What does your setup include, and what would you change if going back?

[Nifield]

Hey guys, im really interested in hearing from everyone a head to toe description of their home automation, what hardware are you using, what does each hardware piece do, what remotes you use, how is everything connected, how does it work? is there delays? is there things you would do differently if you could do things over?

Now when i say description, i dont mean a list of model numbers of different devices, i mean a list with a blurp about each piece explaining what it is and what it does in your setup.

Thanks for any and all replies.

Reilly

 

[Quixote_1]

Hey guys, im really interested in hearing from everyone a head to toe description of their home automation, what hardware are you using, what does each hardware piece do, what remotes you use, how is everything connected, how does it work? is there delays? is there things you would do differently if you could do things over?

Now when i say description, i dont mean a list of model numbers of different devices, i mean a list with a blurp about each piece explaining what it is and what it does in your setup.

Thanks for any and all replies.

Reilly

Not sure how many people here will be willing to spend hours typing out extensive details of their HA setup. I think your best best would be to check out the Blogs tab above. I know that JWilson56 has documented his setup in detail, complete with screens and photos of his equipment rack. Take a look at his "Nowplaying Showcase" blog. It's a pretty good example of what you can accomplish if you go all the way.

 

[oberkc]

Not sure how many people here will be willing to spend hours typing out extensive details of their HA setup.

I am not.

 

[GadgetBoy]

Not sure how many people here will be willing to spend hours typing out extensive details of their HA setup.

+1 on that. You may not realize it, but you're asking alot.

You can check out mine. I got bored of telling people my setup. Links below.

:lol:

 

[jwilson56]

Not sure how many people here will be willing to spend hours typing out extensive details of their HA setup. I think your best best would be to check out the Blogs tab above. I know that JWilson56 has documented his setup in detail, complete with screens and photos of his equipment rack. Take a look at his "Nowplaying Showcase" blog. It's a pretty good example of what you can accomplish if you go all the way.

Yes it took awhile to do my blog but for me it is part of the fun of home automation. To share ideas

 

[rusgrafx]

It would probably be easier if we'd just post links to our blogs (if you have one) or links to set-ups that inspire you.

Here goes my favorite... If you are looking for automation ideas check Pieter Knuvers's website, this guy has plenty ideas to borrow. He also has extended links section on his site under Links/Domotica Links (my blog is listed there as well B) ).

Here's a link to some projects that I've done at my place, etc. Hope this will be helpful to you.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

. For short range the wifi is OK but only for short range.

Maybe get yourself one of THESE?

 

[pete_c]

Here's a quickie drawing of my setup. I use mostly Cat5E for my HW connections to the HA server. (this could be network, RS-232 or USB). I would prefer to spend hours running new cable than to utilize wireless. I do still utilize wireless but not dependant on it. The whole audio setup is a project in itself with analogue audio speaker cables and cat5e for the wall controllers and touch screen controls of the same (overly engineered I guess). The drawing is old now and needs to be updated as I have UPB, Z-Wave and a Russound connected to the HAI OPII (and touchscreens connected to both the HA HS and HAI OPII setup). The Zoneminder camera setup is a drawing in itself utilizing both analogue simese cable, cat5e (for analogue and network cams). This is about 6-7 years of "stuff". I am now running the HA HS on a very small low power passively cooled Shuttle with an Atom 510 based CPU/2 Gb of memory computer. This computer has only one USB connection to a USB hub to two USB 8 port RS-232 Digi boxes. This makes it very easy to swap out or replace if I need to update / repair HA box.

If I had to do it over again it would be more cabling; but I'm still having to do that. I kind of make it it a mini project; and endeavor in itself. IE: I wanted to run an RS232 via Cat5E from my Leviton panel to the attic a few months back. It took a while and I did it piece by piece.

I have a designated center of the house run and keep utilizing the same wall cavity cable run. What helps me is that I have an 8" in wall speaker in the main floor hallway, an opening to the cavity which is removable in my daughters bedroom (hidden behind a bookcase) and another hallway inwall speaker near the top of the wall. I leave one extra cable with about 15 or so feet rolled up on both sides of the run to be able to pull the cable (string would work too). The most difficult piece is that I have a large space between the first floor ceilling and the second floor floor (its larger than the 12" wood joyces - like maybe 18-20") joists. I redid the "infrastructure" of my attic with multiple in conduit lighting across the entire attic and plastic (with holes) flooring so that I could access every bedroom's walls. What helps though is the attic is high enough to be able to walk around and not crawl around. The most difficult attic endeavor though was a chandelier lift which was very heavy (garage motor like), installing new electrical conduit/circuits and support for the lift as it was over an 18-22 foot open space below. The piece to remove the old chandelier was even more difficult having to stand almost on my toes at the top of a folding ladder (not recommended) to take down the old chandelier.