I've been reading around the forum and trying to get some ideas for a hinge automaton system. I have 12 zones with another 4 possible. I want to be able to control lights, fire places, doors, garage doors, pool, hvac, possibly the movie theater and 2 other 5.1 set ups but those are already controlled by harmony so it's not necessary. Are there any diy solutions for this or do I just need to go with savant or C4 or another high end dealer installed system. I installed the movie theater so I'm not averse to doing it myself. Thanks for any help. I do have am extra desktop I'm not using if that helps.
New to home automation
- Thread starter 355spider
- Start date
I think most effective HA systems are installed by their owners. I would find it hard to believe that somebody would contract out the setup of the logic. I change mine a least a few times per week as I think of better ways to control things. I also add components about once per month, on average and that always opens up new opportunities for more advanced logic.
With about 40 devices under control now I prefer the reliability of Insteon using the ISY994i controller. Insteon is a dual mesh (powerline and RF) communications protocol that echoes transmissions simultaneously from repeating dual band units. The more dual band devices you add the stronger the signal gets and the further it can go. Transmissions are verified with a retry algorithm making sure things work every time.
The ISY994i has the best support I have ever seen. Features have been added by group consensus frequently. The rice is one of the lowest and the little piece of hardware only draws about 2 watts. It has a built in REST interface so that many apps and Rpi apps, loggers and other software users have written can monitor and control through it.
My dryer rings my back doorbell when the dryer stops and if my wife doesn't open it within 10 minutes she gets a text message. Very easy with Insteon/ ISY994i.
If Harmony is the remote control ISY994i has a plug in for that.
With about 40 devices under control now I prefer the reliability of Insteon using the ISY994i controller. Insteon is a dual mesh (powerline and RF) communications protocol that echoes transmissions simultaneously from repeating dual band units. The more dual band devices you add the stronger the signal gets and the further it can go. Transmissions are verified with a retry algorithm making sure things work every time.
The ISY994i has the best support I have ever seen. Features have been added by group consensus frequently. The rice is one of the lowest and the little piece of hardware only draws about 2 watts. It has a built in REST interface so that many apps and Rpi apps, loggers and other software users have written can monitor and control through it.
My dryer rings my back doorbell when the dryer stops and if my wife doesn't open it within 10 minutes she gets a text message. Very easy with Insteon/ ISY994i.
If Harmony is the remote control ISY994i has a plug in for that.
There are many DIY solutions for home automation, the optimal choice is generally based on your needs, DIY skills, the size of the project, specifics of your home construction (is it brick, wood, concrete with steel etc., old, new, etc) and, of course, budget. Most folks here have a hardware controller and a software controller for more advanced logic. Elk, HAI and Isy are the popular choices for the hardware and CQC, Premise and Homeseer are good alternatives for software among many, many other choices. Depending on your skill level in programming and preferences for a certain OS/language you can certainly find the right solution for your situation.
http://www.smarthome.com/isy994i-home-automation-controller-with-dual-band-plm.html
This is what I need?
This is what I need?
The Zwave and any options are easily added on later, so unless you have Zwave devices I wouldn't bother getting that with the initial order. If you are in Canada the Zwave board add-on will be a problem for a while until they get some further approvals sorted out.
I bought the cheapest version I could get. Since then I have added the X10 module and the Network Resource module, both with a click of the mouse on their Admin Console and it is instant at no additional cost. IOW they don't bundle cheaper and I saved the taxes being an electronic key only.
If you are not happy with it the ISY994i unit I believe they will still offer a full refund of your money. We have had a few but after they understand how the gadgetry works that changes and I am not sure I have heard of anybody pursuing a refund in two years.
Don't get sucked into repeaters, extenders, phase couplers. They aren't needed once you get a few dual band units on both your phases and distributed around your circuits. Battery operated devices are not dual band and rely on others to convert their RF to powerline and extend their range. These include Motion detectors, thermostats, leak detectors, hidden door sensors, window sensors, and maybe more I haven't used. Larger battery units can use an ac adapter and then they become echo machines and take part in the mesh protocol and update faster.
All Insteon devices update immediately upon a status change. Most Zwave devices don't and people constantly complain about the status being behind by 5 seconds to 10 minutes or more, depending on brand and interrogating hardware.
I have my eye on an additional ISY994i rebuilt for $99 direct from UDI. They have an excellent reputation for quality of hardware, software and support. Check out their forum and ask questions or just research their Wiki or forum history. A new firmware version usually is dropped on us about every month and he beta bugs are less than other products finished versions.
