What do you use home automation for (vs home control)?

ghurty

Active Member
How do you use your home automation? Most of what users use that they say is home automation is really home control. Basically a way for you to centrally control different devices.
I am looking to see what people automate or use logic rules for. For example I have my AC tied into my alarm that if the alarm is in away or vacation mode, the AC will also be.
Thank you
 
I do some simple light activation on motion.  Main hall and kitchen come on dim when someone is walking around at night for about 6 minutes, then go off.  If adjusted to a manual level, they stay on.
 
And some nightlights are controlled by timer rules.
 
Years ago I automated winterizing my sprinkler system.  Added a solenoid to control air as a new "zone".  I use myServer to coordinate scrolling through sprinkler zones, applying air, shutting down air, allowing compressor to build pressure up, open next sprinkler zone, apply air, etc.
 
So when it's time to prep for cold, I connect the air line, and hit the Winterize button...
 
Lighting based on system arm state and daylight. Also auto arming attached garage based on daylight and motion detection in detached garage. EX: If it's after sunset and there has been no motion for 30 minutes then arm garage.
 
Mike.
 
Some off the top of my head:
 
Give me notices to put out the garbage can on garbage nights, and continue to do so until the system saw the side gate opened (where the can was stored).
 
Notifications of laundry (washer/dryer) finished
 
Don't turn on sprinklers if weather station detected winds above xxx mph and temps below freezing.
 
Send pics to phone when doorbell rang
 
Send email notifications when someone called house, announce over audio system
 
Auto close garage door when armed in stay if it was opened
 
Tell me the exact position of the garage door (to nearest inch)
 
On an alarm, turn on indoor cameras, auto upload images to my host site, give URL to monitoring service so they can see if anyone was in the home.  (Police would not respond unless a visual of the perpetrator was made).
 
Provide occupancy status of both vehicles based on car monitor built from old X-10 palm pilot.  Announce when (husband/wife) was arriving home (had great range with custom antenna).  Turn on certain lights if wife was arriving home and dark out.
 
Using occupancy and arm status, close garage door if left open (flash garage lights a couple of times and chirp siren before doing so).  Send email if garage never closed after this sequence.
 
Green LED mounted near the dishwasher that goes on when the dishwasher has been run (green = clean) so everyone knows if the dishes are clean or dirty. Also a reset button for when the clean dishes have been put away.
 
Speaker on the mailbox greets the mailman. Announcement page via the phone system when mail arrives. Nag announcement via speakers a couple of times an hour that there is mail in the mailbox until somebody gets it and resets the system. Also mail indicator and reset on all Elk keypads.
 
Nag announcements if basement, bathroom, third floor, or linen closet lights get left on.
 
Birthday reminders to call people on their birthday.
 
Hourly status stating temperature in various locations, runtime of each furnace, run count of each furnace and run count of well pump. (Heads up if things seem out of whack)
 
Picking up the phone in any room mutes the Sonos system in that room and also mutes the announce speaker if there is one in that room.
 
Many motion controlled lights (can walk the length of the house and lights go on and off as I pass)
 
Doorbells page through the phone system, driveway and garage motion sensors detect guests and deliveries and announce through speakers
 
Amazon Echo control of lights, thermostats, and Sonos (via Homeseer)
 
Periodic announcement when oven is on of how much energy it is using
 
Cold cellar humidity control based on dew point instead of humidity.

Automatic thermostat compensation for cold and high winds to avoid that cool feeling.

High winds, high/low temperature warnings for various rooms and outbuilding workshop.

Portable humidifier control with setpoints on main room thermostat.

HRV cycler base on indoor to outdoor dewpoints and temperatures being beneficial by bringing in outside air. (free cooling at night instead of A/C, free heating in summer mornings instead of heating recovery)

Intelligent heating recovery and intelligent heating setback (not found in any stat I have ever found) based on outside cooling effect against house (see above)

Dimming of automatic MS based lights thoughout the house based on ambient avaerage light in the house.
27 Watt LED bulbs are nasty in the ensuite at 3:00 am.

Monitoring of PV batteries, high low temps in various rooms and shop, and notifications

Monitoring of four leak spot locations and shut down washing machine if in that location, shut down well pump for all. Notifications follow.

Clothes dryer notification of cycle finish, dryer door open too long, or dryer timer stuck run-on.
Multiple notifications get cancelled if dryer door is opened.

Automatic and manual switching to notification mode (alarm on) upon leaving. Automatic switching to vacation mode, turning down thermostats, shutting off HRV, humidifier, and fan circulation cycles.

Voice activated everything (but that's remote control, not HA)

Co-ordination of four different coloured lighting brands into scenes for Gathering room.

Walk through simulation while in vacation mode too long. (careful. That one brought the police to kick in the door, years back. Good neighbour policy?)
 
I'm brand new to this whole deal, but am wanting to have the logic programming control. What is everyone using for equipment and software. This is beyond my abilities right now, but I want to be able to when the time is right.
 
ohmthis said:
I'm brand new to this whole deal, but am wanting to have the logic programming control. What is everyone using for equipment and software. This is beyond my abilities right now, but I want to be able to when the time is right.
ISY994i with mostly Insteon. Also Philips Hue bulbs, Milight bulbs and strips and LEDenet RGBWW strips.

Drop in a Zwave board and supports that too. Direct and native interface to Elk security panels.
 
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