My RC1000 in fact is still in 'standalone' mode until I get around to running more wire.

 

[dutchyn]

what about an RC2000 thermostat

I'll second that -- we just got our Climatemaster geothermal units online yesterday -- a Genesis water2water for in-floor heat (with two RC-1000 and three RC-80) and a Tranquility-27 air handler (with an RC-2000). Wired it for heat-pump, set to 3-stage heat, 2-stage cool and everything works flawlessly.

The communication to the panel isn't up yet -- most of the house doesn't have power yet.