Other Ideas I've Heard
Link to other HA system descriptions
E-Mail Me at
HEnnulat@gowebway.com.
I respond especially well to encouraging feedback. That's what makes this all worthwhile... and fun!
For security we installed a DSC3000 16 zone security system with 3 keypads. All the windows and doors, as well as two (2) motion sensors are wired to the system. It programs from the keypads.
On the hardwired I/O side it monitors and controls the arming and disarming of the security system. It also monitors whether the system is in alarm. If it is then lights flash and the bedroom chime module sounds an alert. The TC automatically arms the Security System if we have not armed or disarmed it in the last 24 hours. (We can also arm the security system by pressing a special sequence of buttons on one of the X10 push button controllers).
Additionally the TC controls my Van-EE HRV (Heat Recover Ventilator). This includes 3 zone dampers to maximize air flow from selected areas (Upstairs bathrooms, Kitchen, and Laundry & lower level bathrooms). It monitors 3 zones worth of direct wired lighted pushbuttons (one in each bathroom, etc). When one of the buttons is pressed momentarily, the TC closes off the unused zones, turns the Van-EE blower on high speed, and finally lights the lighted pushbutton just pressed. Since the Van-EE runs on high speed for a fixed 20 minute time period after being initiated by the TC, the TC monitors the Van-EE high speed (Van-EE calls it override) mode, and turns off the light and opens all the dampers again when the override mode cycle completes.
For those interested in what the JDS program and device definitions look like for our home, just click on the link.
I have just started working on scenes, where a single pushbutton turns on several lights to preset levels. Currently I may turn on several main level lights from a single button on the entry inwall pushbutton transmitter. If I know I'm going upstairs I have a "Bedroom Lights" button and a "Computer" button. I've decided that I will allow the computer to be turned on from downstairs, but not off, lest I or my 3 year old daughter inadvertently turn it off when it is busy doing something.
I've also now played a bit with pushing a button to check in and out of the house, but I couldn't imagine what I might want the control system to do that's different when I'm around or not. We do use modes however, such as "Goodnight" mode described previously, "Nap Mode" which turns off and keeps warning tones, radios and stereos from automatically coming on for a few hours. A "House Empty" mode is like a check out but it's usually initiated automatically to give the house a lived in look and to make sure the security system is armed.
I've wired in a second thermostat as a backup to my main unit. I only wired the second unit to heat only
and have this second unit temperature set to 55 degrees. In this way if the main (electonic) unit failed during the winter,
the second (mechanical) thermostat would keep things from freezing.
Next likely additions
I will be continuing to gradually replace several of our standard wall switches with X10
switches (recievers
with local control) of various kinds to control the lights, fans, and receptacles.
In addition we will continue to add inwall X10 transmitters to do more "scene" control, such as turn on all the living room lights which may in fact turn them on and adjust them automatically as the outside lighting changes. I have also found that the inwall units are more reliable then the plug in units, most likely because of the inwall transmitters ability to sense the power line and to hold transmissions until the communication channel is clear.
I plan on adding several more motion sensors possibly with dual outputs so that one (1) output can go to the security system panel, while another goes directly to the JDS TC for monitoring interior movement to detect if anyone is at home for auto security arming, or to do some automatic lighting control, or to let us know where our 3 year old daughter might be. The inputs can also be wired in series I've learned by reducing the Security control EOL resistors by 500 ohms to allow for the JDS input resistance. In either case, this will begin to allow the TC to "track" movement in the house and respond accordingly. One possibility is to turn lights off when someone has left the room.
I may be changing the wiring of the second thermostat for when we are out of the house on vacation, etc. The TC will then be programmed to switch a 2 pole double throw relay to switch to the "vacation mode" thermostat. I plan on programming this so that it will automatically switch over if there has been no activity in the house for say 24 hours.
Garage door monitoring and automatic opening and closing is desirable. Additionally monitoring motion and/or a beam across the open garage door(s) in the garage is also valuable to sound a remote chime when someone enters, or to turn on a light if it's dark. This will allow an additional zone of protection in what is often a vulnerable area for burglery attacks.
I'd like to be able to monitor energy usage. Especially of interest is the running time of the Furnace and the AC compressor and feeding signals back to the TC for timing the running hours (and therefore KW or ccf usage) for a season and comparing that to my energy bills for correlations.
Sprinkler system support to permit the watering of the grass only on odd days (per city ordinance). My sprinkler controller can sprinkle every other day, but this means that I have to reprogram in months with 31 days.
Room temperature monitoring. I have a air volume booster in our childs room. I'd like to control this using
actual temperature data.
Master Plan - based on current technology
I would like to change out both my current HA controller and Security System with an integrated unit
which can do both functions. These are just starting to come out on the market.
The HAI Omni is one such example.
This allows for functions like being more intelligent when automatically arming the security system.
For example, rather then just arming it automatically if it has not been armed for 24 hours, I could now
arm it if no one has opened a door or no motion has been detected for 24 hours as well.
Adding a JDS Telecommander 100 would be a welcome addition. This will allow us to control the JDS TimeCommander from any phone inside or outside the house. We would then be able to tell the TC to change control from the "vacation mode" thermstat to the main thermostat from our cellular phone while we were still on the way back from our vacation!
The use of a personal computer doing home control seems more and more favorable with Window95 coming into the mainstream. This multitasking enviornment may be reasonable to run HA applications while still using the PC for other household chores.
HEnnulat@gowebway.com.
I respond especially well to encouraging feedback. That's what makes this all worthwhile... and fun!