If you like RPi or WC8 control boards and experimenting the Network Resource module can send and control those quite well. The included REST interface will allow you to stuff variables into ISY and/or control scenes or devices from anywhere. Again the Network Module is obtainable in a snap later for the same price.
All that said unless you have Zwave in your possession I would get the cheapest, give it a try, and then decide of you want tokeep spending money. My guess is you will as you think of other things to do with it.
Right now I am changing my text messages for a water leak to add local annunciation too. The washing machine valve must have stuck and the sink overflowed. We only caught it after the water hit my leak detector in the basement. Need one under the sink, now!! ...and I am installing a unit on my well pump to shut it off.
Obsessed? You bet!
I bought the cheapest version I could get. Since then I have added the X10 module and the Network Resource module, both with a click of the mouse on their Admin Console and it is instant at no additional cost. IOW they don't bundle cheaper and I saved the taxes being an electronic key only.
If you are not happy with it the ISY994i unit I believe they will still offer a full refund of your money. We have had a few but after they understand how the gadgetry works that changes and I am not sure I have heard of anybody pursuing a refund in two years.
Don't get sucked into repeaters, extenders, phase couplers. They aren't needed once you get a few dual band units on both your phases and distributed around your circuits. Battery operated devices are not dual band and rely on others to convert their RF to powerline and extend their range. These include Motion detectors, thermostats, leak detectors, hidden door sensors, window sensors, and maybe more I haven't used. Larger battery units can use an ac adapter and then they become echo machines and take part in the mesh protocol and update faster.
All Insteon devices update immediately upon a status change. Most Zwave devices don't and people constantly complain about the status being behind by 5 seconds to 10 minutes or more, depending on brand and interrogating hardware.
I have my eye on an additional ISY994i rebuilt for $99 direct from UDI. They have an excellent reputation for quality of hardware, software and support. Check out their forum and ask questions or just research their Wiki or forum history. A new firmware version usually is dropped on us about every month and he beta bugs are less than other products finished versions.
If you like RPi or WC8 control boards and experimenting the Network Resource module can send and control those quite well. The included REST interface will allow you to stuff variables into ISY and/or control scenes or devices from anywhere. Again the Network Module is obtainable in a snap later for the same price.
All that said unless you have Zwave in your possession I would get the cheapest, give it a try, and then decide of you want tokeep spending money. My guess is you will as you think of other things to do with it.
Right now I am changing my text messages for a water leak to add local annunciation too. The washing machine valve must have stuck and the sink overflowed. We only caught it after the water hit my leak detector in the basement. Need one under the sink, now!! ...and I am installing a unit on my well pump to shut it off.
Obsessed? You bet!
355spider said:
For such a large house I would look into UPB or RadioRA technology for light control. I know quite a few people who could not get Insteon working in their houses, myself included. If you are lucky, you may be able to get it to work, but I would try it out first by getting a few switches and a PLM, installing the switches in the opposite sides of the house, and plugging the lamp modules in between them. You may need one module/switch per 30' or so. See if you can reliably control the switches in all circumstances (turn on various "noisy" devices you may have, like microwave, pump or a battery charger). That way you will know if Insteon is the right solution for you before investing a bundle into it.
Deane Johnson
Active Member
Don't overlook the issue of needing to have a neutral in the wall box for some systems when selecting the lighting control protocol.
Thanks so much Larry. I appreciate the in depth help. I didn't see the $99 one on their site.
Yes Picta I know I have two breaker boxers so I assume the electrical separates somewhere. I assume it's our 2 bedroom apartment above our garage which is separate from the main house. We don't use it much so I won't be automating it anyway.
Thanks so much for the warm welcome and all the help guys. Great forum.
Yes Picta I know I have two breaker boxers so I assume the electrical separates somewhere. I assume it's our 2 bedroom apartment above our garage which is separate from the main house. We don't use it much so I won't be automating it anyway.
Thanks so much for the warm welcome and all the help guys. Great forum.
Dean Roddey
Senior Member
You should see one of our CQC installations in Dallas/FW. It's pretty crazy. One really cool thing it has is a pool house whose glass walls come up from the ground if you want to air condition it and drop down if you want it open air. It has an enormous water fall with huge pipes and pumps, and a very large Lutron system controlling the lighting, plus some industrial automation gear for some other stuff (for which we did a custom driver for them.) In the control room there are large flat screens on the walls with touch screen overlays, displaying interfaces based on home layouts to get all of the functionality by the dedicated control systems staff. There are lighted, automated fountains for different moods. And of course an armed guard out front (not under CQC control.)
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